ESSAY: Unit 7 The Modern Era
Respond in a well-organized 3-5 paragraph essay. Be sure to write in complete sentences. Your response must completely address the prompt.
With the beginning of the new twentieth century and the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, a new era of literature had begun. Write an essay in which you discuss the characteristics of modernism and postmodernism in literature. Use at least three different selections from this unit to serve as examples of characteristics.
Modernism and postmodernism are two distinct movements in literature that emerged in the twentieth century. Modernism, which began in the early 1900s, was characterized by a break from traditional forms and experimentation with language and narrative techniques. Postmodernism, on the other hand, emerged in the mid-20th century as a reaction against modernist ideals, embracing fragmentation, intertextuality, and self-reflexivity.
One of the characteristics of modernism can be seen in T.S. Eliot's poem "The Waste Land," which is a prime example of the fragmented and complex nature of modernist literature. The poem is filled with allusions, juxtapositions, and a lack of a clear narrative thread, reflecting the confusion and disillusionment of the post-World War I era. This fragmented structure is a hallmark of modernist literature, challenging traditional notions of coherence and linearity.
Another characteristic of modernism can be seen in Virginia Woolf's novel "Mrs. Dalloway." Woolf experiments with stream-of-consciousness narration, allowing readers to delve deep into the inner thoughts and emotions of her characters. This technique serves to highlight the fragmented nature of human consciousness and the subjective nature of reality, key themes in modernist literature.
In contrast, postmodernism can be seen in the work of Jorge Luis Borges, particularly in his short story "The Garden of Forking Paths." Borges's story is characterized by its metafictional elements, as the protagonist is a writer working on a book that mirrors the same story he is living. This self-referentiality and playfulness with narrative conventions are typical of postmodern literature, which often blurs the boundaries between fiction and reality.
Overall, modernism and postmodernism represent two different approaches to literature in the twentieth century. Modernism sought to break with traditional forms and experiment with new techniques, while postmodernism embraced irony, self-reflexivity, and fragmentation. Both movements were responses to the rapidly changing world of the twentieth century, reflecting the uncertainty and complexity of modern life.