F. Scott Fitzgerald was a member of a literary group referred to as the "Lost Generation." Investigate the origins of this term and identify the writers associated with it. What shared characteristics did these writers possess? What contributed to them being labeled as "lost?"

Tender Is the Night was released in 1934, a full nine years after Fitzgerald's previous work, The Great Gatsby, hit the shelves. Explore some of the significant events that occurred in the United States and Europe during those nine years. How did these events influence the critical reception of Tender Is the Night? Do you think the reception would have been different if the book had been published in 1928? What variations might there have been in the readers' reactions?

The title of Tender Is the Night is derived from John Keats's poem "Ode to a Nightingale." Examine Keats's poem and discuss why Fitzgerald might have chosen to quote from it for his title. What is the significance of the title? Are there any thematic connections between Keats's poem and Tender Is the Night?

Many readers consider Tender Is the Night to be Fitzgerald's most autobiographical work. Some interpret Dick and Nicole Diver as representations of Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, while others believe Albert McKisco and his spouse symbolize the couple. Delve into the lives of the Fitzgeralds. Which characters do you think most accurately represent the Fitzgeralds in the novel? Why?