Name : Rasila JambuchaRoll no: 22Paper: The Modernist literature

Topic: General characteristic of modernist ageSubmitted to: Smt.s.b.Gardi Department of English M.K.Bhavnagar University

what is modernism?

strong and international break with tradition against established religious, political, social views

no connection with history or institution no things as absolute truth-all are relative people make their own meaning in the world Rise of mass communicationCelebration of inner strength(It was) international and interdisciplinary movement

Characteristic of modernism in literature

literature exhibits perspectives - meaning comes from the individuals perspective interiority is represented - inner psychology, stream of consciousness perception of language change - language is “thick” with multiple meaning emphasis on the experimental - open ending

Modern age totally opposite from Victorian age believed in rational thinking prose created the most(bitter satire, scientific fiction,

realistic) world war first and second create chaotic situation in

society, literature. anti war literature and absurd theater includes science and psychology –impact of colonialism new term AVANT-GARDE introduce

General characteristic of modern age Anxiety and interrogation -Freedom of thought and action, rational thinking Art for art sake -concentration on the problem of modern life, role of realism Growing interest in the poor class and the working class -(poor) challenge to the social conscience impact of socio-economic condition on literature -raised voice against poverty, change the pattern of economic thinking, Marxism influence on literature

psychology and literature - new theory of psychology “stream of consciousness” the impact of the two world wars - second war has influence on man and human life, anti-war book symbolism, formalism, individuality and absurdity experimentation was one of the finest qualities of this

age

Modern poetry – characteristic

Formal characteristic

Open form

Free verse

juxtaposition

intertextuality

Classical allusion

metanarrative

Thematic characteristic

Dislocation of meaning

disillusionment

Substitution of mythical

past

Stream of consciousnes

s

Product of metropolis

Breakdown of social norms

Modern Literature has pessimism, disillusionment, melancholy, sense of

fragmentation, scientific methodology, decay of plot and character

Eliot’s- waste land i.e., of ugly and broken society of western world because impact of world war

it’s a example of scientific methodology and symbol

this both example of decay of plot and character

Difference between Modern age and Victorian age

Difference between modern and Victorian

modern Victorian

Modern age Victorian age

Rejects old forms Acceptance of all forms

realism imaginative

meaninglessness superficial

complex easier

intellectuality general

Loss of faith Blind faith

Values differences in the modern world Pre modern world

• Ordered• Meaningful• Optimistic• Stable• Faith• Mortality/values• Clear sense of identity

modern world (early 20th cen,)

• Chaotic• Futile• Pessimistic• Fluctuating• Loss of faith• Collapse of mortality/values• Confused sense of identity

conclusion

age of science and scientific discoveries

Reconstruction of new values

Because of political turmoil revolutionary ideologies rise: Facism, Nazism, communism takes place