Introduction:
The period of Modernism lasted between 1910 to 1945. During this time period America had been involved in World War I, a severe economic depression, and World War II. These major events caused a shift in political America and how the everyday people lived. This shift led to the forming of a new period of American Literature focusing on such ideals as disillusionment and fragmentation.
The Roaring Twenties arose during the Modernist period. The American people began to live lives of extravagance, constantly searching for something to fulfill their needs. During the twenties many new authors emerged known as: the Lost Generation. Members of the Lost Generation included F Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, T.S. Elliot, and Ernest Hemingway. The Roaring Twenties brought about many changes socially. These changes became evident as American shifted towards becoming a consumer economy.
During this period of literature authors were encouraging one another to experience with new styles of writing. The authors wanted to break away from the traditional way of writing. Ezra Pound, founder of the Imagist movement, wrote about the do's and don'ts of poetry. He encouraged other authors to "make it new". This lead to many authors experimenting with different ways to make their writing new and exciting, changing the feel of poetry during that time.
The authors of this time shared a common purpose, to reflect modern society during that period in America. The literature often times was presented in a pessimistic light. This was to reflect the American mindset during the Great Depression. This literature sought to express the chaos and confusion the American people were dealing with. At the beginning of this period they were the wealthiest country in the world, but midway through they took a dramatic hit to their economy with the Stock Market Crash. This confusion and discontentment led to a collapse of morals and values, producing the two major themes of this period: disillusionment and fragmentation. The period of Modernism sought to produce a change in writing that would reflect the social change of the American people during early twentieth century.
The period of Modernism lasted between 1910 to 1945. During this time period America had been involved in World War I, a severe economic depression, and World War II. These major events caused a shift in political America and how the everyday people lived. This shift led to the forming of a new period of American Literature focusing on such ideals as disillusionment and fragmentation.
The Roaring Twenties arose during the Modernist period. The American people began to live lives of extravagance, constantly searching for something to fulfill their needs. During the twenties many new authors emerged known as: the Lost Generation. Members of the Lost Generation included F Scott Fitzgerald, Ezra Pound, T.S. Elliot, and Ernest Hemingway. The Roaring Twenties brought about many changes socially. These changes became evident as American shifted towards becoming a consumer economy.
During this period of literature authors were encouraging one another to experience with new styles of writing. The authors wanted to break away from the traditional way of writing. Ezra Pound, founder of the Imagist movement, wrote about the do's and don'ts of poetry. He encouraged other authors to "make it new". This lead to many authors experimenting with different ways to make their writing new and exciting, changing the feel of poetry during that time.
The authors of this time shared a common purpose, to reflect modern society during that period in America. The literature often times was presented in a pessimistic light. This was to reflect the American mindset during the Great Depression. This literature sought to express the chaos and confusion the American people were dealing with. At the beginning of this period they were the wealthiest country in the world, but midway through they took a dramatic hit to their economy with the Stock Market Crash. This confusion and discontentment led to a collapse of morals and values, producing the two major themes of this period: disillusionment and fragmentation. The period of Modernism sought to produce a change in writing that would reflect the social change of the American people during early twentieth century.
F. Scott Fitzgerald:
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born September 24, 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was named after his cousin Francis Scott Key who wrote the "Star Spangled Banner". His parents sent him to two Catholic schools in New York for his early education. Due to his obvious intelligence he only had to attend school for half a day, and he could choose which half. However his father was fired, and the family had to move back to St. Paul. At the age of thirteen his first piece of writing was published in his school's newspaper.
In 1913 Fitzgerald entered Princeton University. While at Princeton he strived hard to improve his writing skills. He wrote for the Princeton Tiger and the Nassau Lit. He was also a member of the University Cottage Club, which still displays his desk and writing materials in its library. Due to how much time he was spending working on his writing, he neglected his other school work and was placed on Academic probation. In 1917 he dropped out of Princeton and enlisted in the Army. However, he was afraid he would not return home from war, so he wrote The Romantic Egotist. The publisher would not publish the novel, but encouraged Fitzgerald to submit more works in the future.
