Disillusion, Defiance and Discontent 1914-1946 Use your notes to find the answers for

discussion.

Historical Background

When did World War I start? Who was President of the U.S. during

this time? What did he want? When did we enter war and why? Which alliances did we join? Who were the authors of this period?

Prosperity and Depression

When did “The Great War” end? When did prohibition start and what is

prohibition? What is bootlegging? (You should know

this in order to understand Gatsby). What is a speakeasy?

Prohibition

Prohibited the sale of liquorMade the sale of liquor illegal1919

Bootlegging

A term in reference to carrying, manufacturing, selling or transporting alcoholic liquor on one’s person or for others illegally

Synonym - smuggling Jay Gatsby is a bootlegger

Speakeasy

Place where alcoholic beverages are illegally sold during prohibition U.S.

What was life like during ?

1920’s Culture

The flapper Short hair for women Hats for men and women Dancing Silent movies Jazz/Charleston

“The Jazz Age was wickedand monstrous and silly.

Unfortunately, I had a good time.” Heywood Broun

Activity 1: Think-Pair-Share

Why do you think we call them the “roaring twenties”? Take one minute to write your answer.

When I tell you to, share what you wrote with the person next to you.

THE FLAPPERby Dorothy Parker

The Playful flapper here we see,

The fairest of the fair.She's not what Grandma used to be, --

You might say, au contraire.Her girlish ways may make a stir,

Her manners cause a scene,But there is no more harm in her

Than in a submarine.

She nightly knocks for many a goalThe usual dancing men.

Her speed is great, but her controlIs something else again.

All spotlights focus on her pranks.All tongues her prowess herald.

For which she well may render thanksTo God and Scott Fitzgerald.

Her golden rule is plain enough -Just get them young and treat them

rough.

The Roaring 1920s—Swingin’!!!!! Business Booms First shopping mall built First fast food chain, A&W Root Beer Appliances all the rage—radios, washing

machines, telephones, cars Companies spend $1.5 billion on advertising

in 1927 Ford built his automobile empire People began to buy things on credit

Contrast the women in these two drawings. Take two minutes to write down as

many differences as you can. What’s the verdict?

Who is F. Scott Fitzgerald?

Born 1896 - 1940 He was named after

his distant cousin Francis Scott Key, the man who wrote “The Start Spangled Banner.”

His Life Attended Princeton University. Joined the Army to fight in World War I. Was sent to Alabama and met his wife, Zelda. She wouldn’t marry him until he had the

money to support her in the way she was accustomed.

After being dismissed from the Army he went to N.Y. to try to sell his first book.

He locked himself in his room revising the book until it was published. The book= This Side of Paradise

His Fortune

This Side of Paradise sol 3,000 copies in three days, catapulting Fitzgerald to instant fame.

Magazines began buying short stories as fast as he could write them.

Zelda agreed to marry him. He was the “golden boy of American

Literature.”

His Work

His short stories revolved around a new breed of an American woman - the young, free-thinking, independent “flapper” of the Roaring Twenties.

His Work (cont.) - couple moves to New York and spends The Beautiful and the Damned The Jazz Age - collection of short stories The Vegetable - a play

– By this time the couple drank and fought and later moved to Paris and partied hard

The Great Gatsby was written but it did not sell well.

Tender is the Night was written and was about a psychiatrist married to a wealthy mental patient (represents his wife).

The Last Tycoon

His Victory

Became the “voice” of the twenties.

He is now ranked as one of the major prose writers of the 20th century. His fiction became the symbol of the frenetic energy of the era. No other writer captured so well the spirit of the Jazz Age, the moral decay of the generation.

The Great Gatsby

A lyrical picture of American values, a uniquely romantic materialism in which people try to convince themselves that desire can define reality, that gesture can define action, and that sentiment can define emotion.

Anticipation guide

You may NOT qualify your answers simply means to not explain, just yet.

Use the back to keep track of the characters.

Who’s who in The Great Gatsby

Nick Carraway - the novel’s narrator Tom Buchanan - Daisy’s husband, a rich and

brutal man Daisy Buchanan - Nick’s cousin Jordan Baker - a beautiful woman who cheats

at golf and in life Jay Gatsby - a racketeer, bootlegger and a

romantic idealist. He is in love with Daisy

Who’s who (cont.)

George Wilson - The owner of a garage in the “valley of the ashes”

Myrtle Wilson - George Wilson’s wife; Tom Buchanan’s coarse mistress.

Catherine - Myrtle’s sister Mr. and Mrs. McKee - a photographer

and his wife (secondary) “Owl-Eyes” - a middle-aged man

Who’s who (cont.)

Meyer Wolfsheim - Gatsby’s business partner, a gambler and racketeer

Ewing Klipspringer - The pianist at Gatsby’s house

Dan Cody - gave “Gatsby” his education

Let’s Read