The Moderns

The Moderns---overview The event that forms the far boundary for the era of writers in this unit is WWI. Although America emerged victorious from the war, the experience wrought great changes. The values and traditions of the past no longer seemed to provide answers. The event that forms the far boundary for the era of writers in this unit is WWI. Although America emerged victorious from the war, the experience wrought great changes. The values and traditions of the past no longer seemed to provide answers.

Questions and Changes Idealism was turning into cynicism and a few Americans began to question “the Dream”. Idealism was turning into cynicism and a few Americans began to question “the Dream”. Other reasons for change were caused by the stock market crash –in “Black Tuesday” Other reasons for change were caused by the stock market crash –in “Black Tuesday”

Moderns Style The Modernist movement called for bold experimentation and a rejections of all traditional themes and styles. The Modernist movement called for bold experimentation and a rejections of all traditional themes and styles.

Elements questioned within the American Dream 1. America as a “new” Eden—seen as a beautiful, bountiful, and rewarding land. (The Great Gatsby) 2. Optimism in the future—moving toward perfection, toward an era of prosperity, justice and joy 3. Belief in the importance and ultimate triumph of the individual—the independent, self-reliant person.

Elements questioned within the American Dream It was these three ideas that were most heavily damaged by WWI and the economic crash of 1929.

New Movements –showing the breakdown of traditional morality and values 1. Marxism---In Russia a revolution toppled the Czar. Socialistic beliefs were in direct opposition to the American system. 2. Psychoanalysis---Workings of the unconscious mind caused anxiety about the amount of freedom an individual really had. Was there such a thing as “free will”?

New Movements –showing the breakdown of traditional morality and values in literature: 3. Stream of consciousness----was a writing style that tried to imitate the characters moment-by-moment flow of his unconscious. (Faulkner)

Major Theme of Moderns Disillusionment---the condition of being disenchanted / disappointed. Disillusionment---the condition of being disenchanted / disappointed. –Major theme running through much of the fiction at this time.