acdec - literature section, f. scott fitzgerald
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use these flashcards to study up on the life of f. scott fitzgerald.
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52 Terms
When and where was F. Scott Fitzgerald born?
September 24, 1896, in St. Paul Minnesota.
What was Fitzgerald’s full name?
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald
Who were Fitzgerald’s parents?
Edward Fitzgerald and Mary (Mollie) McQuillan.
What contrast existed between Fitzgerald’s parents’ families?
Father’s families had old American roots but no wealth. Mother’s family were Irish immigrants but had great wealth from grocery business.
What theme from Fitzgerald’s family background influenced his writing?
The tension between wealth and class.
What schools did Fitzgerald attend?
St. Paul Academy, Newman School (NJ), and Princeton University.
Who was Fitzgerald’s first major love?
Ginevra King
What famous quote is attributed to Ginevra King’s father?
‘Poor boys shouldn’t think of marrying rich girls.’
How did Ginevra King inspire The Great Gatsby?
She partly inspired Daisy Buchanan.
Who were Fitzgerald’s close literary friends at Princeton?
Edmund Wilson and John Peale Bishop
Why did Fitzgerald leave Princeton?
He was failing academically and enlisted in the Army during WWI.
Did Fitzgerland see combat in WWI?
No, he was stationed at Army bases in the U.S.
Who did Fitzgerald meet in Alabama during his Army service?
Zelda Sayre
What was Zelda Sayre known for in Montgomery?
Her rebellious, flirtatious, and carefree behavior
How did Fitzgerald describe his marriage to Zelda?
He said he ‘married the heroine of his stories.’
What was Fitzgerald’s first novel?
This Side of Paradise (1920)
What effect did This Side of Paradise have on his career?
It made him famous and financially successful.
How many copies did This Side of Paradise sell in its first year?
About 40,000 copies
What magazine did Fitzgerald frequently publish in?
The Saturday Evening Post
What was Fitzgerald’s second novel?
The Beautiful and Damned (1922)
How was The Beautiful and Damned received?
It sold well but was seen as lacking depth by critics.
Where did Fitzgerald and Zelda live in 1922 that inspired Gatsby’s setting?
Great Neck, Long Island
What play did Fitzgerald write that failed?
The Vegetable
Where did Fitzgerald begin writing The Great Gatsby?
France, in 1924
What were some alternative titles for The Great Gatsby?
Trimalchio in West Egg, Gold-hatted Gatsby, On the Road to West Egg, Under the Red, White, and Blue
Who was Fitzgerald’s editor and supporter?
Maxwell Perkins
What year was The Great Gatsby published?
1925
How was The Great Gatsby received at first?
Praised by critics but a commercial disappointment.
Which authors did Fitzgerald befriend in Paris?
Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Gerald and Sara Murphy
What was Fitzgerald’s fourth novel?
Tender Is the Night (1934)
How was Tender Is the Night received?
Mixed reviews; it sold poorly.
What major struggle did Zelda have?
Severe mental health issues requiring hospitalization.
What creative pursuit did Zelda attempt?
Ballet
What 1936 essays damaged Fitzgerald’s reputation?
The Crack-Up essays in Esquire
What journalist portrayed Fitzgerald harshly in 1936?
Michael Mok in the New York Post
What industry did Fitzgerald attempt to work in later?
Hollywood screenwriting
What movie did Fitzgerald receive screenwriting credit for?
Three Comrades (1938)
Who was Fitzgerald’s companion in his last years?
Sheila Grahan
What was Fitzgerald’s unfinished final novel?
The Last Tycoon (published posthumously in 1941)
When did Fitzgerald die, and at what age?
December 21, 1940, at age 44
What were the causes of Fitzgerald’s early death?
Heart attack, worsend by alcoholism and tuberculosis
How many novels did Fitzgerald publish?
Four completed novels, one unfinished (The Last Tycoon)
About how many short stories did Fitzgerald write?
Around 180
How was Fitzgerald viewed at the time of his death?
As a faded, struggling writer, not equal to Hemingway or Cather
Who helped preserve Fitzgerald’s legacy?
Max Perkins, Edmund Wilson, Dorothy Parker, later biographers like Scott Donaldson and Matthew Bruccoli
Which of Fitzgerald’s works is now considered the ‘Great American Novel’?
The Great Gatsby
What recurring themes appear in Fitzgerald’s works?
Wealth, class, excess, disillusionment, and the American Dream
What nickname is often applied to Fitzgerald?
The chronicler of the Jazz Age
Who partly inspired Daisy Buchanan besides Ginevra King?
Zelda Fitzgerald
What was Fitzgerald’s financial situation throughout life?
Often unstable due to lavish spending and dependence on writing income.
What role did alcohol play in Fitzgerald’s life?
It fueled his reputation as a party figure but contributed to his decline.
How many children did Fitzgerald have and what were their names?
One Daughter; Frances Scott “Scottie” Fitzgerald, Born October 26, 1921 in St. Paul, Minnesota.