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AMERICAN MASTERS: The Writers Series
F. Scott Fitzgerald: Winter Dreams
His classic novel, The Great Gatsby, continues to sell thousands of copies a year, yet in the last year of his life, his entire income from novels and short stories was $37.63. Only 11 people went to the funeral of one of the most important writers of the 20th century.
Willa Cather: The Road Is All
In 1883, the young Willa Cather was plucked from her luxurious home in Virginia and dropped into the vast, tall grass prairies of Nebraska. It was an experience that terrified but exhilarated her, and became the force behind all of her great novels.
Ernest Hemingway: River to the Sea
More than 40 years after his death, Hemingway is one of the most widely read, and widely written about, American authors. His distinct style and profound influence are indisputable; his larger-than-life persona is still the stuff of heated debate.
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Download Questions (PDF file - Adobe Reader required)
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If you could time travel and meet Fitzgerald, Cather and Hemingway, what is the first question you would ask each?
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Which of the three do you think you'd most enjoy meeting? Why?
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What, in your opinion, makes a writer great? Do any of these writers meet your criteria for greatness?
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What, if any, common themes or motifs do you find in the lives of the three writers? In their works? What seem to be the biggest differences?
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What do you consider the most interesting aspect of each writer's life?
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Does knowing biographical details about a writer detract from or enhance your appreciation of his or her work? Why?
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If you've read the major works of Fitzgerald, Cather and Hemingway, what book do you consider each author's best? What makes it a standout?
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How do you think history will judge each of these three writers?
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