F. SCOTT FITZGERALD (1896-1940)

Early Years

Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 24th, 1896

Named after the composer of the Star Spangled Banner

Attended St. Paul Academy Grew up in a Catholic and upper

middle class environment

Adult Years Dropped out of Princeton to join

the military Met his wife Zelda Sayre while

stationed in Montgomery, Alabama. Had a daughter and named her Frances Key “Scottie”

Wrote many novels and short stories

Died on December 21, 1940

Writing Highlights

First writing to appear in print was a detective story he wrote when he was thirteen

First novel was The First Side of Paradise

Uses a lot of imagery in his writing Relates his stories to his life

History on This Side of Paradise

Fitzgerald’s success of his book also marked the beginning of the Jazz Age

In the book Fitzgerald relates to flappers and alcohol which were big in the Jazz Age

This Side of Paradise The main character is Amory

Blaine. Throughout the book Amory is trying to find his place in the world and also make peace within himself.

Three things that influence Amory are money, women, and being proper.

In the end of the book Amory realizes that none of these things matter and becomes aware of himself.

History on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Wrote this book during the Jazz Age A lot of people back then used to say

things like “40 is the new 30” and Fitzgerald changed that in his story to reflect that age is more than a number

Summary of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The main character is Benjamin Button. When Benjamin was born he looked like an old man. Throughout his life he ages backwards. His parents force him to act like a baby even though he is a seventy year old man. He meets his wife when he is 50 years old and she is 20, she had a thing for older men. They have a son together and as Benjamin starts to age backwards the son becomes older and they play together as children, then he dies a baby.

Allusions

Making a reference to something in the past

On page 6 the story makes a Biblical allusion to Methuselah who was the oldest man mentioned in the Bible.

Now the name is used to describe someone who is old.

Satire

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity, in the context of politics.

In the story satire is used when the community tells Benjamin that he has to change. Even though he was born that way. The story points out the community’s stupidity.

Irony

The middle ground between what is said and what is meant

Irony is shown in the story when Benjamin’s father forces him to go to Kindergarten even though he doesn’t want to go and looks old. Then as he gets younger he is able to go to Kindergarten and fit in with the other kids.

Love and Hate

Love and Hate is represented in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button because in the beginning Benjamin’s dad is in denial. He does not believe that the old man is his son. He tries to make his son seem normal by dyeing his hair and making him play with baby toys.

Books Relate to Life Something I learned from this author is that he

uses his life experiences in his stories. The books I have read by F. Scott Fitzgerald contain pieces of his actual life.

For example in This Side of Paradise Amory drops out of Princeton and Fitzgerald did that too.

In The Great Gatsby Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway both represent Fitzgerald and his struggles through life.

Facts About Fitzgerald Great Gatsby was originally going to be

called Among the Ash-heaps and Millionaires or On the Road to West Egg

Fitzgerald was an admitted alcoholic and he was proud of the fact that he was sober when he wrote all of his stories.

Fitzgerald died of a massive heart attack