REPORT EL 114

THE MODERN PERIOD

-The term "modern" was coined shortly before 1585 to describe the beginning of a new era. The European Renaissance (about
1420-1630) was an important transition period beginning between the Late Middle Ages and Early Modern Times, which started in
Italy.
-Modern Period was a historical time period that spanned the years 1500 to 1945, it describes the historical timeline after the
Middle Ages.
- The modern period is also known as the age of machinery. People had become too materialistic brought by the machinery.
There is no doubt that the advent of machinery made life comfortable for modern man. Living became quite easy and production
of goods was also accelerated. The modern period in English literature begins with the 20th century and continues till 1965. The
period saw an abrupt break away from the old ways of interacting with the world. In all the previous periods experimentation and
individualism were highly discouraged but with the onset of the modern period, both these things became virtues. There were
many cultural shocks with the beginning of modernism. The blow of the modern age was World War 1 These wars began in the
year 1914 and lasted till 1919 and 1939 to 1945 respectively. The aftermath of the world wars was traumatic for everyone. The
horror of the World War 1 was evident in the face of every citizen. The feeling of uncertainty was spread and no one knew where
the world was heading into.
-The Early Modern Period occurred from 1500 to 1800 and included the Renaissance, Reformation, and Enlightenment. The Late
Modern era was primarily focused on key historical events that happened in the 19th and 20th centuries, concluding with the end
of World War II in 1945. The Modern Age represents a period when major advancements were achieved in all aspects of life,
resulting in a transformation from the old world to the modern world. Historians have long understood the Early Modern period as
the 15th through the 18th centuries, a time of transition between the medieval world and the Modern period. However, these dates
are by no means strictly defined and can change depending on the historical lens. In most instances, the terms "Early Modern era"
and "pre-modern era" are used interchangeably, although the latter tends to demote the era to a mere preface before the modern
world. Therefore, Early Modern history has received new attention from historians in recent decades to differentiate between the
many events that occurred.
LITERARY ACHIEVEMENTS
-The Modern Period brought a shift in the novel-writing tradition, exemplified by the emergence of the Modernist Novel.
Innovative storytelling techniques were established by this literary movement, most notably the “stream of consciousness”
technique. This technique, which tried to dive deeply into the inner workings of the human mind, was pioneered by authors like
James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The storylines in their works, such as Joyce’s “Ulysses,” Woolf’s “Mrs.
Dalloway,” and Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby,” frequently transitioned smoothly from one idea or impression to another,
reflecting the fluid and jumbled nature of human cognition. This narrative experimentation marked a significant break from
conventional linear storytelling by allowing readers to dive into the inner lives and intricacies of the characters. The Modernist
Novel, which became an embodiment of the era’s literary innovation, disrupted traditions and provided a fresh approach to dealing
with the human mind.
Modern Novels
The modern age is essentially the age of the novel. This is the most important and popular medium in modern times.
English fiction (novel) is the only literary form that can compete for popularity with the film and the radio. Poetry, which
had for many centuries, held the supreme place in the realm of literature had lost that position. The main reason for this
change is that the novel is the only literary form that meets the needs of the modern world. According to Diaches, Stream of
Consciousness is a means of escape from the tyranny of the time dimension.
- Modern poetry is a sort of revolution against the traditional thoughts and types of Victorian-era poetry. The Red Wheelbarrow,
The Embankment, Darkness, and Image are a few of the masterpieces of modern English poetry. There is no doubt that these
poems are the best in their way. It is a style of writing that is defined by two distinct characteristics. The first is technical
innovation in the writing, exemplified by the liberal use of free verse. The second is a departure from the Romantic idea of an
unproblematic poetic ‘self’ speaking directly to an equally unproblematic ideal reader or audience. This literary movement
developed as a result of the philosophical, scientific, political, and ideological transformations that occurred in the
aftermath of the Industrial Revolution, as well as the shock of World War I and its aftermath.
Poetry and IMAGISM
- The Imagism movement, which emerged during the Modern Period, marked a shift in poetry. This movement placed a lot of
focus on using clear, vivid language to communicate ideas that are immediate and potent. T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound were two
well-known individuals affiliated with Imagism who both made significant contributions to contemporary poetry. In poems like
Eliot’s “The Waste Land” and Pound’s “In a Station of the Metro,” poets tried to condense complex feelings and concepts into
brief, sometimes cryptic verses. The emphasis on concise language and clear imagery marked a change from the extravagant and
flowery vocabulary of earlier times. Imagism significantly altered the literary landscape by promoting concision, clarity, and
a strong emphasis on the senses—elements that would continue to shape poetry long into the 20th century.
- Drama and the Absurdist Movement
The rise of the Absurdist Movement, a genre that explored complex existential concepts and the intrinsic absurdity of human life,
defined the dramatic terrain of the Modern Period. This theatrical movement questioned traditional storytelling and frequently
featured characters debating life’s pointlessness and futility. Famous playwrights who have made important contributions to this
genre include Samuel Beckett and Jean-Paul Sartre. The characters Vladimir and Estragon in Beckett’s famous drama “Waiting for
Godot” exemplified the Absurdist ethos by waiting indefinitely for someone who might never arrive, reflecting the human
propensity to look for meaning in an apparently meaningless world. The existentialist works of Sartre, such as “No Exit,”
questioned the basic nature of human life by examining issues of free will, accountability, and the inescapable gaze of others. The
Absurdist Movement had a lasting impression on the theater of the time by compelling audiences to face the absurdity of
human nature and the existential problems of the modern world.
