MODERNISM THE DEATH OF THE AMERICAN IDEAL? 1914-?.

Slides:

Advertisements

Similar presentations

Advertisements

Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises Some Points of Departure.

The Moderns. The Impact of World War I WWI was a turning point in American life, marking the loss of innocence and a strong disillusionment with tradition.

Today’s Agenda  “Hills Like White Elephants” Discussion Groups Presentations  HOMEWORK: Finish “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” and complete.

Modernism Objectives/Goals for this Unit RL 11.1: Cite strong and thorough evidence to support analysis of what the text specifically says.

Short Stories Ernest Hemingway. Background Birth: July 21, 1899 Death: July 2, 1961 Place of Birth: Oak Park, Hemingway volunteered as an ambulance driver.

The Moderns Origins “The Great War”: WWI changed the American voice in fiction “The Great War”: WWI changed the American voice in fiction At.

Quick-write How did the events of September 11 th change how Americans viewed their world? How has it changed our culture?

AND ITS IMPACT ON AMERICAN LITERATURE The Modern Period…

Modern Literature Historical Context World War I ( ) Great Depression ( s) World War II ( ) Advances in technology.

The Moderns WWI : A time of…  Great change  Increased cynicism  Questioning of authority  Loss of innocence  Disillusionment.

MODERNISM “You are all a lost generation.” -Gertrude Stein.

ELACC11-12RL9: Demonstrate knowledge of eighteenth-, nineteenth- and early twentieth-century foundational works of American literature, including how.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway Understanding the Author and His Work.

FINAL THOUGHTS After the seminar, write a page in which you clarify your interpretation of the big questions posed in discussion and synthesize ideas that.

Disillusionment definition : freedom from belief, conviction, or faith; a state of skepticism or cynicism.

Literary Movement: Modernism “I had a world, and it slipped away from me. The War blew up more than the bodies of men... It blew ideas away—”

The Moderns  World War I  Think about FDR’s statement. Be prepared to complete a Do Now regarding that statement.

Background  Born in Oak Park, IL.  Began writing while working on high school newspaper.  Worked as a reporter for the Kansas City Star.

F. Scott Fitzgerald Wrote many short stories which seem to celebrate this age of prosperity. He also worked in films and this influenced the way he wrote.

Modernism refers to the bold new experimental styles and forms that swept the arts during the first part of the twentieth century.  Modernism reflects.

The Moderns Men travel now, but I do not know if they go to better things. -Willa Cather.

Ernest Hemingway By CJ LoConte. Background Born on July 21, 1899 in Oak Park, Illinois Grew a big outdoorsman and journalist for newspapers Served as.

The Era of Modernism Shaping Influences  The speed at which people and information traveled increased exponentially as a result of: –The automobile.

THE MODERNS CHANGE Americans emerged from the war as victors, but something was beginning to change. The country seemed to have lost its innocence.

美国文学 Unit 9 F. Scott Fitzgerald ( ) and Ernest Hemingway ( )

ELEMENTS OF MODERNISM IN AMERICAN LITERATURE

American Modernism An introduction to Modern Literature, the world in which it existed, and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

The Modern Age ( ). Modern Age History and Literature is generally divided into two main categories: Early Twentieth Century ( ) Late.

 WW1 ( ) had profound effect on world. ◦ 65 million military involved ◦ 8-10 million died; 115,000 Americans ◦ 6-7 million civilians.

World War I Ends with Treaty of Versailles in 1919 The Great War Nearly 50 million die as a result of war Begins in Europe in 1914; United States enters.

Modernism Defiance, Disillusion & Discontent …

Modernism in American Literature

Modernism refers to the bold new experimental styles and forms that swept the arts during the first part of the twentieth century.  Modernism reflects.

Modernism Modernism uses a radical change in form and style.

MODERNISM The Civil War has ended and America had to rebuild. The unequal distribution of wealth has caused a number of changes. WWI is in the near future….what.

The Hemingway Hero Honors English 11 Miss Michaels.

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.

I. Naturalism I. Naturalism A. Beginnings of Naturalism - began as a part of Realism.

The Modern Period Challenging the American Dream

Ernest Hemingway, WWI, and The Lost Generation

Modernism Review & Connections to Hemingway. Historical Context World War I ( ) –Directly affected Hemingway who served as a Red Cross ambulance.

THE MODERNS POLITICAL AND SOCIAL MILESTONES World War I ( ) US entered the conflict in 1917 Nearly 50 million lives were lost Women’s.

Philosophies of Modernism. Overall Ideas of Modernism It was a literary movement of the early 20 th Century – Daring experimentation – Rejection of traditional.

