Francis Scott Fitzgerald was an American Modernist writer best known for his novel The Great Gatsby. His work captures the disillusion of the post-war generation and the excesses of the Jazz Age.
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Francis Scott Fitzgerald was an American Modernist writer best known for his novel The Great Gatsby. His work captures the disillusion of the post-war generation and the excesses of the Jazz Age.
F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in 1896 to a middle class family in Minnesota. Although he tried to make a name for himself as a writer in college, he eventually dropped out and joined the army. World War I ended before he was deployed, but his time in the army was nevertheless life-altering since his Alabama placement brought him into contact with Zelda Sayre, a young Montgomery debutante. The love story between Fitzgerald and Zelda is as well-known as his literary accomplishments. Most of Fitzgerald’s novels contain semi-autobiographical details of his experiences with Zelda. The pair married a week after the publication of his first novel, This Side of Paradise, and lived an active social life, enjoying the nightlife and excesses of the Roaring Twenties. Ironically, much of Fitzgerald’s writing strongly criticized the very lifestyle he led.
Fitzgerald was a key figure in the Modernist movement that arose in the post-war West. Like other Modern writers, Fitzgerald rejected traditional values and institutions. His novels were often satires and scathing rejections of the accepted ideas about love, success, and happiness. Although he wrote a number of short stories (including “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”) and magazine pieces, he is best known for his five novels. His most enduring work, The Great Gatsby, explores the emptiness of material wealth and the death of the American Dream. Today, this novel stands out as a perfect depiction of the Jazz Age and the post-war cynicism of the 1920s. Sadly, Fitzgerald’s own life mirrored many of the themes of his literature. While he enjoyed the heights of love, success, and good living at a young age, he found his prospects reversed barely a decade after his first success. Struggling with alcoholism, writer's block, and a broken marriage, he died at just 44 years old.
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Try it for Free!Famous Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald
- The Great Gatsby
- This Side of Paradise
- The Beautiful and the Damned
- Tender is the Night
- The Offshore Pirate
- “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
F. Scott Fitzgerald Quotes
“Action is character.”
“All life is just a progression toward, and then a recession from, one phrase—’I love you.’”
”All good writing is swimming underwater and holding your breath.”
How Tos about Who was F. Scott Fitzgerald?
Spark student curiosity with an interactive Fitzgerald biography timeline
Introduce the activity by asking students what they already know about F. Scott Fitzgerald and his life. This primes their thinking and helps you gauge prior knowledge.
Gather and organize key life events of F. Scott Fitzgerald
Provide students with a list of major milestones from Fitzgerald's life, such as birth, education, major works, and personal events. Encourage them to find dates and facts using trusted sources or the encyclopedia page.
Guide students in creating a visual timeline
Supply poster paper or digital tools and ask students to lay out Fitzgerald's life events chronologically. Let them draw, write, or use images for each event to make the timeline engaging.
Facilitate group sharing and discussion
Invite students to present their timelines to the class and discuss what surprised them about Fitzgerald's life. This boosts speaking skills and deepens understanding.
Connect Fitzgerald’s experiences to his writing
Ask students to reflect on how Fitzgerald’s personal history may have influenced his books. Prompt them to find connections between events and themes in his work.
Frequently Asked Questions about Who was F. Scott Fitzgerald?
Who was F. Scott Fitzgerald?
F. Scott Fitzgerald was an American novelist and short story writer best known for his classic novel The Great Gatsby. He is a key figure of the Jazz Age, capturing the spirit of 1920s America.
What are F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous books?
F. Scott Fitzgerald's most famous books include The Great Gatsby, This Side of Paradise, Tender Is the Night, and The Beautiful and Damned.
Why is F. Scott Fitzgerald important in American literature?
Fitzgerald is important because his works vividly depict the Roaring Twenties and explore themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream. His writing style and storytelling greatly influenced modern literature.
What is the main theme of The Great Gatsby?
The main theme of The Great Gatsby is the pursuit of the American Dream and the disillusionment that often comes with it. The novel explores wealth, ambition, and social change in the 1920s.
How can teachers introduce F. Scott Fitzgerald to students?
Teachers can introduce Fitzgerald by sharing key facts about his life, highlighting his major works, and discussing the historical context of the 1920s. Using excerpts from The Great Gatsby or creative activities can engage students.
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