Modernism Flashcards
~1915 -~1945
Modernism
overwhelming technological
changes
continued
urbanization
dehuman
ization
loss of identity; anonymity of
people
class structure
changing
grief over loss of past; fear of eroding
traditions
scientific advances and
theories
physics,
quantum physics
Eins
tein
Karl Mark
philosophical influence
Sigmund Freud
philosophical influence
self-
analysis
C.F.
Nietzsche
God is dead,
everything meaningless
spiritual ruins after the war…whit is
the meaning of life?
dominant mood:
alienation/disconnection…the world is “falling apart”
a response to
“sence of social breakdown”
highly
experimental
emphasis on bold experimentation in style and
form
rejection of traditional themes and
subjects
interest in inner working of human mind, sometimes expressed through new narrative techniques such as
stream of consciousness
sense of disillusionment and loss of faith in the American Dream
(Modernist writers denounced the following tenets of the American Dream.)
America is a new Eden,
promised land of beauty, unlimited resources, and endless opportunities
American birthright is of ever-expanding opportunity. Progress is good, can optimistically
expect life to get better
independent, self-reliant individual will triumph. Everything is possible for person who places trust in his
own powers and potential
violence and alienation
major themes
historical discontinuity
major themes
decadence and decay
major themes
rejection of history
major themes
race relations
major themes
unavoidable change
major themes
sense of place, local color
major themes
1915-1929
The Harlem Renaissance
a black cultural movement that emerged in Harlem during the 20’s; literature, must and art flourished
The Harlem Renaissance
early 20th century movement in American poetry
imagism
concentrated on raw power of image to communicate feeling and thought
imagism
imagery alone could carry a poem’s emotion and message without elaborate metrics and patterns
imagism
until the beginning of the twentieth century, all of the following were part of the American dream EXCEPT a
respect for the mysterious workings of the subconscious mind
after World War I, American writers began to
grow cynical about traditional authority and values
the modernist movement challenged American writers to
find new themes, subjects, and styles for their work
a growing interest in psychoanalysis led writers to
try to capture their characters’ thought processes
during the Jazz Age, many American writers and artists
lived as expatriates in France
Ernest Hemingway created major characters who
behave honorably in a world without purpose
some American poets were inspired by modernist European painters and began to use their imagery and symbolism, while others looked to
traditional forms and ordinary speech
poets of the Harlem Renaissance wrote American poetry that involved
ghetto speech and rhythms from jazz and blues
many American modernist writers
embraced the boundless optimism of earlier times
American modernist writers managed to
create a literature that reflects many American voices
after her father dies, Emily
refuses to acknowledge his death
the last time the townspeople see Homer Barron alive, he is
entering Emily’s house
the strand of gray hair discovered at the end of the story signifies that
Emily has apparently lain beside the skeleton
what does Emily’s father do to influence the development of her character?
he drives off suitors and prevents her from marrying
what does Miss Emily buy from the druggist?
arsenic
who is Miss Emily’s servant?
Tobe
what is Miss Emily’s surname?
Grierson
what type of classes did Miss Emily once teach?
china painting
the unblinking eyes of the billboard for Doctor T.J. Eckleburg watch over the valley of ashes
true
Tom takes Nick to George Wilson’s garage, where his mistress lives
true
Tom’s lover, Myrtle, is Wilson’s cousin who owns the garage in the valley of ashes
false
Catherine, Myrtle’s sister, tells Nick that she has heard that Jay Gatsby is the nephew or cousin of Kaiser Wilhelm
true
at Myrtle and Tom’s party, Nick claims that he has been drunk only three times in his life
false
what is Gatsby doing at 2:00 A.M.?
glancing into some rooms in his house
Gatsby sends someone to cut Nick’s grass
true
what is Mr. Klipspringer’s first name?
Ewing
the fanciest thing in Gatsby’s bedroom is a toilet set made of gold
true
what two businesses does Gatsby tell Nick he has been in?
drug and oil
Gatsby had misled Daisy when they first met. How?
he led her to believe that he was from a wealthy family
when Gatsby returned from France after the war, he
spent a week in Louisville visiting places he and Daisy had been
one of the last things Nick says to Gatsby is
“You’re worth the whole damn bunch put together.”
one item which made George Wilson suspicious of Myrtle was
an expensive dog-leash
George looks at the billboard of Dr. Eckleburg and says
“God sees everything.”
when Nick calls Daisy, he learns
she and Tom have gone out of town
Gatsby’s father learns of his death from
a Chicago newspaper
Klipspringer calls Gatsby’s house to
inquire about a pair of tennis shoes
Mr. Gatz shows Nick
young Gatsby’s daily schedule written inside a book
One surprising person who shows up at the funeral is
the man in owl-eyed glasses
after Gatsby’s death, Nick decides to
go back home.
Jordan tells Nick
that she’s engaged to another man
when Nick sees Tom, he (Nick) initially
refuses to shake his hand
Nick calls Tom and Daisy
“careless people”
Nick says Gatsby believed in the
green light
