This document provides information about The Great Gatsby including an author biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald, details about characters, themes, eras, and assignments related to the novel. It discusses Fitzgerald's background, marriage, writing career, and death. Key elements that shaped the 1920s era when the novel was set are examined like the postwar optimism, jazz music, moral changes, and later intolerance during that period in American history.
This Presentation is prepared as a part of Classroom Introductory presentation on 'The Great Gatsby' novel, presented at the Department of English, MKBU by Me and two of my classmates - Drashti Joshi and Rajeshvariba Rana.
1. Lillian Hernandez
Emse 3122 Final
Unit on The Great Gatsby
How to take Cornell Notes
Author Bio
Movie/ Soundtrack
Characters
Vocabulary
Assignments
4. Fitzgerald’s background
Born in St. Paul Minnesota on September 24, 1896
His father Edward had little $
His mother Mollie came from a financially stable background but preferred
a simple life
As a child played with the rich kids in the area
At 12 his family relocated to NY
1908 entered St. Paul academy and wrote many works throughout this
time
He also joined the navy
At 22 he fell in love with 18 year old Zelma who was accustomed to an
extravagant life which he could not provide for her since he was not rich
she left him a while after they became engaged
5. Fitzgerald cont’d
A year later he returned to his hometown and wrote,
This Side of Paradise.
It got published in 1920, after it published Zelda came
back to him and they married just one week later in
NY
They had their only daughter one year later
His marriage became turbulent since a lot of alcohol
was involved.
His earnings from his first book was running out and
that is when he wrote, The Great Gatsby (1925)
6. Fitzgerald cont’d
Zelda suffered from mental breakdowns, in 1934 she
was institutionalized for the remainder of her life
He never married again but did fall in love with
Sheilah Graham ( a movie columnist)
He died in 1940 (some speculate it was due to a
heart attack he had three weeks before and suffered
hemorrhage)
His obituaries were condescending and he thought
he died a failure
7. The Era’s of Gatsby
The Roaring Twenties: the worldwide influenza
epidemic of 1918, and an apparently strong
economy led to a period of strong optimism and a
new fun-seeking attitude.
The Jazz Age: The popularity of the new Jazz music
of New Orleans and Chicago, dances like the
Charleston, combined with the relaxing moral code
and the general feeling of optimism created the
feeling of a never ending social party.
New Soundtrack
to the Gatsby film
remake…. #3 by
Will.I.Am.
8. The Era’s of Gatsby
The Age of Wonderful Nonsense: It was the age
of flappers and bathtub gin, an age of prosperity,
and a time of moral and sexual revolution.
The Age of Intolerance: losses both financial and
human Immigration rules and quotas were
tightened. There was also a concerted effort to
pursue and unmask spies, usually Communists or
“Reds.” The “us and them” mentality resulted in the
revitalizing of such supremacist organizations as
the KKK.
9. The Original Flapper was Zelda Fitzgerald , yes, F.
Scott Fitzgerald’s wife The Great Gatsby’s author
Francis
Scott
Fitzgerald
Zelda Fitzgerald
11. The original film was very
successful
The Great Gatsby, You can't repeat the past scene
12. The new film released
5/10/13
Actors who played the characters Main
character of The Great Gatsby
Leonardo DiCaprio = Jay Gatsby
Carey Mulligan = Daisy Buchanan
Tobey McGuire= Nick Carraway
Joel Edgerton = Tom Buchanan
Elizabeth Debicki = Jordan Baker
14. Themes in the
novel
• Love
• Money
• Power
• “The American
Dream”
• Social Status
• Fidelity
15. WWI ended in 1918
Prohibition was installed: the ban of alcohol consumption was put in place
People began to starve for both money and alcohol = freedom
The call for bootleggers rose which were people who sold and bought alcohol
illegally which also made alcohol cheaper and backfired the plan.
