Written Report

in
Literary Criticism
“MODERNISM”

Presented By: Angel, Rodelyn

Marcelino, Rebecca S.

Modernism
 Modernism in literature emerged as a vibrant movement in the late 19th century and
reached its zenith in the early decades of the 20th century, primarily flourishing in Europe and
North America. This literary movement represented a radical shift from traditional forms and
themes, engaging deeply with technological advances and profound societal changes. The
essence of Modernism lies in its experimental approach, a departure from established norms, and
a quest to capture the complexities of the modern world.
The rise of industrial society brought about significant changes in daily life and social
structures, prompting writers to explore new themes and techniques. The growth of cities
introduced new experiences and challenges, which Modernist writers sought to reflect in their
works. Developments in psychology, particularly the theories of Sigmund Freud, influenced
literary explorations of the human psyche.
The period was marked by a shift from the certainties of the Victorian era to a sense of
disillusionment and fragmentation, especially following the devastations of World War I. This
change was mirrored in the literature of the time, which sought to break away from the
constraints of previous literary traditions.

Key Characteristics

1. Individualism - Modernist literature places a strong emphasis on the individual, often

considering the personal experience and psychological depth of characters more
intriguing than the broader society. This focus reflects a shift from the collective to the
personal, highlighting the unique experiences and inner lives of individuals. Modernist
authors delve into the minds of their characters, exploring their thoughts, emotions, and
consciousness.
2. Experimentation - Modernist authors were fascinated by how individuals adjusted to the
rapidly changing environment of the early 20th century. The technological advancements,
urbanization, and societal shifts of the time posed new challenges and opportunities for
self-discovery. Modernist writers frequently experimented with form and style, rejecting
traditional narrative techniques and exploring new ways to tell stories. Modernist writers
combined historical imagery with contemporary themes and languages, creating a
stylistic collage that blends different elements to produce a rich, multilayered text. One of
the most distinctive features of Modernist literature is the stream of consciousness
technique. This narrative mode seeks to depict the flow of thoughts and feelings through
the minds of characters.
3. Absurdity – The two World Wars had a profound impact on Modernist writers. The
immense loss of life, the horrors of trench warfare, and the overall sense of chaos and
meaninglessness that accompanied these conflicts deeply influenced their work. Many
notable poets and writers were either killed or profoundly affected by their experiences in
the wars. Modernist literature often reflects a sense of disillusionment with the traditional
values and structures of society, portraying characters who feel alienated and
 disconnected and the notion that life lacks inherent meaning is a recurring theme, leading
to a focus on the absurdity of existence.
4. Symbolism – Modernist writers imbued their works with deep symbolic meanings,
creating a rich, multi-layered reality that often required careful interpretation. This use of
symbolism allowed them to explore complex themes and ideas in a nuanced and indirect
manner. Objects, characters, places, and events are often laden with symbolic meaning,
contributing to the thematic depth of the work. Authors also uses symbolism as it can
create a sense of mystery or secrecy, with works sometimes resembling puzzles that
readers must decipher.
5. Formalism - Formalism in Modernist literature marked a significant departure from the
traditional, organic view of literary creation. Modernist authors perceived literature more
as a craft, composed of meticulously constructed smaller pieces, rather than an intrinsic,
spontaneous process. This report explores the formalist approach in Modernist literature,
highlighting its characteristics, techniques, and key examples. Modernist authors
approached literature with a sense of craftsmanship, emphasizing the construction and
arrangement of elements within a text. This perspective contrasted sharply with earlier
views that saw literary creation as a more natural and intuitive process.

Key Themes of Modernist Literature

Modernist literature explored a variety of themes that may most effectively represent the author's
perspective on the world around them as a rebellious gesture against established conventions of
the craft. It would be hard to include them all here due to their diversity. The modernist elements
vary in prominence, nevertheless, from some to others. Four of them are listed below, along with
illustrations.

• Transformation
The idea of metamorphosis is practically inextricable from modernism. The movement is
founded on the concept of radical change, whether it is the modification of form,
expression, or standard. Start with Ezra Pound’s manifesto, Make It New, to see this
theme in action.
Transformation as a theme also refers to a symbolic rebirth, a shift in values and
identities. This component of the theme was fueled by loss, destruction, and the authors'
personal experiences with war, which led to fragmentation.
Franz Kafka’s absurdist novel The Metamorphosis has examples of change as a topic.
Regarding modernism in American literature, Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises
and William Faulkner’s Barn Burning both have this theme.

