From A&E:
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great American Dreamer
F. Scott Fitzgerald was one of the most important writers of the twentieth century. In novels such as Tender is the Night, This Side of Paradise, and The Great Gatsby, he captured the mood and manners of his time. He and his wife, Zelda, enjoyed a hedonistic expatriate life as they split their time between New York, Paris and the Riviera. The characters and plots he created with ethereal lyricism and social accuracy mirrored the glamorous lifestyle he led in the madcap excess of the Roaring Twenties. Through interviews with family members and confidantes, this program presents an intimate portrait of a literary giant whose life was touched by tragedy. Authors such as Tobias Wolff and Joseph Heller reflect on Fitzgerald’s legacy and lasting influence. Join BIOGRAPHY for an insightful look at F. Scott Fitzgerald—the man who gave the Jazz Age its name.
F. Scott Fitzgerald: The Great American Dreamer would be useful for classes on American History, Literature, Drama, and American Culture. It is appropriate for middle school and high school.
How did the failures of F. Scott’s father affect his life and attitudes?
Why are the 1920s known as the “Roaring Twenties.” What made this decade so different from the decade before or after it?
How did the “Jazz Age,” a moniker Fitzgerald coined, provide a climate favorable to his work?
Although he attended the finest schools, Fitzgerald came from a modest background. How did he use his budding literary talents to gain social acceptance during his schooldays?
Zelda Fitzgerald was the quintessential “Southern belle” during her youth. What is a “Southern belle?” How does it reflect cultural differences between the northern and southern regions of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?
How was Fitzgerald a spokesperson for his generation? Can you compare him with any celebrity today who is a spokesperson for his/her generation?
Although Ernest Hemingway and Fitzgerald were friends, why was there a jealous tension between them? Had they collaborated, how could they have used their jealousy to create a great work?
The “Roaring Twenties” gave way to the Great Depression of the 1930s. How did F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald’s lives mirror the historical timeline of their era?
How did Fitzgerald draw on his own life experiences to create his characters and plot lines?
How did alcoholism play a role in the destruction of Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s lives?
Extended Activities
Create a timeline that compares the events of the 1920s and 1930s to Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s lives.
Create a poster or advertisement that celebrates the end of Prohibition in the United States.
Read a work of F. Scott Fitzgerald and write an essay that explores how his characters are a reflection of the people and events of his own life.
Research clothing styles of the 1920s and 1930s, then design your own outfits for the two decades. How do the clothing styles reflect the different moods and circumstances of the two decades?
