Pupils enjoy ‘An Evening with Fitzgerald’

The glamour of The Great Gatsby descended on Big School last week, as Sixth Form pupils from MCS and neighbouring Cherwell School gathered to celebrate 100 years of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s epic novel.

Arranged to support the A Level English syllabus and pupils’ study of Gatsby and other American literature, ‘An Evening with Fitzgerald’ included a guest lecture from local academic Tessa Roynon. A specialist in modern North American Literature and Senior Research Fellow at the Rothermere American Institute, University of Oxford, Tessa encouraged students to reconfigure their perspective of the 1920s, in light of works from the Harlem Renaissance and Toni Morrison’s ‘Jazz’.

Close reading of challenging extracts of ‘Gatsby’ and discussion helped deepen pupils’ understanding of the text and themes of identity, self-discovery and disillusionment prevalent in literature of the period.

Live music and drama performed by an MCS-Cheney troupe, wonderful costumes and decorations brought the American jazz age to life, while a special supper of hot dogs, fries and brownies delivered on the taste test – if not Long Island party excess!

Thank you to the Sixth Form Committee for their creativity and hard work in making the event such a success.