IB Core Concept: IDENTITY

IB English HL 1

Areas of Focus:

● How significant is an author’s identity to understanding or accurately interpreting

their work?

● Does the biographical background of the author play a crucial role in how they
shape their text and construct meaning?

Directions:​ Read through the following sources and make pertinent connections to the
background of F. Scott Fitzgerald and his novel, ​The Great Gatsby​. Please keep the two areas
of focus in mind while doing so.

Biographical Source #1: ​“​The Great Gatsby​ Line That Came From Fitzgerald’s Life—and
Inspired a Novel,” by Joe Fassler, ​The Atlantic​, 2013

Biographical Source #2: ​“F. Scott Fitzgerald 1896-1940,” by ​F. Scott Fitzgerald Society​, 2018

Now, select 4-5 pieces of evidence from the articles, cut and paste the exact quote onto this
document (give credit to the article title or author in a parenthetical citation afterwards),
and provide sufficient commentary that explains the direct correlation between
Fitzgerald’s biography and his novel. Bullet points are acceptable for this assignment:

“ ​In
1939, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald stirred up one last fiasco--a
disastrous and booze-fueled trip to Cuba. They had been separated.
Zelda lived in Asheville's Highland Hospital, where she was
institutionalized after suffering from anxiety and hearing imaginary
voices; Scott left from Hollywood, where a​ screenwriting job for MGM​ stalled
his fiction and depressed him terribly. We know very little about the
trip, except that it was the last time they saw each other” (Fassler).

● Crazy experience in cuba similar to the extravagant parties in

TGG
● Depression and the ending of their relationship similar to that of
Gatsby and Daisy
“She had recognized her own diaries and scraps of her love letters
repackaged in the book, and she was being playful--and pointed. F.
Scott Fitzgerald spent a lifetime eavesdropping on the conversations of
his peers, making a study of their character for his future literary
characters. Scribbling notes from overheard conversations and
inventing dialogue on the fly were part of his writerly process”
(Fassler).

● Shows how his personal life directly affected his writing,

especially dialogue he took from Zelda
● Zelda’s conversations inspired his writing

“In actuality Scott stole the words right out of Zelda's mouth, or, to be
more accurate, out of the ledger in which he'd jotted down the words
his wife said, while still floating on waves of ether, as she learned the
sex of her child: "I hope it's beautiful and a fool--a beautiful little fool"
(Fassler).

● Proves Fitzgerald's relationship with Zelda directly influenced

the book especially with one of the most memorable lines of the
novel

“​Beautiful Fools: The Last Affair of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald​ differs
from recent Zelda-themed novels (​Z​, ​Call Me Zelda)​ by maintaining a
tight focus on that Cuba trip, two dimmed stars' last grasp at love and
happiness.” (Fassler).

● In Fitzgerlad’s own relationship there was torment just like Daisy

and Gatsby. His complicated relationship with Zelda could
inspired Gatsby and Daisy’s relationship in the novel.
Having now completed your research, address at least one of the focus area questions and
explain your thoughts in a brief paragraph:

An author’s background is very important since it influences what they write, especially in
the characters they portray. As we see in Fitzgerald’s novel, ​The Great Gatsby,​ one of the
most memorable lines is directly from his wife who he took inspiration from for his writing.
Also, his relationship with Zelda which was described as tumultuous could have influenced
the complicated relationship between Gatsby and Daisy which ended tragically similar to
Fitzgerald’s relationship with Zelda.