• Mythological Tales
 Modernist authors and painters did not just allude to Greek-Latin and other mythologies,
unlike their predecessors. Instead, they retold those stories in the context of the
contemporary world. Mythological stories and characters are used as symbols or as plot-
relevant characters to characterize modernism in literature.
S. Eliot's The Waste Land is one of the best works from the modernist era in terms of
myth instances. T. S. Eliot utilizes Tarot cards and the Holy Grail as symbols in this
poem to reinterpret the Fisher King stories. Additionally, T. S. Eliot included Latin and
Greek words to deepen the poem’s meaning.
Ulysses by James Joyce has references to Homer’s Odysseus and Mourning Becomes
Electra by Eugene O’Neill, which are two more examples of myths in modernist
literature.

• Loss, Separation, and Destruction

The harsh realities of war are mostly to blame for the rise of this theme in modern-period
literature. Many authors lived through these events, which were laced with grief,
separation, and destruction. Therefore, the works created in the years following the war
reflected these experiences.
Separation, loss, and destruction were also universal events that many people shared at
the same time and had similar effects on them. Because of this, readers generally favored
modernist literature.
Virginia Woolf, a British author and a leader of modernism in English literature, has
several instances of this theme in her writings. The best representations of these subjects
in American literature can be found in T. S. Eliot, William Faulkner, and Ernest
Hemingway.

• Love and Sensuality

Individualism, one of the traits of modernism, drove the literary themes of sensualism
and love throughout this time. However, these concepts were rather cynically or, others
could say, realistically reinvented, so they did not escape disappointment and
demystification. Love isn’t characterized in modernist literature as a mystical emotion
capable of moving mountains. The tone of love stories instead becomes grimmer and
more fatalistic, which adds to the evidence that society is eroding.
Modernist works were characterized by conversations and reflections on sexuality,
gender roles, and feminism in addition to love and sensuality. D. H. Lawrence, Katherine
Mansfield, and Virginia Woolf are a few well-known writers in this field.
Read and consider Ernest Hemingway’s For Whom the Bell Tolls and F. Scott
Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby for literary examples of love and sensuality modernism.
Another excellent example is Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D.H. Lawrence, which explores
the issue from the perspectives of emancipation and gender equality.
EXAMPLES AND AUTHORS:

• James Joyce and “Ulysses”

James Joyce (1882–1941), was an Irish poet and writer. He belonged to the generation of
artists that experimented with many means of expression. His writing style was
meticulous, filled with internal monologues, and disregarded conventional plot and
character techniques. Ulysses is written by James Joyce. It is widely considered a
masterwork, stylistically complex, and exciting. Numerous volumes of discussion and
analysis have been written about it. The Odyssey, an ancient poem by Homer, is retold in
Joyce’s novel about the Greek hero Odysseus’ homecoming from the Trojan Wars.
Odysseus’ journey took 10 years, but Joyce condenses it to one day in Dublin on June 16,
1904. Since his school days, Joyce had been drawn to the myth of Odysseus, or Ulysses,
as the Romans named him. Joyce structured Ulysses around eighteen episodes, each of
which is designed to resemble a scene from Homer's epic. Joyce had a remarkable eye for
detail.

• Virginia Woolf and “To the Lighthouse”

Virginia Woolf (1882–1941), a pioneer of modernism in English literature, and her body
of work helped to define the movement. She was among the pioneers in employing the
stream-of-consciousness narrative technique to show the nuanced interior lives of her
characters. Woolf incorporated feminism into her writing as well. Simone de Beauvoir
was one of the three female authors of the time to examine “the given.” Her work also
heavily incorporates other historical topics from the era, such as the war, destruction, and
the influence of social class. Virginia Woolf’s book “To the Lighthouse” was released in
1927. This piece is one of her more successful and approachable attempts at the stream-
of-consciousness literary form. The three parts of the book, which take place between
1910 and 1920, center on various Ramsay family members who are visiting their Scottish
island vacation home on the Isle of Skye. The struggle between the universe’s dominant
male and feminine forces is a major theme in the book.

• S. Eliot and “The Waste Land

T.S. Eliot, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948, is renowned for his work as a
poet, literary critic, playwright, editor, and publisher. One of the most well-known
examples of literary modernism is T S Eliot's lengthy poem The Waste Land, published
in 1922. Eliot paints a gloomy image of the landscape of the modern world and its history
in the poem’s five sections, “The Burial of the Dead,” “A Game of Chess,” “The Fire
Sermon,” “Death by Water,” and “What the Thunder Said.” The "old man with wrinkled
dugs,” in his words, is “the most important personage.” Greek mythology’s
hermaphrodite character Tiresias is blind but has precognitive powers. The poem was
started by Eliot in 1914, but it wasn’t finished until a breakdown brought on by the death
of his father in 1919. It is usually interpreted as a critique of the hopelessness of post-war
European history. The ubiquitous metaphor of dryness is typically interpreted as
signifying spiritual emptiness.