Introduction to F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Great Gatsby

The 1920s were a defining decade for America, marked by cultural shifts and the rise of consumerism and celebrity. F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda became icons of the Jazz Age, but despite his success, Fitzgerald's masterpiece, 'The Great Gatsby,' initially flopped. The decade ended with tragedy, paralleling the stock market crash of 1929, as Fitzgerald's life mirrored the societal critiques in his work.

What was a significant characteristic of America in the 1920s?

• A focus on agricultural development

• A sense of freedom and prosperity

• A period of political instability

• A decline in economic growth

What cultural phenomenon took root in the 1920s?

• The fall of the stock market

• The end of the Jazz Age

• The rise of consumer culture

• The decline of urban areas

Who were considered icons of the Jazz Age?

• Al Capone and Bonnie Parker

• Ernest Hemingway and Gertrude Stein

• F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald

• Tom and Daisy Buchanan

What was the public's reaction to The Great Gatsby upon its release?

• It was a commercial flop

• It was a commercial success

• It was banned in several states

• It received critical acclaim

How did the Fitzgeralds' personal lives reflect the era's volatility?

• They moved to rural America

• They experienced a tragic downfall

• They achieved lasting financial stability

• They became political leaders