So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald
100 years ago, life was very different. Owning the latest technology meant having a refrigerator in your home. Shining like a beacon of hope, The American Dream was the driving force for many who wanted more. Fitzgerald’s own life, an endless source of fascination to many, served as the inspiration to countless short stories and four completed novels. It is in this course that you will become acquainted with his work, life and critique of the American society in the 1920s. Be ready for the glitz and glamour which shrouds the ugly side effects of an obsessive dream.
In this course, you will explore the literary giant that is The Great Gatsby. Hailed by many as the great American novel, it has been reproduced several times in film and stands as one of the most revered glimpses into the upper-class world of the 1920s. In addition to this text, you can expect to read many short stories by Fitzgerald, including Winter Dreams, Babes in the Woods and The Lost Decade. Both formal essay writing and creative work are on offer in this course and you will have the chance to develop your written skills countless times throughout the year. Debate and discussion is what fuels this course and the continuous chances to present your thoughts to your peers will guide you to develop a speech that will be presented towards the middle of the year. The class will explore how some of Fitzgerald’s texts have been used as inspiration for modern films and alongside this, you will complete your own personal reading of some of Fitzgerald’s work. This will culminate at the end of the year in an exciting connections project which will see you evaluate the similar elements that are present in Fitzgerald’s work.
