AP LANG - Bios

Q1: When and where was F. Scott Fitzgerald born

A1: F. Scott Fitzgerald was born on September 24, 1896, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Q2: How old was Fitzgerald when he wrote The Great Gatsby

A2: Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby in his late 20s; it was published in 1925 when he was 28 years old.

Q3: What personal experiences influenced Fitzgerald’s depiction of wealth in The Great Gatsby

A3: Fitzgerald’s experiences in wealthy social circles and his own struggles with money influenced his critical portrayal of the upper class in the novel.

Q4: Who inspired the character of Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby

A4: Daisy was partly inspired by Fitzgerald’s wife, Zelda Sayre, and the type of wealthy, charming women Fitzgerald encountered.

Q5: How did Fitzgerald’s life during the Jazz Age impact The Great Gatsby

A5: Living through the Jazz Age, Fitzgerald witnessed the extravagance and social changes of the 1920s, which are central themes in the novel.

Q6: What was Fitzgerald’s relationship with Zelda like during the writing of The Great Gatsby

A6: Their relationship was passionate but turbulent, which influenced the emotional depth and complexity of relationships in the novel.

Q7: How did Fitzgerald’s military service impact his writing

A7: Fitzgerald’s brief service in the army exposed him to new social dynamics and the sense of disillusionment that appear in his work.

Q8: What struggles did Fitzgerald face while trying to publish The Great Gatsby

A8: Despite writing the novel relatively quickly, Fitzgerald struggled with the book’s initial commercial reception and critical reviews.

Q9: How did Fitzgerald’s own financial struggles relate to the themes of wealth in The Great Gatsby

A9: Fitzgerald often faced money problems, which gave him a personal understanding of the allure and pitfalls of wealth shown in the novel.

Q10: What role did Fitzgerald’s time at Princeton University play in his writing career

A10: At Princeton, Fitzgerald developed his literary skills and gained insights into elite social groups, which informed his portrayal of class in Gatsby.

Q11: How did Fitzgerald’s fascination with the American Dream influence The Great Gatsby

A11: Fitzgerald used Gatsby to critique the American Dream, showing how its pursuit could lead to corruption and disappointment.

Q12: When did Fitzgerald marry Zelda Sayre, and how did their marriage influence his work

A12: Fitzgerald married Zelda in 1920; their tumultuous relationship deeply influenced his characters and themes, especially in Gatsby.

Q13: What inspired the lavish parties depicted in The Great Gatsby

A13: Fitzgerald’s experiences attending and observing extravagant social events in New York and on Long Island inspired the novel’s party scenes.

Q14: Did Fitzgerald achieve great success with The Great Gatsby during his lifetime

A14: No, the novel was not a commercial success initially and only became highly regarded after Fitzgerald’s death.

Q15: How does Fitzgerald’s own sense of longing appear in The Great Gatsby

A15: Fitzgerald’s personal feelings of yearning and loss are reflected in Gatsby’s obsessive pursuit of Daisy.

Q16: What role did the Roaring Twenties cultural context play in shaping The Great Gatsby

A16: The Roaring Twenties’ culture of excess, prohibition, and shifting morals are central to the novel’s setting and themes.

Q17: How did Fitzgerald’s work in Hollywood relate to his writing of The Great Gatsby

A17: Fitzgerald worked as a screenwriter in Hollywood, which later influenced his writing style and understanding of storytelling, though this was mostly after Gatsby.

Q18: How did Fitzgerald’s early education influence his literary career

A18: Fitzgerald’s early education, including at St. Paul Academy and Princeton, nurtured his writing talent and interest in high society.

Q19: How did Fitzgerald’s personal battles with alcoholism affect his career after Gatsby

A19: His alcoholism increasingly hampered his productivity and reputation in the years following Gatsby’s publication.

Q20: What impact did Fitzgerald’s father have on his views about wealth and success

A20: Fitzgerald’s father struggled financially, which influenced Fitzgerald’s complex attitudes toward money and social status.

Q21: How does Fitzgerald’s experience with social mobility show up in The Great Gatsby

A21: Fitzgerald’s understanding of the barriers and illusions of social mobility is evident in Gatsby’s rise from poverty to wealth.

Q22: Where did Fitzgerald write most of The Great Gatsby

A22: Fitzgerald wrote much of the novel while living in Great Neck, Long Island, close to the setting of the story.

Q23: How did Fitzgerald’s health in later years affect his writing

A23: His declining health, worsened by alcoholism, limited his writing output in the years after Gatsby.

Q24: What was Fitzgerald’s full name

A24: Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald.

Q25: When did Fitzgerald die, and how was his work viewed at that time

A25: Fitzgerald died in 1940, largely forgotten and considered a minor writer, before The Great Gatsby was later recognized as a classic.

Q1: When and where was Arthur Miller born

A1: Arthur Miller was born on October 17, 1915, in Harlem, New York City.

Q2: What is Arthur Miller best known for

A2: Miller is best known for his plays, especially Death of a Salesman and The Crucible.

Q3: Where did Arthur Miller attend college

A3: He attended the University of Michigan, where he began writing plays.

Q4: How did the Great Depression influence Miller’s work

A4: The economic hardships of the era influenced his themes of struggle, family, and social injustice.

Q5: Who was Arthur Miller married to

A5: Miller was married to Marilyn Monroe from 1956 to 1961.

Q6: What political issues did Miller address in his plays

A6: Miller often explored themes of conformity, social pressure, and the effects of McCarthyism.

Q7: How did Miller’s experience with the House Un-American Activities Committee affect him

A7: He was called to testify in 1956 but refused to name names, which affected his career and personal life.

Q8: When did Miller write Death of a Salesman

A8: It was written in 1949 and became one of the most important American plays of the 20th century.

Q9: How did Miller’s Jewish heritage influence his writing

A9: His heritage informed his perspectives on justice, identity, and morality.

Q10: What themes are common in Miller’s plays

A10: Themes include the American Dream, personal responsibility, and the conflict between individual and society.

Q11: When did Arthur Miller die

A11: Arthur Miller died on February 10, 2005.

Q12: What legacy did Arthur Miller leave in American theater

A12: Miller is remembered as a major playwright who challenged social norms and exposed deep human truths.