Literary modernism has its origins in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, mainly in Europe and North America, and is characterized by

Literary modernism has its origins in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, mainly in Europe and North America, and is characterized by

you will choose to write Modernism

You will select three of the characteristics of the literary period and apply one each to a particular story or poet.

You can use only one poet as one of your selections. The other selections will be stories.

You will support your ideas with specific references to the text AND quotations

Modernism (choose to write on this Period . . . or see further down)

Literary modernism has its origins in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, mainly in Europe and North America, and is characterized by a self-conscious break with traditional ways of writing. Modernists experimented with literary form and expression. This literary movement was driven by a conscious desire to overturn traditional modes of representation and express the new sensibilities of their time. The horrors of the First World War saw the prevailing assumptions about society reassessed, and much modernist writing engages with the technological advances and societal changes of modernity moving into the 20th century.

Characteristics of Modernism (Choose three different ones to explore):

  • Worldwide Destruction. During the First World War, the world witnessed the chaos and destruction of which modern man was capable.
  • Experimentation. Modernist writers broke free of old forms and techniques.
  • Cultural Fragmentation. Related to the theme of destruction is the theme of fragmentation. Values don’t mean what they once did.
  • Marked by a strong and intentional break with tradition. This break includes a strong reaction against established religious, political, and social views.
  • There is no such thing as absolute truth. All things are relative.
  • Their experience is that of alienation, loss, and despair.
  • Championship of the individual and celebration of inner strength.
  • Life is unordered.
  • Subjectivity. The inner workings of consciousness were a common subject

(pick 3 works from either Modernism

Modernism

Yeats poems

Metamorphosis

Lovesong: Prufrock

Barn Burning

Frost poems

Requirements

  • Essay length: at least 500 words
  • MLA format, 12-point font, Calibri or Times New Roman
  • Explore at least three characteristics of the literary period
  • Choose at least three works to analyze (only one poet however) from the period you pick.
  • Each work will illustrate a separate characteristic of the literary period. See the provided lists.
  • You will use quotations from the text to support your assertions
  • You will also offer specific references to highlight your understanding to the text.
  • Organization: the basic intro, body, conclusion.
  • Each body paragraph will have a topic sentence.

Answer preview for Literary modernism has its origins in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, mainly in Europe and North America, and is characterized by

MLA

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