Tema 55
1. INTRODUCTION
This unit relates closely to the curriculum, enhancing communicative and socio-cultural competence.
It encourages students to engage deeply with reading.
2. DEFINITION OF “THE LOST GENERATION”
Coined by Gertrude Stein, the term refers to writers born around the early 1900s who matured during WWI.
Major figures include Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, and John Dos Passos.
The term encapsulates their collective disillusionment with American society post-WWI.
Disillusion: A shared experience of disillusionment with the hollow values of society post-war.
Exile: Many writers chose to live abroad, with Hemingway and Fitzgerald spending significant time in Europe.
Private emotion: Writers explored inner feelings, retreating into personal worlds.
Extravagance and Hedonism: The economic boom post-war fostered a hedonistic lifestyle amongst these writers, leading to a pursuit of excitement and pleasure despite underlying despair.
3. ERNEST HEMINGWAY (1899-1962)
3.1. Life
Born in Illinois and grew up with strong ties to nature and writing, influenced by family activities.
Served in WWI as an ambulance driver after being rejected from US military service.
His wartime experience profoundly shaped his writing.
3.2. Major Works
The Sun Also Rises (1926): Explores themes of loss, identity, and the search for meaning through the character of Jake Barnes.
A Farewell to Arms (1929): Focuses on love and loss against the backdrop of war.
To Have and Have Not (1937) and For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940): Engage with social issues of the times.
The Old Man and the Sea (1952): An acclaimed novella that earned him a Pulitzer Prize; reflects themes of perseverance.
4. F. SCOTT FITZGERALD (1896-1940)
4.1. Life and Style
Grew up in the Midwest, with a writing career mirroring his own experiences and aspirations.
Explored themes of wealth, youth, and the American dream, often contrasting reality with idealism.
4.2. Early Works
Initial books reflect youthful disillusionment and self-projection.
Notable works include Flappers and Philosophers and This Side of Paradise.
4.3. The Great Gatsby (1925)
Critically examines wealth and the American dream through the character of Jay Gatsby, who pursues a love unattainable due to class barriers.
4.4. Tender is the Night (1934)
Explores the disintegration of an expatriate American couple amidst the backdrop of wealth and chaos in 1920s Europe.
5. JOHN STEINBECK (1902-1968)
5.1. Life and Style
Born in Salinas, California, capturing the struggles of the working class.
Focused on themes of justice, poverty, and the human condition.
5.2. Main Works
Of Mice and Men (1937): Tragic story of two ranch workers and themes of friendship and isolation.
The Grapes of Wrath (1940): Highlights the plight of migrant workers during the Great Depression, critiquing social injustices.
East of Eden (1952): An exploration of good and evil through the lens of familial relationships.
6. WILLIAM FAULKNER (1897-1996)
6.1. Life
Nobel Prize-winning author from Mississippi known for his complex narratives and themes exploring the human psyche.
Influenced by Southern culture and history.
6.2. Major Works
The Sound and the Fury (1929): Notable for its stream-of-consciousness style, portraying the decline of a Southern family.
As I Lay Dying (1930): A multi-perspective tale focusing on a family's journey to honor a dying wish, rich with symbolism.
Other Works: Sanctuary, Absalom, Absalom!, and The Bear delve into complex themes of identity and morality.
7. CONCLUSION
Literature serves as a reflection of societal issues and is pivotal in engaging students with English through relatable narratives.
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
GARCIA LORENZO, M. American Literature after 1900. UNED, Madrid 2005.
OUSBY, I. An Introduction to 50 American Novels. Pan Literature Guides, London 1975.
INTRODUCTION
This unit relates closely to the curriculum, enhancing communicative and socio-cultural competence, and encourages students to engage deeply with reading.
DEFINITION OF “THE LOST GENERATION”
Coined by Gertrude Stein, the term "The Lost Generation" refers to writers born around the early 1900s who matured during World War I. Major figures of this generation include Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, and John Dos Passos. The term encapsulates their collective disillusionment with American society post-WWI, stemming from a shared experience of disillusionment with the hollow values of society after the war. Many writers chose to live abroad, with Hemingway and Fitzgerald spending significant time in Europe. Their works often explored inner feelings, retreating into personal worlds, while the economic boom post-war fostered a hedonistic lifestyle among these writers, leading to a pursuit of excitement and pleasure despite underlying despair.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY (1899-1962)
Life
Born in Illinois, Hemingway grew up with strong ties to nature and writing, influenced by family activities. He served in WWI as an ambulance driver after being rejected from US military service, and his wartime experience profoundly shaped his writing.
Major Works
Key works include The Sun Also Rises (1926), which explores themes of loss, identity, and the search for meaning through the character of Jake Barnes; A Farewell to Arms (1929), focusing on love and loss against the backdrop of war; and To Have and Have Not (1937) and For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940), which engage with social issues of the times. His acclaimed novella, The Old Man and the Sea (1952), earned him a Pulitzer Prize and reflects themes of perseverance.
F. SCOTT FITZGERALD (1896-1940)
Life and Style
Grew up in the Midwest, Fitzgerald's writing career mirrored his own experiences and aspirations. He explored themes of wealth, youth, and the American dream, often contrasting reality with idealism.
Early Works
His initial books reflect youthful disillusionment and self-projection, with notable works including Flappers and Philosophers and This Side of Paradise.
The Great Gatsby (1925)
This novel critically examines wealth and the American dream through the character of Jay Gatsby, who pursues a love that is unattainable due to class barriers.
Tender is the Night (1934)
This work delves into the disintegration of an expatriate American couple amidst the wealth and chaos of 1920s Europe.
JOHN STEINBECK (1902-1968)
Life and Style
Born in Salinas, California, Steinbeck captured the struggles of the working class, focusing on themes of justice, poverty, and the human condition.
Main Works
His significant works include Of Mice and Men (1937), a tragic story of two ranch workers dealing with friendship and isolation; The Grapes of Wrath (1940), highlighting the plight of migrant workers during the Great Depression and critiquing social injustices; and East of Eden (1952), which discusses the themes of good and evil through familial relationships.
WILLIAM FAULKNER (1897-1996)
Life
A Nobel Prize-winning author from Mississippi, Faulkner was known for his complex narratives and themes exploring the human psyche, influenced by Southern culture and history.
Major Works
His notable works include The Sound and the Fury (1929), recognized for its stream-of-consciousness style and portrayal of a Southern family's decline, and As I Lay Dying (1930), a multi-perspective tale about a family's journey to fulfill a dying wish, rich with symbolism. Other significant works include Sanctuary, Absalom, Absalom!, and The Bear, which delve into complex themes of identity and morality.
CONCLUSION
Literature serves as a reflection of societal issues and is pivotal in engaging students with English through relatable narratives.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
GARCIA LORENZO, M. American Literature after 1900. UNED, Madrid 2005.OUSBY, I. An Introduction to 50 American Novels. Pan Literature Guides, London 1975.