1. The Moderns 1900-1950

2. WWI 1914-1918: A time of…  Great change  Increased cynicism  Questioning of authority  Loss of innocence  Disillusionment with tradition  Great change  Increased cynicism  Questioning of authority  Loss of innocence  Disillusionment with tradition

3. The American Dream: 3 Central Ideas 1.America seen as a “new Eden” 2.Optimism, opportunity, and abundance 3.Ultimate triumph of the individual 1.America seen as a “new Eden” 2.Optimism, opportunity, and abundance 3.Ultimate triumph of the individual

4. Crack in the World  WWI and economic crash--damaged ideals of American dream  American literature shifting away from New England  New intellectual trends: Marxism, psychoanalysis (Freud)  WWI and economic crash--damaged ideals of American dream  American literature shifting away from New England  New intellectual trends: Marxism, psychoanalysis (Freud)

5. Shifts in Literature  Stream of consciousness writing  Examination of subconscious mind  Questioning of free will  Stream of consciousness writing  Examination of subconscious mind  Questioning of free will

6. The Jazz Age: Here and Abroad  1919: prohibition  Bootleggers and the speakeasy  Flappers, jazz, gangsters  “Roaring Twenties” Fitzgerald as spokesman  1920 women right to vote  1919: prohibition  Bootleggers and the speakeasy  Flappers, jazz, gangsters  “Roaring Twenties” Fitzgerald as spokesman  1920 women right to vote

7. Expatriates  Many writers moving abroad: cheaper, more exotic, more open

8. Grace Under Pressure  New kind of American hero  Ernest Hemingway: influenced literary styles--plain, bare bones of truth and new hero  Hemingway hero: tough, courageous, competitor, shows grace under pressure--and, disillusioned NNew kind of American hero EErnest Hemingway: influenced literary styles--plain, bare bones of truth and new hero HHemingway hero: tough, courageous, competitor, shows grace under pressure--and, disillusioned

9. Modernist Poetry  Am.poetry went into decline after Whitman and Dickinson died.  After 1910, poets began to explore artistic life of Europe.  Influenced by artists like Matisse and Picasso--exploring new ways to rep. reality  Am.poetry went into decline after Whitman and Dickinson died.  After 1910, poets began to explore artistic life of Europe.  Influenced by artists like Matisse and Picasso--exploring new ways to rep. reality

10. Symbolism  Taking world of “appearances” and violently rearranging to create more truthful representation

11. Symbolism  Wanting to get rid of national, religious, and psych.symbols--thought they were overused  Instead, wanted to focus on the emotional effects that objects can suggest  Wanting to get rid of national, religious, and psych.symbols--thought they were overused  Instead, wanted to focus on the emotional effects that objects can suggest

12. Imagism  Concentration on the pure image to carry the poem’s emotion  Desire to get rid of artificial, pretty poetry in exchange for the “raw power” of the image  Concentration on the pure image to carry the poem’s emotion  Desire to get rid of artificial, pretty poetry in exchange for the “raw power” of the image

13. Poetry in New England and Midwest  Some rejected “modernist” trends  Some stayed here  Plain, American speech--regional  American heartland, rougher stanzas, looser lines (ie, Spoon River Anthology)  Some rejected “modernist” trends  Some stayed here  Plain, American speech--regional  American heartland, rougher stanzas, looser lines (ie, Spoon River Anthology)

14. Harlem Renaissance  African American culture found expression in poetry  Focus on unique contributions of African Americans  Based in rhythms of jazz and spirituals  Lyrics known as the blues; diction based on street talk  African American culture found expression in poetry  Focus on unique contributions of African Americans  Based in rhythms of jazz and spirituals  Lyrics known as the blues; diction based on street talk

15. Poetic Voices of West and South  Poetry of the West became the inspiration of the later “beat poets”-- some conventional and some experimentation  Voice of the South subtle, graceful, and polished  Poetry of the West became the inspiration of the later “beat poets”-- some conventional and some experimentation  Voice of the South subtle, graceful, and polished

16. American Dream: Revised  Moderns not “optimistic” like Emerson, but still saw importance of self- reliance and America as new Eden  Ultimately experimenting boldly with style and subject matter  Seeking answers to--who are we? Where are we going? What is our purpose?  Moderns not “optimistic” like Emerson, but still saw importance of self- reliance and America as new Eden  Ultimately experimenting boldly with style and subject matter  Seeking answers to--who are we? Where are we going? What is our purpose?