1. MODERNISM 1914 -1939 F. SCOTT FITZGERALD THE GREAT GATSBY Notes

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. History – An Overview  Historical Timeline cont.  The Great Depression – 1929 – 1939 (beginning of WWII) A result of the New York Stock Market Crash in 1929. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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