(1914–1945) Between the beginning of World War I and the end of World War II (1914–1945), the United States became a “modern” nation, riven with internal fractures. Between the beginning of World War I and the end of World War II (1914–1945), the United States became a “modern” nation, riven with internal fractures. Urbanization, industrialization, and immigration had altered national demographics of the 1920s. Urbanization, industrialization, and immigration had altered national demographics of the 1920s. “Prohibition”—forbidding the manufacture, sale, or exchange of alcohol—gave rise to organized crime and the “Gangster” phenomenon of the 1920s. “Prohibition”—forbidding the manufacture, sale, or exchange of alcohol—gave rise to organized crime and the “Gangster” phenomenon of the 1920s.

Despite facing racism and segregation in the North, African Americans became an important part of the cultural fabric of the nation. Despite facing racism and segregation in the North, African Americans became an important part of the cultural fabric of the nation. Art to some writers, such as Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, Wallace Stevens, and William Carlos Williams, offered an alternative way of understanding the world, eventually giving rise to the idea of “two cultures”—science vs. letters. Art to some writers, such as Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, Wallace Stevens, and William Carlos Williams, offered an alternative way of understanding the world, eventually giving rise to the idea of “two cultures”—science vs. letters. The era following World War I, marked by tremendous social upheaval and economic and political devastation, gave rise to modernism. The era following World War I, marked by tremendous social upheaval and economic and political devastation, gave rise to modernism. Because modernism was an international movement, it was seen by some to conflict with American literary traditions. Because modernism was an international movement, it was seen by some to conflict with American literary traditions.

During the Harlem Renaissance, black Americans such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston became prominent and applied modernist techniques to speak of the realities of black cultural and political life. During the Harlem Renaissance, black Americans such as Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston became prominent and applied modernist techniques to speak of the realities of black cultural and political life. Women writers also contributed in vital ways to the heterogeneity of the literature during the interwar period. Women writers also contributed in vital ways to the heterogeneity of the literature during the interwar period. A final, but significant, artistic development in the interwar period is in the realm of drama. A final, but significant, artistic development in the interwar period is in the realm of drama.

Modernity Come into being with the Renaissance and defined in relation to Antiquity Come into being with the Renaissance and defined in relation to Antiquity Implies progressive economic and administrative rationalization and differentiation of the social world Implies progressive economic and administrative rationalization and differentiation of the social world By differentiation is meant the separation of fact from value and of the ethical from the theoretical sphere. By differentiation is meant the separation of fact from value and of the ethical from the theoretical sphere. Refers to that cluster of social, economic and political systems brought into bring in the West around the 18 th century onwards. Refers to that cluster of social, economic and political systems brought into bring in the West around the 18 th century onwards.

Modernism Major artistic movement responding to the sense of social breakdown in the early 20 th century. Major artistic movement responding to the sense of social breakdown in the early 20 th century. An international movement includes a wide range of experimental trends in the literature: symbolism, futurism, expression, imagism, vorticism, Dada, surrealism. An international movement includes a wide range of experimental trends in the literature: symbolism, futurism, expression, imagism, vorticism, Dada, surrealism. Characterized by a rejection of 19 th century traditions. The modernists believes that previously sustaining structures of human life, whether social, political, religious, or artistic, had been either destroyed or shown up as falsehoods, or fantasies. Characterized by a rejection of 19 th century traditions. The modernists believes that previously sustaining structures of human life, whether social, political, religious, or artistic, had been either destroyed or shown up as falsehoods, or fantasies.

Modernization A diverse unity of socio-economic changes generated by scientific and technological discoveries and innovations, industrial upheavals, population movements, urbanization, the formation of national states, and mass political movements, all driven by the expanding capitalist world market. A diverse unity of socio-economic changes generated by scientific and technological discoveries and innovations, industrial upheavals, population movements, urbanization, the formation of national states, and mass political movements, all driven by the expanding capitalist world market.

Modernism Order, sequence, and unity in works of art might well be considered only expressions of a desire for coherence rather than actual reflection of reality. Order, sequence, and unity in works of art might well be considered only expressions of a desire for coherence rather than actual reflection of reality. Generalization and abstraction might conceal rather than convey the real. Generalization and abstraction might conceal rather than convey the real. The forms of a story, with its beginnings, complications, and resolutions, might be mere artifice imposed on the flux and fragmentation of experience. The forms of a story, with its beginnings, complications, and resolutions, might be mere artifice imposed on the flux and fragmentation of experience.

Modernism The defining formal characteristic of the modernist work is its construction out of fragments. Modernist literature is notable for what it omits: the explanations, interpretations, connections, summaries, continutity, perspective and security in a traditional literature. The defining formal characteristic of the modernist work is its construction out of fragments. Modernist literature is notable for what it omits: the explanations, interpretations, connections, summaries, continutity, perspective and security in a traditional literature. Begins arbitrarily, advance without explanation, end without resolution, consisting of vivid segments juxtaposed without traditions. Begins arbitrarily, advance without explanation, end without resolution, consisting of vivid segments juxtaposed without traditions. Shifts in perspective, voice, and tone. Shifts in perspective, voice, and tone.

Modernism The rhetoric will be understated, ironic. The rhetoric will be understated, ironic. Suggest rather than assert, making use of symbols and images instead of statements. Suggest rather than assert, making use of symbols and images instead of statements. Effect will be surprising, shocking, and unsettling Effect will be surprising, shocking, and unsettling The experience of reading will be challenging and difficult. The experience of reading will be challenging and difficult.

Modern Poetry Modernist techniques and manifestos were initiated by poets Modernist techniques and manifestos were initiated by poets The reality of objective world is called into question. The reality of objective world is called into question. At times they veer towards a Platonic world of essences (material things offer only ghostly semblances) At times they veer towards a Platonic world of essences (material things offer only ghostly semblances) At other times, they may recognize their ability to overcome attempts to reshape them by imaginative will At other times, they may recognize their ability to overcome attempts to reshape them by imaginative will The verging of what is imagined upon what is seen, of fiction upon fact, the search for more adequate fictions— can be demonstrated in Wallace Steven’s pursuit of a “supreme fiction” The verging of what is imagined upon what is seen, of fiction upon fact, the search for more adequate fictions— can be demonstrated in Wallace Steven’s pursuit of a “supreme fiction”

Modern Poetry The modern poets relied on the reference (allusion) to literary, historical, philosophical, or religious details of the past as a way of reminding readers of the old, lost coherence. The modern poets relied on the reference (allusion) to literary, historical, philosophical, or religious details of the past as a way of reminding readers of the old, lost coherence. Vignettes of contemporary life, chunks of popular culture, dream imagery, and symbolism drawn from the poet’s private life experiences Vignettes of contemporary life, chunks of popular culture, dream imagery, and symbolism drawn from the poet’s private life experiences There were modern poets before there was modern poetry (Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson) There were modern poets before there was modern poetry (Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson)