English Modernism (Matti, Allu)

English Modernism

Modernism started in the late 1800’s and continued until around the 1960’s. It was a period of huge changes in the way literature was created. Everyone wanted to be different so all the previous "rules" were broken. All the new styles and differences make the actual modernistic art very different from anything we have seen before. This is why some people consider modern art to be weird or even pointless.

 World War I And The Industrial Revolution

WWI had a huge impact on English modernism. Issues varying from writers in action to lack of paper to writer on meant that the modernist movement would have to be put on hold, yet it was to gain much of its inspirations from there horrific events.

 The creation of modernism was a response to the industrial revolution, and the effects of the changes of the 19th century on humanity. With the addition of WWI, the earth must have been a gloomy place, which in turn, set the trend and characteristics of the modernist era.

Characteristics of Modernism 

The modernist period followed the romanticism era, where life was viewed as very sacred and majestic, and that humans were viewed as being top of the universe. However WWI showed how cruel humans can be, and that life is not just filled with beauty.

This gave birth to the style and characteristics of modernism, which includes death, loss and spiritual recovery.

Modernist poems are very different to traditional English poems. Rather than having a clear cut introduction, conflict and resolution Modernist poems are more of a flow of consciousness, which at times, makes it hard to follow.

                                                                    T. S. Eliot

 


T.S. Eliot was one of the pioneers of the English modernist movement. He was born in Missouri, but moved to England at the age of 18. This is also when he started writing poetry. Because he was born  in the States, some people consider him an American modernist. However, since he wrote all of his published works while in England, it is generally accepted that he was an English modernist. He converted into a Christian in his 30's, which can be seen in his later works in the form of Christian themes, allusions and ideas. 

Other English modernists include 

-Virginia Woolf

-Jacob Poland

-Joseph Conrad

-James Joyce

Modernist Prose

The modernist writers wanted to make new and modern books, so they abandoned all the techniques and styles and created their own. One of the most significant changes is that most modernist writers completely disregarded the hero-character from their stories. Also the regular chronological order of events was abandoned when modernists started using flashbacks, repetitions and other tools to modify time in their novels. 

Sources: 

www.tate.org.uk

http://www.poetry-archive.com/e/eliot_t_s.html

http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poet/t-s-eliot

http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/library/alumni/online_exhibits/digital/2000/c_n_c/c_10_20th_cent/intro_modernism.htm

http://www.squidoo.com/trench-art-world-war-one-two-artillery-shell-casing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modernism

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