Fitzgerald was commissioned a second lieutenant, and stationed in Montgomery, Alabama. While in Montgomery he fell in love with Zelda Sayre, the daughter of an Alabama Supreme Court justice. The war ended in 1918 before he was ever deployed. He proposed to Zelda who accepted, but later refused to marry him not believing that he would be able to support her. In 1920 Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise was published. In the first year 41,075 copies were sold. Proving he would be able to support Zelda they married, and had one daughter in 1921. However Zelda suffered from schizophrenia and was admitted into a mental facility. He and Zelda later moved to Paris, France searching for inspiration. While in France, Fitzgerald wrote The Great Gatsby in 1925.
The Great Gatsby did not become as big as Fitzgerald had thought it would become. In 1929 the Stock Market Crash occurred. Fitzgerald was in severe debt from Zelda's medical bills, and was not making much of an income from his writings. He began working as a screenwriter to earn extra money. In 1934 he wrote Tender is The Night, and began writing The Last Tycoon in 1939. However he died on December 21, 1940. Other authors were asked to finish his novel, but they all turned it down, because no one could match Fitzgerald's writing.
F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered to be one of the greatest authors in history. His novel The Great Gatsby became a household name, and an iconic novel widely read. Fitzgerald was able to capture the lifestyle of the Roaring Twenties. He is able to perfectly display the fast paced, luxarious lifestyle that was presented during the Jazz Age. There has not been an author quite like Fitzgerald since The Great Gatsby and there never will be. Fitzgerald's writings greatly affected American Literature as a whole and strongly influenced the Modernist Period.
Key Historical Events and Timeline of This Period:
- Boy Scouts established: 1910
- Oreo cookies first introduced: 1912
- parachutes invented: 1912
- World War I begins: 1914
- US enters WWI: 1917
- Harlem Renaissance Begins: 1920
- Prohibition: 1920
- First Olympic Winter Games: 1924
- Stock Market Crash: 1929
- Pluto discovered: 1930
- Air Conditioning invented: 1932
- FDR New Deal: 1933
- Dust Bowl: 1934
- World War II begins: 1939
- Auschwitz opened: 1940
- Attack on Pearl Harbor: 1941
- D-Day: 1944
- US drops atomic bomb on Japan: 1945
- Germany surrenders, Hitler's suicide: 1945
Themes of The Modernist Period:
The major themes of the period of Modernism were disillusionment , confusion, and isolation. Disillusionment came about as a result of World War I and the Stock Market Crash. "In Another Country" shows the disillusionment about War and it being glorious. "The Great Gatsby" best reflects the themes of disillusionment. Gatsby tries to recreate the past, and whole heartedly believes he can live a happy life with Daisy. "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" also reflects the themes of disillusionment.
The theme of confusion reflects the mindset of the American people during this time period. The people did not have security in their everyday lives after the economic crash, and they were trying to figure out where to go with their lives. "The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock" shows this confusion as it portrays a man attempting to discover what social class he belongs to. The theme of isolation is shown in the story "In Another Country". The soldiers are in Milan rather than America, and away from everything that is familiar to them.
The themes of disillusionment, confusion, and isolation truly reflect the mindset of the American people. They were scared and confused with the major turn of events they endured during this thirty-five year period. This generation went through two World Wars and an economic depression. The Literature of the Modernist period does an excellent idea of giving us a picture of how the people thought during that time.
The major themes of the period of Modernism were disillusionment , confusion, and isolation. Disillusionment came about as a result of World War I and the Stock Market Crash. "In Another Country" shows the disillusionment about War and it being glorious. "The Great Gatsby" best reflects the themes of disillusionment. Gatsby tries to recreate the past, and whole heartedly believes he can live a happy life with Daisy. "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" also reflects the themes of disillusionment.
The theme of confusion reflects the mindset of the American people during this time period. The people did not have security in their everyday lives after the economic crash, and they were trying to figure out where to go with their lives. "The Love Song of J Alfred Prufrock" shows this confusion as it portrays a man attempting to discover what social class he belongs to. The theme of isolation is shown in the story "In Another Country". The soldiers are in Milan rather than America, and away from everything that is familiar to them.
The themes of disillusionment, confusion, and isolation truly reflect the mindset of the American people. They were scared and confused with the major turn of events they endured during this thirty-five year period. This generation went through two World Wars and an economic depression. The Literature of the Modernist period does an excellent idea of giving us a picture of how the people thought during that time.