Modern AgeModern Age

1910 – 19301910 – 1930

Age of:Age of:

ExtremesExtremes Rapid ChangeRapid Change Clashing ValuesClashing Values

Historical, Social, and Cultural Historical, Social, and Cultural ForcesForces

World War I – World War I – violence caused many to lose faith in violence caused many to lose faith in

traditional traditional valuesvalues Roaring TwentiesRoaring Twenties

booming economybooming economyjazzjazzNational Prohibition Act 1919National Prohibition Act 1919rise of gangstersrise of gangsters

Women’s RightsWomen’s RightsNineteenth Amendment gives women Nineteenth Amendment gives women

right to vote right to vote (1920)(1920)

The Great MigrationThe Great MigrationAfrican Americans move to northern cities African Americans move to northern cities

(Harlem (Harlem in New York City)in New York City) Popular CulturePopular Culture

automobilesautomobilesradiosradiosmoviesmovies

The Great DepressionThe Great Depressionstock market crash on October 29, 1929stock market crash on October 29, 1929by 1933 approximately 25% of Americans by 1933 approximately 25% of Americans

were were unemployedunemployed

Big IdeasBig Ideas

New PoeticsNew Poetics Modern FictionModern Fiction Harlem Renaissance Harlem Renaissance

New PoeticsNew Poetics Modernism – experimental methods for writing Modernism – experimental methods for writing

poetrypoetry(linked to Walt Whitman and Emily (linked to Walt Whitman and Emily

Dickinson)Dickinson) Imagists – rely on imagery (not description and Imagists – rely on imagery (not description and

rhyme)rhyme) Breaking the rules – literary conventions – Breaking the rules – literary conventions –

especially:especially: arrangement of wordsarrangement of wordspunctuationpunctuationcapitalizationcapitalization(new uses of typography and layout)(new uses of typography and layout)

Robert Frost – a traditionalistRobert Frost – a traditionalist

Modern FictionModern Fiction

The “Lost Generation” – term for The “Lost Generation” – term for post-WWI feeling of uncertainty and post-WWI feeling of uncertainty and loss of faith in United States societyloss of faith in United States society

Themes of change, indecision, and Themes of change, indecision, and broken attachmentsbroken attachments

Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway The Jazz Age - F. Scott FitzgeraldThe Jazz Age - F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Harlem RenaissanceThe Harlem Renaissance

Influenced by Blues and JazzInfluenced by Blues and Jazz Strong identity with neighborhoodStrong identity with neighborhood Race and the deferred dreamRace and the deferred dream African American FolkloreAfrican American Folklore

Carl SandburgCarl Sandburg

1878 – 19671878 – 1967 Grew up in Galesburg, IllinoisGrew up in Galesburg, Illinois 8th grade education8th grade education At 19 he became a hobo – hitching At 19 he became a hobo – hitching

rides on freight trainsrides on freight trains Fought in Spanish-American WarFought in Spanish-American War Moved to ChicagoMoved to Chicago Known as “the bard of the Midwest”Known as “the bard of the Midwest”

Characteristics of his Characteristics of his poetry:poetry:

For common peopleFor common people Written in free verseWritten in free verse Uses rhythms of everyday speechUses rhythms of everyday speech Democratic subjects and themesDemocratic subjects and themes Colorful use of sayings and Colorful use of sayings and

anecdotesanecdotes

Won Pulitzer Prize – twiceWon Pulitzer Prize – twice

WroteWrote

““Chicago” Chicago” “ “grass”grass”

Literary elementsLiterary elements

Free Verse (review)Free Verse (review) Apostrophe – A figure of speech in Apostrophe – A figure of speech in

which speaker addresses an which speaker addresses an inanimate object, an idea, or an inanimate object, an idea, or an absent person.absent person.

Robert FrostRobert Frost

1874 – 19631874 – 1963 A Modern Age poet who wrote in traditional A Modern Age poet who wrote in traditional

stylestyle 4 time Pulitzer Prize winner4 time Pulitzer Prize winner Poetry consultant to the Library of CongressPoetry consultant to the Library of Congress At age 86, recited his poem “The Gift At age 86, recited his poem “The Gift

Outright” at President John F. Kennedy’s Outright” at President John F. Kennedy’s inaugurationinauguration

A farmer and teacherA farmer and teacher

wrotewrote

““Mending Wall”Mending Wall” ““Birches”Birches” ““Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Stopping by Woods on a Snowy

Evening”Evening” ““Acquainted with the Night”Acquainted with the Night” ““The Death of the Hired Man”The Death of the Hired Man” ““The Gift Outright”The Gift Outright”

Literary elementsLiterary elements

Blank Verse –Poetry or lines of dramatic Blank Verse –Poetry or lines of dramatic verse written in unrhymed iambic verse written in unrhymed iambic pentameter. Because it may attempt to pentameter. Because it may attempt to imitate spoken English, every line need not imitate spoken English, every line need not be perfectly regular.be perfectly regular.

