Introduction to modernism Modernist literature was a predominantly English genre of ction writing, popular from rough roughly ly the 1910 1910s s into into the 1960 1960s. s. Moder Modernis nistt litera literatur ture e came came into into its own own due to increasing increasing industrialization and globalization. ew technology and the horrifying horrifying e!ents of both "orld "ars #but specically "orld "ar $% made many people &uestion the future of humanity' "hat was becoming of the world( "riters "riters reacted to this &uestion by turning toward toward Modernist sentiments. )one was the *omantic period that focused on nature and being. Modernist ction spo+e of the inner self and consciousness. $nstead of progress, the Modernist writer saw a decline of ci!ilization. $nstead of new technology, the Modernist writer saw cold machinery and increased increased capitalism, which alienated the indi!idual and led to loneliness. o o achie!e the emotions described abo!e, most Modernist Modernist ction was cast in rst person. "hereas earlier, most literature had a clear beginning, middle, and end #or introduction, con-ict, and resolution%, the Modernist story was often more of a stream of consciousness. $rony, satire, and comparisons were often employed to point out societys ills. /or the rsttime Modernist reader, reader, this can all add up to feel li+e the story is going nowhere. . his mo!ement originated when some writers felt that they re&uired a new form of writing to e2press their ideologies and outloo+ towards life. Modernism enabled writers to pursue highly indi!idualistic forms of writing. hus, this style of writing represents a radical shift in cultural sensibilities of the corresponding corresponding time. Famous writers3 short list of some of famous Modernist writers includes 4amuel 5ec+ett, ames oyce, oseph 7onrad, .4. Eliot, "illiam /aul+ner, ohn 4teinbec+, E.E. 7ummings, 4yl!ia 8lath, /. 4cott /itzgerald, "illiam 5utler eats, Ezra 8ound, Ernest :emingway, ;irginia "oolf, <.:. =awrence, and )ertrude 4tein./rom the abo!e list, two specic wor+s that epitomize Modernist literature are /aul+ners 3s $ =ay
Characteristics of Modernism Formal/Stylistic Characteristics Of Modernism
$rony, $rony, comparisons, comparisons, >u2taposition >u2taposition and satire satire are are some common elements found in modernist writing. Modernistic wor+s are often written in rst person and are &uite di?erent from from traditional styles. $n modernism, modernism, the content of the writing is represented as a long stream of consciousness, >ust li+e a rant, that often does not ha!e a proper beginning, middle and@or end. :ence, the readers may get slightly confused as to what the writer is trying to communicate to them. u2taposition usually represents represents something which is unusual, for e2ample, a cat and mouse sharing a good friendship. Modernist writers use irony and satire as tools that aid them in ma+ing fun of something and point out faults, usually, problems within their society. Thematic Characteristics Characteristics
Modernist writing, for a rsttime reader, can be a frustrating e2perience, re&uiring a big e?ort to understand the concept. his is because of the fragmentation and lac+ of conciseness of the writing, which are main characteristics of modernism. he plot, theme and the characters are not necessarily linear. Modernist writings usually focus more on representing the writers ideas, opinions and thoughts and presenting them to the public at as high a !olume as possible. $t could be an opposition to the e2isting social structure, a social practice or a pre!ailing ideology. 4ome past modernist writers were also +nown to create stylistic and artistic te2ts using di?erent fonts, symbols, colors etc. in their writing. General Characteristics
Modernism is mar+ed by a strong and intentional brea+ from the traditional way of rendering a theme or a thought. he concept of modernism denies the e2istence of truth. 3ccording to this school of thought, e!erything is relati!e. Modernists belie!e that the world is what we percei!e or, in other words, the world is what we say it is. Modernism maintains absolutely no connection institutions.3ccording to this concept, life is unordered.
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Modernism emphasizes on the importance of companionship between indi!iduals and celebration of inner strength. ew 4ense Af *eality Modernism belie!es in relati!e, pro!isional truths and hence, it replaced the concept of absolute, +nowable truth with the awareness of BrealityB. Modernists refused to follow the teleological ways of thin+ing in which phenomena are e2plained on the basis of their ends or purposes. $t suggested a de!elopment in the sense of time as we e2perience itC a shift from linear time to Bmoment timeB. =i!ing in the moment was an underlying theme of modernism. Modernism focuses more on epistemological concerns li+e Dhow do we +now and Dwhat we +now and it in&uires how the way of thin+ing is inseparable from the form of thin+ing. Modernism is a reaction against the dominance of rational and logical discourse. New Approaches In Modernist Writin
7haracter' he character summary disappears in modernism. $t is characterized by the representation of Dself as di!erse, contradictory and ambiguous. 4tyle' he style changed into an imagistic way rather than one gi!ing logical connections.
8lot' Modernism doubts linear plots that come with sudden, une2pected turning points. 3lternati!ely, it uses Dmoment time contrapuntal multiple plots and open unresol!ed endings. /ocalization' Modernism re>ects the single, authoritati!e, omniscient point of !iew that comes from the consciousness of one character. $nstead, it ta+es on multiple points of !iew simultaneously held by one character. Causes of !e"elopment of a New Thouht
Modernism is a result of a sense of a changing world, stimulated by radical de!elopments li+e' escalation of warfare to a global le!el. new de!elopment in the anthropological studies and religion. new insights from newly de!eloping elds li+e psychology and sociology. scientic de!elopment of new theories of electromagnetism and &uantum physics. rising criticism against 5ritish imperialism and the ideology of empire emergence of Bcity consciousnessB. shifting power structures li+e women entering the wor+ force. de!elopment of information technologies li+e radio and cinema. new concepts li+e mass democracy and the rise of mass communication. ndesiFcle or BendofthecenturyB consciousness. Modernism gained popularity as a protest to the e2isting society, social institutions and the way they functioned. :owe!er, in literature, it declined after a period as the wor+s concentrated more on the writers line of thought in an abstract manner, which made them diGcult to understand. :owe!er, there are some writers who nd this style more comfortable for presenting their ideologies and follow this school of thought e!en now. Modernism in #iterature$ %uic& O"er"iew
ust in content, but in form. 8opular 5ritish Modernists include the following'
ames oyce #from
