 |
| *F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda |
American Writers: A Journey Through History is a fantastic website put out by CSPAN. It includes a copious amount of useful information on particular influential authors throughout American history. Just searching under F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author of The Great Gatsby, one is able to access a short biography of the author, links to other resources like websites and videos, and a blurb about the featured works of the author - in this case about The Great Gatsby. While the website itself does not delve into too much detail about the era or life of Fitzgerald, it does include, under Classroom Resources, a timeline of important occurrences in America and with other prominent writers when Fitzgerald penned and published the novel.
This would be used as an at home assignment webquest. An entrance ticket would ask for a few different details about Fitzgerald's life.
CSPAN. (n.d.). American writers: F. Scott Fitzgerald. American Writers. Retrieved from http://www.americanwriters.org/writers/fitzgerald.asp
Video: Writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald
 |
| *Photo symbolizing the Jazz Age |
This video, which is two hours in length, was accessed through the American Writers website mentioned above and put out by CSPAN as well. It discusses the life and works of F. Scott Fitzgerald as well as the "Roaring Twenties" otherwise known as "The Jazz Age" to Fitzgerald. "The Jazz Age" was an age of luxury, youth, and rebellion after WWI. The video discusses his hometown, his travels through Europe with his wife, Zelda, and the desire of many who lived in that era to have a good time and live life without worries. The Great Gatsby, which is brought up in the film, proves to be one of the works which highlights adventures and the lives of those who partook in the lifestyle of this class of adults. The film also touches on Fitzgerald's ability to bring class issues and conflicts with traditional values to the forefront in his writing.
I would use clips of this video as an in class exploration of F. Scott Fitzgerald's life and get them to answer brief clarifying questions during the clips.
CSPAN, A. W. (Director). (2002). Writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald [Documentary]. USA: CSPAN: American Writers.
 |
| *F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Biography |
By: Edward J. Rielly
I would purchase this book and provide a copy of a particular chapter that I found interesting or that was not covered in the video and use it as a reading strategy activity while getting them to discuss how it relates his life to his writing.
Rielly, E. J. (2005). F. Scott Fitzgerald: a biography. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.
 |
| *F. Scott Fitzgerald |
The New York Times published, online, the obituary for F. Scott Fitzgerald, published on December 23, 1940. While it is short and discusses some biographical information surrounding the life of Fitzgerald, it is also very telling of the era in which it was written - using the word "gay" as happy or lighthearted to describe pages in one of his books. He is discussed, in this obituary, as not being able to attain a job with the newspapers, not being a very famous author, and having issues with depression. It also briefly touches on his service in the military during WWI. This obituary, though brief, not only gives the reader a miniature chronology of Fitzgerald's life but allows one to see him how he was seen in 1940 rather than today.
I may use this to model a writing activity. They would be asked to write an obituary for Gatsby in style of back then. What do people know about him? They'd need to pick three main points of his life and provide the facts with a little bit of information on how he died while maintaining a professional and somewhat distant viewpoint on his life.
The New York Times (1940, December 23). Scott Fitzgerald, author, dies at 44. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/books/00/12/24/specials/fitzgerald-obit.html