- Political and Dystopian Novels
The modern period encompassed the rise of incisive political and dystopian literature that functioned as sharp criticisms of
dictatorship and societal control. Thought-provoking works by authors like George Orwell and Aldous Huxley have had a lasting
influence on literature and society. Orwell’s “1984” is depicted as a clear warning about the risks of dictatorship by presenting a
dystopian society marked by excessive government monitoring and mind control. Huxley’s “Brave New World” examined a
different kind of dystopia, one in which an apparently ideal society operated through the repression of individuality and emotion.
Both novels offered significant observations on the nature of power and control in the contemporary world as they analyzed the
effects of repressive regimes and the erosion of individual liberties. These novels continue to serve as cautionary tales,
provoking readers to consider the constant dangers to personal freedom and the possibility for dystopian realities to
emerge in the face of unrestrained power.
Notable Figures of the Modern Period
The Modern Period in English literature was characterized by a group of renowned authors who altered the literary landscape and
forever changed the direction of literary history. These authors are regarded as major figures in modernist literature. Reading their
literary works can help you become familiar with the main modernist concepts. Many modernist authors participate in this literary
movement. Modernist writers in general rebelled against clear-cut storytelling and formulaic verse from the 19th century. Instead,
many of them told fragmented stories which reflected the fragmented state of society during and after World War I. Many
Modernists wrote in free verse and they included many countries and cultures in their poems. Some wrote using numerous points-
of-view or even used a “stream-of-consciousness” style. These writing styles further demonstrate the way the scattered state of
society affected the work of writes at that time.
D. H. Lawrence is remembered as one of the first writers who brought the theme of psychology into literature. Through his works,
he presented a number of psychological themes in a precise manner. Lawrence had an opinion that life impulse or sexual impulse
is the safest way to the psychological development of human beings.
Sons and Lovers is known as one of the best writings of Lawrence. It is more or less an autobiographical novel that is written in
vivid episodes and straightforward narrative. The novel follows a chronological sequence, where the story begins with the
marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Morel, parents of Paul. Mrs. Morel belongs to a well-settled middle-class family who is highly
ambitious, Lawrence presents her as “a woman of character and refinement”. She is an intelligent, strong-will woman and falls in
love with an energetic and sensuous coal miner named Walter Morel. In the course of her love, she marries beneath her own class
and enters into a chaotic life full of everyday struggles. In that, he has portrayed the consistent conflict between a strong strong-
willed, up-climbing mother and a course, energetic, earthy but often drunken father. “Sons and Lovers” is considered an
autobiographical novel.
SOCIO POLITICAL ISSUES
The Modern Period in English literature marks a significant transition in terms of aesthetic expression and cultural responses. It
came into being as a direct reaction to the profound socio economic upheavals that followed World War I. This period was marked
by the impact of technical developments, such as rapid industrialization and the emergence of mass media, which altered how
people understood the world. This period was also marked by the disillusionment and anguish of the war. Literary conventions
were abandoned during the transition from the Edwardian Era to the Modern Period, and there was a strong feeling of
fragmentation that reflected the shattered post-war world. The literature of this time period is distinguished by its examination of
issues like alienation, existentialism, and the quest for purpose in a world that is becoming more and more confusing and
complicated.
Themes during the period
  The Modern Period in English literature, then, was a turbulent and transformational period characterized by a fundamental
reworking of literary forms and themes. This time period developed as a reaction to World War I, as writers attempted to
deal with the disillusionment and broken worldviews that the war had left behind. The search for meaning, alienation,
disillusionment, and disintegration were major themes in this period’s literature. In an effort to convey the
complexity of the human experience, the Modernists experimented with narrative devices, poetry, and drama, influenced
by existential philosophy and psychological theories of the time.
 The feeling of disintegration and disillusionment, both on an individual and social level, is a recurring theme throughout
the Modern Period. This theme illustrates the profound disappointment that World War I caused after it ended. The chaos
of the post-war world was often depicted using non-linear storytelling techniques, stream-of-consciousness narration, and
fragmented stories. Authors like James Joyce used similar tactics in his masterwork “Ulysses” to convey the fragmented
thoughts and experiences of his characters, underlining the confusion and turmoil of the era. The vast societal changes and
the broken worldviews of individuals during this volatile period were reflected by the theme of fragmentation and
disillusionment. It serves as a moving reminder of the war’s lasting effects and the difficulties involved in finding purpose
in a fragmented world.
 Alienation and existentialism emerged as prominent themes in the literature of the Modern Period. The profound sense of
loneliness and the search for purpose in a world that is becoming more complicated and fragmented were themes that the
authors struggled with. This theme has its origins in the work of existentialists like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus,
who proposed that human life is fundamentally meaningless and that people must face this emptiness and construct their
own purposes. Literary works like Sartre’s “Nausea” and Camus’s “The Stranger” delved deep into the minds of
individuals who struggled with the pointlessness of life and the alienation that frequently accompanied it. By forcing
readers to confront the existential abyss and make their own decisions about how to live in what appears to be an absurd
world, these works challenged conventional values and belief systems. The examination of the human condition and the
quest for meaning in the midst of chaos and uncertainty throughout the Modern Period were fundamentally influenced by
alienation and existentialism.
 Confusion and isolation – literature during the period is confusing to read because of its fragmentation, the theme of
isolation shows not only in everyday relationships but in the American people's take on world affairs. The U.S. desired to
remain neutral through both World Wars, but eventually was forced into participation.
CONCLUSION
To conclude everything, in short, I would say there are many more things you should know about the modern period and the
literary development of this era. The more you study the works of this modernist literature, the more you will admire them. We
all know that English literature can both be interesting and difficult at the same time. The world is evolving every minute and
literature is the best tool to relive those changes. Whether it be a change in the mindset of people or innovation, literature gives
us a chance to understand humanity and society. The modern period in English literature is one of the significant phases.