Teaching Babylon Revisited

F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story is the tale of Charlie Wales, a former drunken party-goer (what can we say? it's Fitzgerald) who returns to Paris, the site of his former 1920s debauchery, shortly after the 1929 stock market crash. Charlie sees his world with newly sober eyes and is both shocked and appalled by the extravagance that characterized his former life. Charlie's horror with his own former waste and self-destruction is Fitzgerald's condemnation of a society who drank away the 1920s.

…or so we think. We'll admit it: we might have had one too many Mint Juleps while writing this.

If "Babylon Revisited" sounds like a bummer…it kind of is. But don't worry, there's also fascinating connections to Fitzgerald's own life, how one generation grapples with the recent past, and the story of a man who's forced to make serious changes to his lifestyle. Our Shmoop guide will take you back into the past with Charlie to bring you and your students forward and into a (hopefully) happier future.

In this guide, you'll find

• a look at how Charlie changes between the 1920s and 1930s, and what it means for him as a dad.
• a chance to write and perform a pivotal dialogue that will dictate the course of Charlie's life.
• an opportunity to perform a psychological evaluation on Charlie and predict what happens after the party (or the story) ends.

Fitzgerald's interested in what happens to those who are there when the party comes to an end—those who suffer through the next day's hangover. Thanks to this guide and the wonder of Shmoop, that won't be you.

What's Inside Shmoop's Literature Teaching Guides

Shmoop is a labor of love from folks who love to teach. Our teaching guides will help you supplement in-classroom learning with fun, engaging, and relatable learning materials that bring literature to life.

Inside each guide you'll find quizzes, activity ideas, discussion questions, and more—all written by experts and designed to save you time. Here are the deets on what you get with your teaching guide:

• 13 – 18 Common Core-aligned activities to complete in class with your students, including detailed instructions for you and your students
• Discussion and essay questions for all levels of students
• Reading quizzes for every chapter, act, or part of the text
• Resources to help make the book feel more relevant to your 21st-century students
• A note from Shmoop’s teachers to you, telling you what to expect from teaching the text and how you can overcome the hurdles

Want more help teaching Teaching Babylon Revisited?

Check out all the different parts of our corresponding learning guide.