Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- What are some of Amory Blaine's biggest conflicts in this book? How do they change as he gets older?
- Why does Rosalind turn down Amory Blaine? How does he respond?
- F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote This Side of Paradise by stitching together a bunch of his old short stories and part of an unfinished novel. Where can we see evidence of this process in the finished book?
- How does Amory's mother Beatrice contribute to his development as a young man? Is her effect a positive or negative one?
- How does Fitzgerald portray the First World War in this book? Do you think fighting in the war has had lasting effects on Amory Blaine? Why or why not?
- What do you think is Amory's best shot at finding fulfillment? Please use evidence from the text to support your answer.
- Why is Monsignor Darcy important to Amory? Why is Amory so important to Darcy?
- What overall impression does this book give of an Ivy League school like Princeton? Is it similar to what you imagined? Why or why not?