This document defines and discusses Modernism in literature. It began in the late 19th/early 20th century in France and spread to England and America. Modernist works were influenced by developments in fields like physics, psychology, anthropology and used techniques like stream of consciousness. Modernist literature features unconventional structures, a breakdown of conventions of time and space, and a focus on individual experiences over social values. It includes styles like Imagism, Symbolism, and Expressionism. Prominent Modernist writers mentioned include James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, William Faulkner and T.S. Eliot.

1. What is Modernism in Literature?
NAME : HARIYANI KISHAN .R
ROLL NO: 17
PAPER : 9 THE MODERNIST LITERATURE
SUBMITTED:S.B.GARDI DEPARTMENT
OF ENGLISH M.K.BHAVNAGAR
UNIVERSITY
BATCH :2015’17
Email Id :kishanhariyani1992@gmail.com

2. What is Literary Modernism?
Literary modernism traces its origins to late
19th and early 20th century
Began in France, spread to England and
America and finally came back to Europe
Enjoyed its peak during the years 1910-1925.

3. Modernism as a movement
Modernism as a movement can be recognized not only
in literature but also in
• The sciences
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Anthropology
• Painting
• Music
• Sculpture
• Architecture

4. Influential thinkers
Physicist Einstein on Relativity (1905)
Physicist Planck on Quantum Theory (1900)
Psychologist Freud on the Unconscious (The
Interpretation of Dreams, 1900)
Psychologist Jung on Collective Unconscious
Linguist De Saussure on Language
Anthropologist Frazer on Primitive Cultures

5. Artistic and Literary Movements
• Imagism:
• Symbolism:
• Vorticism:
• Expressionism:
• Futurism:
• Dadaism

8. History of Modernism in Literature
Emerging fields of psychology and sociology
Advancements in science and technology
Ambiguous situation after World-War I
Increase in population and expansion of cities
It was in these tumultuous times that the
Cultural Revolution, known as Modernism.

9. Decay of Character and Hero

Psychological theories of Sigmund
Freud created an impact on modernist
writers
 Writers found that the traditional method
of portraying characters was erroneous
Characteristic Of Modernist Literature:

10. Modern story does not follow a Chronological
order
Modern stories do not have a beginning or
end
Modernist literature requires an Active reader
Decay Of Plot

11. Stress on Individual
Individual is more important for modernist
writers than society
In a modern story, there are no universally
accepted values of social conduct

12. Realism
Modern stories are realistic
For writers, there is no such thing
as absolute truth; everything is
relative.
Modernist literature is a portrayal
of life as it is.

13. Thematic features
Focus on form rather than meaning
Breaking down of limitation of space
and time
Borrowings from other cultures and
languages
Unconventional use of metaphor

14. Formal features of narrative
• Lack of traditional chronological narrative
(discontinuous narrative)
• Break of narrative frames (fragmentation)
• Moving from one level of narrative to another
• Use of interior monologue technique
• Use of the stream of consciousness technique
• Focus on a character's consciousness and
subconscious

15. Prominent Modernist Writers
 Samuel Beckett
 James Joyce
 Virginia Woolf
 Elizabeth Bowen
 Dorothy Richardson
 T. S. Eliot
 William Faulkner
 Sylvia Plath
 W. B. Yeats
 Ernest Hemingway

16. Work Cited:
Related Articles:
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/high-school-
english-lessons/29453-modernism-in-literature/
http://www.online-
literature.com/periods/modernism.php
http://www.online-
literature.com/periods/modernism.php
http://www.slideshare.net/ciaffaroni/modernism-in-
literature-1082251