Modernism

PART 1 — THE BIG IDEA OF MODERNISM

What caused Modernism?

Modernism developed after World War I. The war caused massive destruction and made people lose faith in:

  • government

  • religion

  • society

  • traditional values

Writers began exploring:

  • confusion

  • loneliness

  • broken dreams

  • uncertainty

  • identity

The 4 Pillars of Modernism

These are VERY important.

1. Alienation / Isolation

People feel lonely, disconnected, or misunderstood.

Examples:

  • Richard Cory

  • Gatsby

  • Prufrock

  • Santiago

2. Dehumanization / Mechanization

Modern society and technology make people feel less human.

Example:

Factories, cities, machines, modern life overwhelming people.

3. Inability to Communicate Effectively

People struggle to express emotions or connect with others.

Examples:

  • Prufrock cannot express himself

  • Characters in Hemingway stories hide emotions

4. Narrative Experimentation / Breaking Traditions

Writers used:

  • fragmented thoughts

  • symbolism

  • stream of consciousness

  • unusual structure

Example:

“Prufrock”

PART 2 — IMPORTANT VOCAB

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses.

Example:

“raisin in the sun”

Simile

Comparison using “like” or “as.”

Example:

“like a raisin in the sun”

Metaphor

Direct comparison without “like” or “as.”

Example:

“Time is a thief”

Speaker

The narrator/voice of a poem.

NOT always the author.

Catalog

A long list of details or descriptions.

Example:

“Chicago”

Foreshadowing

Hints about future events.

Situational Irony

When the opposite of expectations happens.

Example:

Richard Cory appears perfect but kills himself.

Flashback

A scene returning to the past.

Epigraph

A quotation placed before a text begins.

Allusion

Reference to another work, religion, myth, or event.

Existentialism

The belief that life may not have clear meaning and people must create meaning themselves.

PART 3 — AUTHORS & TEXTS

Edwin Arlington Robinson

“Richard Cory”

Main Ideas:

  • appearance vs reality

  • isolation

  • hidden suffering

Important:

Richard Cory seems perfect but commits suicide.

Modernist Connections:

  • alienation

  • inability to truly know others

  • irony

“Miniver Cheevy”

Main Ideas:

  • dissatisfaction with modern life

  • escaping reality

  • romanticizing the past

Carl Sandburg

“Chicago”

Main Ideas:

  • pride in the city

  • energy and toughness

  • realism about flaws

Literary Device:

Catalog

Edgar Lee Masters

Spoon River Anthology

“The Hill”

Dead people reflect on life.

“Lucinda Matlock”

Life is difficult but still meaningful.

“Theodore the Poet”

Dreams vs reality.

E. E. Cummings

“Humanity I Love You”

Main Ideas:

  • love/hate relationship with humanity

  • experimental writing style

The Great Gatsby

by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Main Ideas:

  • corruption of the American Dream

  • illusion vs reality

  • loneliness

  • wealth does not create happiness

Important Symbols:

  • Green light = unreachable dream

Important Character:

Gatsby

Zora Neale Hurston

“How It Feels to Be Colored Me”

Main Ideas:

  • racial identity

  • pride

  • individuality

Langston Hughes

“Dream Deferred”

Main Question:

What happens when dreams are postponed?

Important Imagery:

“Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?”

Theme:

Frustration and disappointment.

“I, Too”

Main Ideas:

  • equality

  • hope

  • dignity

“Theme for English B”

Main Ideas:

  • identity

  • race

  • shared humanity

T. S. Eliot

“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”

Main Ideas:

  • insecurity

  • fear

  • loneliness

  • overthinking

Important:

Stream of consciousness writing style.

Famous Idea:

“Do I dare?”

The Old Man and the Sea

by Ernest Hemingway

Main Character:

Santiago

Main Ideas:

  • perseverance

  • dignity

  • struggle

  • endurance

Symbols:

  • marlin = achievement

  • sharks = destruction/loss

Important Quote:

“A man can be destroyed but not defeated.”

“A Canary for One”

by Ernest Hemingway

Main Ideas:

  • failed communication

  • emotional distance

  • irony

PART 4 — POSSIBLE OPEN RESPONSE QUESTIONS

Question:

How did WWI influence Modernism?

Example Answer:

World War I caused death and destruction that made people lose faith in traditional beliefs and institutions. Modernist writers reflected this confusion and disillusionment through themes like isolation, uncertainty, and experimentation in literature.

Question:

How does a text show Modernist ideas?

Example Answer:

In “Richard Cory,” Edwin Arlington Robinson shows the Modernist idea of alienation. Although Richard Cory appears wealthy and admired, he secretly feels isolated and unhappy. His suicide demonstrates how appearances can hide emotional suffering.

Question:

Why is The Great Gatsby considered Modernist?

Example Answer:

The Great Gatsby is Modernist because it explores loneliness, illusion, and the failure of the American Dream. Gatsby’s obsession with Daisy and wealth ultimately leaves him isolated and unhappy.

PART 5 — FAST MEMORIZATION SHEET

4 Modernist Characteristics

  1. Alienation/isolation

  2. Dehumanization/mechanization

  3. Communication failure

  4. Experimental writing

Most Important Authors

  • Robinson

  • Hughes

  • Eliot

  • Fitzgerald

  • Hemingway

Most Important Themes

  • loneliness

  • broken dreams

  • identity

  • communication problems

  • appearance vs reality

  • struggle for meaning

PART 6 — HOW TO STUDY TONIGHT

Step 1

Memorize the 4 pillars of Modernism.

Step 2

Practice vocab with examples.

Step 3

Memorize:
AUTHOR ↔ TEXT

Step 4

For each reading, know:

  • main theme

  • Modernist connection

  • one important detail

Step 5

Practice writing 2 short paragraph responses.

Use this formula:

  1. Answer question directly

  2. Mention text

  3. Explain connection to Modernism