Modernist Literature and Poetry: Key Concepts and Authors

What were the primary reasons for Modernist disillusionment?

World War 1, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and societal changes created uncertainty about traditional views.

What is the Lost Generation in the context of American Modernism?

A group of American writers from the 1920s who felt disconnected due to World War 1, focusing on themes of disillusionment, alienation, and loss of traditional values.

How did industrialization and urbanization contribute to feelings of alienation?

By causing people to move to cities, endure long labor hours, and lose connection with their communities and individuality.

What impact did the rise of technology and individualism have on religion and faith?

People began to rely on science, questioning traditional religion and focusing more on personal achievements.

What are the key qualities of an Imagist poem?

Imagist poems are short, clear, focus on a single image, and contain no unnecessary words.

How should one approach Imagist work?

Identify the main image, note figurative language, tone, mood, and explain what it reveals about the theme or emotion.

What is the difference between setting and atmosphere in a story?

Setting refers to the place and time, while atmosphere refers to the mood of the story.

What is a Third Person Objective narrator?

A narrator who reports events without revealing the thoughts or feelings of characters.

What is the difference between internal and external conflict?

Internal conflict is a struggle within a character (Character vs Self), while external conflict involves a character's struggle against outside forces (Character vs environment, society, or other characters).

What is the difference between theme and symbolism?

Theme is the central idea of a work, while symbolism involves objects or actions that represent larger ideas.

How did Modernism influence short stories?

It emphasized the inner self, used stream of consciousness, embraced ambiguity, fragmented structures, and included symbolism.

What is the Iceberg Theory as proposed by Ernest Hemingway?

A writing style that hints at the main idea, requiring readers to infer deeper meanings, such as emptiness despite stability.

What does symbolism represent in Kate Chopin's work?

It reveals inner truths and hidden desires, such as freedom and confinement in marriage.

What does the open window symbolize in Chopin's writing?

Freedom, new life, and possibility.

What themes are explored in Kate Chopin's work?

Freedom vs. oppression in marriage, female independence, and life's unpredictability.

What internal conflict does Mrs. Mallard face in Chopin's story?

She struggles between grief for her husband and joy at her newfound independence.

What themes are present in 'In a Station of the Metro'?

Urbanization vs. nature, alienation, individuality, and the pressure that leads to a loss of self.

What is the tone and meaning of 'The Red Wheelbarrow'?

The tone is subjective and appreciative, emphasizing the importance of appreciating small things.

What literary devices are used in 'The Great Figure'?

It employs stream-of-consciousness and sensory details to convey urgency and hope.

What is the tone of 'This is Just To Say'?

The tone is mocking.