Post Modernism Flashcards
Stylistic techniques (S.T.) commonly found in postmodern literature include:
Pastiche, Intertextuality, Metafiction, Temporal Distortion, Minimalism, Maximalism, Magical Realism, Faction, and Reader Involvement
Pastiche
The taking of various ideas from previous writings and literary styles and pasting them together to make new styles
Intertextuality
The acknowledgement of previous literary works within another literary work
Metafiction
The act of writing about writing or making readers aware of the fictional nature of the fiction they’re reading
Temporal Distortion
The use of non-linear timelines and narrative techniques in a story
Minimalism
The use of characters and events which are decidedly common and non-exceptional characters
Maximalism
Disorganized, lengthy, highly detailed writing
Magical Realism
The introduction of impossible or unrealistic events into a a narrative that is otherwise realistic
Faction
The mixing of actual historical events with fictional events without clearly defining what is factual and what is fictional
Reader Involvement
Often through direct address to the reader and the open acknowledgement of the fictional nature of the events being described
Novels by Kurt Vonnegut:
Slaughterhouse 5 The Sirens of Titan Mother Night Cat's Cradle God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater
When and where was Kurt Vonnegut born?
November 11, 1922 in Indianapolis, a city he would come to use in his novels
What happened to him as a result of the Great Depression?
Kurt Vonnegut’s father’s architectural business failed, leading to Kurt Vonnegut Sr.’s alcoholism. Kurt Jr.’s pessimism probably came about as a result.
Postmodernist literature placed heavy reliance on literary conventions such as:
Fragmentation, paradox, unreliable narrators, unrealistic/impossible plots, games, parodies, paranoia, dark humor, and authorial self reference
When was Tim O’Brien born?
October 1, 1946
