MODERNISM F. SCOTT FITZGERALD THE GREAT GATSBY Notes

Organization of this Unit…  Symbolism & Imagism – Poetry  Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, William Carlos Williams, Marianne Moore, E.E. Cummings  Modern American Fiction  Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner  Midcentury Voices  John Steinbeck, James Thurber, Robert Frost  The Harlem Renaissance  Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston

History – An Overview  Historical Timeline  World War I (The Great War): 1914 – 1918 Began June 1914 when the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by a Serbian nationalist. The U.S. enters in 1917 The armistice (aka “truce” which ended the fighting) was signed on the 11 th hour on Nov. 11, 1918 – (where Veteran's Day comes from). The Treat of Versailles (which officially ends the war) was signed in 1919.

History – An Overview  Historical Timeline cont.  Woman’s Suffrage 1920 – Ratification of the 19 th Amendment – U.S. women earn the right to vote. This new status affects women overall: Begin wearing shorter skirts Bobbing hair in modern fashion Participated in sports

History – An Overview  Historical Timeline cont.  The Great Depression – 1929 – 1939 (beginning of WWII) A result of the New York Stock Market Crash in The early 30’s were the hardest… Nearly 1/4 to 1/3 of American’s were unemployed. People were found waiting in bread and soup lines, hunting for food in garbage, and sleeping in sewer pipes. Hoovervilles – “towns” made up by the homeless – named after President Hoover (who was reluctant to take steps to change things). Caused much despair in America Gave rise to extremist political parties in Europe, like the Nazi’s.

History – An Overview  The American Dream: (damaged by The Great Depression)  America as a New Eden a land of beauty, bounty, and unlimited promise. (The Great Gatsby -1925)  A belief in progress optimism that life will keep getting better, and that we are always moving towards an era of greater prosperity, justice and joy.  Triumph of the Individual The independent, self-reliant person will triumph (championed by Ralph Waldo Emerson). Everything is possible for the person who places trust in his or her own powers and potential.

Modernism Sprouts  Shift from New England  American literary life finally started to move away from New England, which had been the native region of many American writers during the 19 th century.  “Modern writers” were born in the South, Midwest, or the West.

Modernism – Definition  Modernist Movement  Movement in literature, painting, music, and other arts.  Called for bold experimentation and an extensive rejection of traditional themes and styles. Vincent Van Gogh’s famous “Starry Night” painting.

Modernism – Philosophical Views  Postwar Modern Movements:  Marxism Embraces socialism as the desired social structure takes hold in Russia and finds some support in the U.S. (named after Karl Marx, a socialist that invented Communism – wanted the workers to revolt & felt that rich businesses controlled the government)  Psychoanalysis – founded by Sigmund Freud Encourages exploration of the human subconscious and the meaning of dreams. Stream of Consciousness: Narrative technique that attempts to imitate the moment-by-moment flow of a character’s perceptions and memories. (Used by James Joyce in Ulysses).  These two movements combined to influence previous beliefs and values.

Modernism – Social Influences  The Jazz Age  Prohibition results in speak-easy’s, short-skirted flappers, new rhythms of jazz, dangerous yet profitable professions as gangsters, and the emerging role of women.  The New American Hero  Created by Ernest Hemmingway – a man of action, a warrior, and a tough competitor. He has a code of honor, courage and endurance while showing “grace under pressure”.  More importantly though, he showed thorough disillusionment  Experimentation in Poetry  Influence of British poetry was over.  New ways of seeing and thinking.  Symbolism & Imagism take over.

Modernism – Social Influences  Rejection of Modernism  Robert Frost – rejected modern trends Took the most conventional forms, and gave them a twist of his own (was unique and impossible to imitate).  The Harlem Renaissance  1920’s – a group of black poets focused on the unique contributions of African American culture to America.  Langston Hughes  Based out of Harlem (neighborhood in NYC) Poetry based its rhythms on jazz, lyrics on the blues, and its diction on street talk of the ghettos.  The American Dream Revised  An effect of Modernism and Modern Literature

Modernism – Summary  Major Elements of Modernism  Emphasis on bold experimentation in style and form  Rejection of traditional themes, subjects and forms  Sense of disillusionment and loss of faith in the American dream  Rejection of the perfect hero and acceptance of a hero that is flawed and disillusioned but shows “grace under pressure”  Increasing popularity of socialism  Interest in the inner workings of the mind, sometimes expressed through the stream of consciousness  Social influences including the Jazz Age and the Harlem Renaissance