Rhyme Scheme (review)Rhyme Scheme (review) Dramatic Poetry – Poetry in which characters Dramatic Poetry – Poetry in which characters

are revealed through dialogue, a monologue, are revealed through dialogue, a monologue, as well as through description. Example: as well as through description. Example: Robert Frost’s “Death of a Hired Man.”Robert Frost’s “Death of a Hired Man.”

Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway 1899 – 19611899 – 1961 Activities he enjoyed:Activities he enjoyed: Fishing (deep-sea)Fishing (deep-sea) Hunting (big game in Africa)Hunting (big game in Africa) Bull fighting (in Spain)Bull fighting (in Spain) BoxingBoxing Was rejected by the Army in WWI – became Was rejected by the Army in WWI – became

volunteer ambulance driver for the Red Cross in volunteer ambulance driver for the Red Cross in ItalyItaly

A reporter for A reporter for Kansas City StarKansas City Star and and Toronto StarToronto Star Lived in Paris and Spain – a member of “the lost Lived in Paris and Spain – a member of “the lost

generation”generation” Won the Nobel Prize for LiteratureWon the Nobel Prize for Literature

wrotewrote

The Sun Also RisesThe Sun Also Rises A Farewell to ArmsA Farewell to Arms The Old Man and the SeaThe Old Man and the Sea ““In Another Country”In Another Country”

Literary elementLiterary element

stylestyle

F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald

1896 – 19401896 – 1940 Wrote about the Jazz AgeWrote about the Jazz Age Born in St. Paul, MinnesotaBorn in St. Paul, Minnesota Married Zelda SayreMarried Zelda Sayre Lived an extravagant lifestyle in US and EuropeLived an extravagant lifestyle in US and Europe Great Depression caused financial ruinGreat Depression caused financial ruin Zelda suffered a series of nervous breakdownsZelda suffered a series of nervous breakdowns

Died in a hospital fire in North Carolina in 1948Died in a hospital fire in North Carolina in 1948

wrotewrote

The Great GatsbyThe Great Gatsby ““Winter Dreams”Winter Dreams”

Literary elementLiterary element

Motivation (review)Motivation (review)

Katherine Anne PorterKatherine Anne Porter

1890 – 19801890 – 1980 Influences of death on her writing:Influences of death on her writing: mother died before Katherine was 2 years mother died before Katherine was 2 years

old (lived with her grandmother)old (lived with her grandmother) grandmother died when Porter was 11grandmother died when Porter was 11 she was ill with tuberculosis (given only a she was ill with tuberculosis (given only a

few months to live)few months to live) part of WWI flu epidemic (family finalized part of WWI flu epidemic (family finalized

burial arrangements)burial arrangements)

Writing style: Writing style:

completely objective and “absent” completely objective and “absent” point of viewpoint of view

used stream of consciousnessused stream of consciousness Won Pulitzer Prize and National Book Won Pulitzer Prize and National Book

AwardAward

wrotewrote

““The Jilting of Granny Weatherall”The Jilting of Granny Weatherall”

Literary elementLiterary element

Stream of consciousness – The literary Stream of consciousness – The literary representation of a character’s free-representation of a character’s free-flowing thoughts, feelings, and flowing thoughts, feelings, and memories. Stream-of-consciousness memories. Stream-of-consciousness writing does not always employ writing does not always employ conventional sentence structure or other conventional sentence structure or other rules of grammar and usage. “The Jilting rules of grammar and usage. “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” by Katherine Anne of Granny Weatherall” by Katherine Anne Porter is an example of the usage of this Porter is an example of the usage of this technique.technique.

Langston HughesLangston Hughes

1902 – 19671902 – 1967 ““The poet laureate of Harlem”The poet laureate of Harlem” His writing celebrates the dignity of His writing celebrates the dignity of

ordinary, working-class African ordinary, working-class African AmericansAmericans

Wrote: “I, Too” and “The Negro Wrote: “I, Too” and “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” Speaks of Rivers”

Literary elementLiterary element

Repetition – the recurrence of Repetition – the recurrence of sounds, words, phrases, lines, or sounds, words, phrases, lines, or stanzas in a speech or literary work. stanzas in a speech or literary work. Repetition increases the sense of Repetition increases the sense of unity in a work and can call attention unity in a work and can call attention to particular ideas.to particular ideas.