Tema 57
The United Kingdom: WWI to WWII
Introduction
This unit discusses the literary and socio-cultural changes in the UK between WWI and WWII.
Emphasizes the importance of integrating communicative and socio-cultural competence in curriculum.
Economic and Political Background (1914-1950)
Early 20th Century: Britain was the dominant power, later declining by mid-century.
Causes of Decline: Costs of two world wars, maintaining the empire, and industrial weaknesses.
The First World War (1914-1918)
Overview: A global conflict between Allies and Central Powers, resulting in over 15 million deaths.
Initial Conflict: German invasions of Belgium, Luxembourg, and France.
Trench Warfare: The Western Front saw static battles leading to massive casualties.
End of War: Germany surrendered on November 11, 1918, collapsing empires and leading to the Treaty of Versailles.
Britain’s Role in WWI
Unprepared for modern warfare; suffered heavy losses before military conscription and U.S. support flipped the tide.
Major losses included over 750,000 dead during intense combat.
The Rise of the Labour Party
Founded in the early 20th century, the Labour Party became the primary Left political party by the 1920s, surpassing the Liberal Party.
The Rights of Women
Voting Rights Progression: Limited to women over thirty in 1918; equal voting age with men established in 1928.
Social Changes: Increased female workforce during WWI and evolving social norms for women's behavior and rights.
The Great Depression
Timeline: Originated in the U.S. in 1929, impacting global economies until the late 1930s.
Impact: Severe downturn in personal income, tax revenue, and international trade, resulting in widespread poverty.
The Second World War (1939-1945)
Conflict Overview: A total war involving Allies and Axis powers, resulting in over 70 million deaths.
Failure of League of Nations: Unable to prevent aggressions leading to war; led to formation of the United Nations post-war.
Consequences: Emergence of the U.S. and Soviet Union as superpowers, leading to the Cold War.
From Empire to Commonwealth
Shift in Control: Growing nationalism led to the dismantling of the Empire.
Dominion Status: Canada, Australia, and New Zealand granted autonomy.
Post-War Grammar: Transition from empire to Commonwealth with most nations gaining independence.
Literary Background: Representative Authors
D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930)
Life: Born in a mining village; his early life influenced his literary themes.
Style: Blends naturalism and poetry; deep exploration of human relationships, questioning modern civilization.
Major Works: Include "Sons and Lovers", "The Rainbow", and "Women in Love".
Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)
Life: Influenced by her literary family, she became a pivotal modernist writer.
Style: Known for stream of consciousness techniques, exploring consciousness and the passage of time.
Key Works: "Mrs Dalloway", "To the Lighthouse", and "The Waves".
Poetry: The Auden Generation
Comprised of Louis MacNeice, Cecil Day Lewis, Stephen Spender, and A.H. Auden.
A.H. Auden (1907-1973): Central figure in the group; known for combining technical craftsmanship with social and personal themes in his poetry.
His works marked a transition from early political concerns to deeper explorations of personal responsibility.
Conclusion
This examination of British history and literature showcases the development from societal turmoil to influential literary movements.
Suggested readings, such as "The Rainbow" or "The Lighthouse", can further engage students in English Literature.
Bibliography
Greenblatt, S. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Norton. London 2000.
Sanders, A. The Oxford History of English Literature. OUP. Oxford 2000.
Sampson, G. The Concise Cambridge History of English Literature. CUP. London 1972.
The United Kingdom: WWI to WWII
Introduction
This unit discusses the literary and socio-cultural changes in the UK between WWI and WWII, emphasizing the importance of integrating communicative and socio-cultural competence in the curriculum.
Economic and Political Background (1914-1950)
In the early 20th century, Britain was the dominant power, although it began to decline by mid-century due to the costs of two world wars, the demands of maintaining the empire, and industrial weaknesses.
The First World War (1914-1918)
The First World War was a global conflict between the Allies and Central Powers, resulting in over 15 million deaths. The initial conflict saw German invasions of Belgium, Luxembourg, and France, with trench warfare leading to static battles and massive casualties on the Western Front. The war ended when Germany surrendered on November 11, 1918, resulting in the collapse of empires and the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Britain faced significant challenges during WWI, being unprepared for modern warfare and suffering heavy losses before military conscription and U.S. support turned the tide, culminating in over 750,000 British deaths in intense combat.
The Rise of the Labour Party
Founded in the early 20th century, the Labour Party emerged as the primary Left political party by the 1920s, surpassing the Liberal Party.
The Rights of Women
The progression of voting rights for women began with limited suffrage granted in 1918 to women over thirty, leading to an equal voting age with men established in 1928. During WWI, social changes led to an increased female workforce and evolving social norms regarding women’s behavior and rights.
The Great Depression
The Great Depression began in the U.S. in 1929 and impacted global economies until the late 1930s, resulting in a severe downturn in personal income, tax revenue, and international trade, which led to widespread poverty.
The Second World War (1939-1945)
The Second World War was a total war involving the Allies and Axis powers, leading to over 70 million deaths. The failure of the League of Nations to prevent aggressions paved the way for the formation of the United Nations post-war. The consequences of the war included the emergence of the U.S. and the Soviet Union as superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War.
From Empire to Commonwealth
Nationalism grew, leading to the dismantling of the British Empire and granting dominion status to countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, allowing them greater autonomy. The transition from empire to Commonwealth occurred in the post-war era, with most nations gaining independence.
Literary Background: Representative Authors
D.H. Lawrence (1885-1930)
D.H. Lawrence was born in a mining village, and his early life significantly influenced his literary themes. His style blended naturalism and poetry, deeply exploring human relationships and questioning modern civilization. Major works include "Sons and Lovers", "The Rainbow", and "Women in Love".
Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)
Virginia Woolf, influenced by her literary family, became a pivotal modernist writer known for her use of stream of consciousness techniques that explored consciousness and the passage of time. Key works include "Mrs Dalloway", "To the Lighthouse", and "The Waves".
Poetry: The Auden Generation
The Auden Generation consisted of poets such as Louis MacNeice, Cecil Day Lewis, Stephen Spender, and A.H. Auden, with Auden being a central figure known for combining technical craftsmanship with social and personal themes in his poetry. His works marked a transition from early political concerns to deeper explorations of personal responsibility.
Conclusion
This examination of British history and literature highlights the development from societal turmoil to influential literary movements. Suggested readings, such as "The Rainbow" or "The Lighthouse", can further engage students in English literature.
Bibliography
Greenblatt, S. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Norton. London 2000.
Sanders, A. The Oxford History of English Literature. OUP. Oxford 2000.
Sampson, G. The Concise Cambridge History of English Literature. CUP. London 1972.