The Modern Age I had a world, and it slipped away from me. War blew up more than the bodies of men...It blew ideas away. Sherwood Anderson.

The Moderns The Moderns Event Timeline 1905: Einstein formulates his theory of relativity 1914: The Panama Canal Opens 1917: America.

How did the events of September 11 th change how Americans viewed their world? How has it changed our culture?

Modernism Literature

MODERNISM 1914-?.

AND ITS IMPACT ON AMERICAN

Disillusionment.

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Quick-write How did the events of September 11th change how Americans viewed their world? How has it changed our culture?

Challenging the American Dream

F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Jazz Age

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Quick-write How did the events of September 11th change how Americans viewed their world? How has it changed our culture?

Hemingway and the “Code Hero”

Quick-write How did the events of September 11th change how Americans viewed their world? How has it changed our culture?

Modernism ( ) Emphasis on bold experimentation in style and form, reflecting the fragmentation of society. Rejection of traditional themes and.

THE MODERNS and the American Dream

Challenging the American Dream

Presentation transcript:

MODERNISM THE DEATH OF THE AMERICAN IDEAL? 1914-?

THE AMERICAN DREAM: PART I USA as the “New Eden” Beautiful Bountiful Rewarding Land of great, limitless possibility

THE AMERICAN DREAM: PART II Optimism Belief in Progress: Life is continually improving Opportunities are continually expanding

THE AMERICAN DREAM: PART III Faith in the Individual: Anyone can triumph and succeed in this land with: Effort Perseverance Common Sense

DEATH OF THE AMERICAN DREAM Industrialism Civil War and WWI Darwin’s Theories Dominance of Science All combine to undermine all traditional values and ideas

THE RESULTS Skepticism Cynicism Pessimism about life, nature, human condition; human nature Disillusionment with morals, religion, country, progress, technology, etc Life is absurd: it makes no sense; there is no order in the universe Life is a dirty trick

THE RESULTS Cast adrift without an anchor or a compass to muddle through life as best we can Spiritual Bankruptcy: atheism and loss of faith in any traditional moral order Alienation: a feeling of the loss of all things that give life meaning and order

THE GOOD RESULTS Because all bets are off, because nothing traditional holds water anymore, the following potentially positive things results: Freedom from old forms, morally artistically, and socially Experimentation as a hallmark of Modern art and literature: you can do WHATEVER YOU WANT!

THE GOOD RESULTS So, fewer restriction on human thought and behavior Wider acceptance of the non-traditional, such as the role of women Artists are truly free: Stream of consciousness Theater of the absurd Stories with no plot Free Verse poetry Freedom like this can be either terrifying or incredibly liberating and inspiring

Responses: The Roaring ’20s Drink to oblivion to distract yourself from the pain of existence Revel in things of the flesh: food, wine, sex Try to fill spiritual void with economic success, social status, etc: whoever dies with the most toys wins. But this is not an option after the Depression!

Responses: Ernest Hemingway’s Code Hero World is harsh, cold, uncaring, godless and absurd All is “nada”: nothing Man is vulnerable and will be maimed and crushed by the universe Great suffering, mental, spiritual, and physical, is unavoidable All this stuff is a given and must be accepted What is important is only this: in the face of the losing battle of life, how do you conduct yourself?

The “Code” Hero Thoroughly disillusioned with no faith in anything Always acts in accordance with a “code” of behavior that includes specific actions and attitudes Developed by observing the protagonists of Hemingway’s novels and short stories

The “Code” Always maintain honor and dignity Show courage in the face of pain and death Endure and persevere through the horrors of life Never surrender, give in, cry for help, or cry uncle, no matter how severe the suffering

The “Code” “Grace under pressure”: face death and pain with patience and dignity: do not crack or lose your head Stoical acceptance of all that the world hurls at you You must lose: a single human is far too small and insignificant to battle the universe What is important is how you conduct yourself as you are being crushed “The Lost Generation”: Hemingway and his contemporaries: meaning should be obvious

So, what makes life tolerable? Celebrating and savoring life’s simple pleasures: beauty, rest, food, Rituals: can give life a sort of order amongst the chaos of existence: The Bullfight. Practicing a physical skill or talent: sports especially for Hemingway Comeraderie with fellow sufferers

The Questions In the year 2008, have we emerged from the pessimism, angst, disillusionment, and alienation of the Moderns? Yuppies Spiritual malaise Suicide rates Divorce rates Alternative music Pursuit of wealth and status to fulfill us Mid-life Crises Depression rates What worldview are we today? How have the worldviews of the past influenced us today?