55 THE LOST GENERATION

Lost Generation

A group of American writers who expressed disillusionment with American society after World War I.

The Roaring Twenties

A decade of unbalanced prosperity in the United States, characterized by economic growth and cultural shifts such as the rise of jazz music.

Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic depression that took place in the 1930s, often marked by high unemployment and widespread poverty.

Gertrude Stein

An avant-garde American writer who described the group of disillusioned writers as the 'Lost Generation'.

Modernist approach

A literary movement characterized by a break from traditional narrative forms and exploration of new techniques and themes.

New Deal program

A series of economic reforms and recovery measures implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

An influential author of the Lost Generation, known for exploring themes of disillusionment and the excesses of the Jazz Age.

John Steinbeck

An American author whose works often depicted the struggles of rural life and social issues during the Great Depression.

Ernest Hemingway

A prominent writer of the Lost Generation, recognized for his minimalist style and exploration of themes of war and human experience.

William Faulkner

A modernist author known for his complex narratives that depict the American South and explore themes of race, history, and human nature.

Symbolism

A literary device where symbols are used to represent ideas, emotions, or concepts, often found in the works of Fitzgerald.

Disillusionment

A feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be; a central theme for the Lost Generation.

The Jazz Age

A term used to describe the 1920s in America, highlighting the ubiquitous nature of jazz music and cultural change.

Naturalism

A literary movement that aims to represent reality as accurately as possible, often examining social issues and human behavior.

Regionalism

A literary style that emphasizes the specific characteristics of a particular geographic area, often seen in Steinbeck's works.

Modernism

A broad movement in literature characterized by a break with traditional styles and a focus on new forms.

Psychoanalysis

A psychological theory that emphasizes the influence of the unconscious mind; reflected in the themes of Faulkner's works.

American Dream

The ideal that everyone has the opportunity to achieve success and prosperity through hard work; challenged in Fitzgerald's works.

Narrative fragmentation

A technique used in literature that presents the story out of chronological order, often utilized by Faulkner.

Aristocratic values

Social beliefs and norms associated with the aristocracy, which the Lost Generation critiqued in their writings.

Alienation

The feeling of being isolated or estranged, a common theme in the works of the Lost Generation.