The Moderns

1. The Moderns 1914-1939

2. Time Period Markers • Began with the start of WWI in 1914. • People felt America had lost its innocence. • Ended with the start of WWII in 1939. • The country pulled together and became more optimistic.

3. Move to Modernism • Idealism continued to lose popularity as people realized that America was not a land of opportunity for everyone. • Modernism experimented with new forms of expression and rejected traditional styles. • The idea of the “lost generation” inspired lots of writing.

4. The American Dream • America as a New Eden • The same factors that boost a person also destroy that person. • A Belief in Progress • Many Americans believe life will continue to get better and that more prosperity, justice, and joy is in the future. • Triumph of the Individual • Grown from Emerson’s idea, people strive to be independent.

5. Entertainment • Radio • War of the Worlds broadcast- people thought aliens were invading New York. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl_J4J2mQpQ • Movies • Hollywood produced lots of movies that were optimistic and allowed people to escape the negative aspects of life.

6. Other Influences • Marxism • Named after Karl Marx who proposed new ideas on how to change and improve society by implementing socialism.

7. Other Influences • Freud • Sigmund Freud was a psychologist who theorized about the unconscious mind and human motivation. He interpreted dreams and helped blaze a path to cure mental illness in some people.

8. The New Literary Hero • Ernest Hemingway’s newly defined hero displayed “grace under pressure” but is somehow disillusioned.

9. Stream of Consciousness • Instead of narrating the story in chronological order, we see the character’s perceptions and memories.

10. Poetic Symbolism • These poets tried to go beyond describing objects, they used words to provoke emotions. (connotations) • Believed imagination was more reliable than reason. (Romanticism)

11. Poetic Imagism • Featured precise language • Rejected the traditional “prettiness” of poetry. (Stanzas and meter) • The apparition of these faces in the crowd; Petals on a wet, black bough.

12. As Mark Twain said… • "The difference between the right word and the almost-right word is the difference between the lightning and the lightning-bug."

13. Ezra Pound • The River-Merchant’s Wife: A Letter • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ob3Z_5lKWo • What are the series of flashbacks depicting?

14. William Carlos Williams • http://writing.upenn.edu/pennsound/x/Williams-WC.php • Page 669 • Is he really sorry? • Can you turn a simple insincere apology into a poem?

15. This is Just to Say…Parody I have failed the students that were in my classroom and which you were probably wanting to graduate Forgive me they were incorrigible so impenetrable and so obtuse

16. Reading • “The Garden” pg. 652 • A Few Don’ts…pg. 653 • “The Red Wheelbarrow” pg. 657 • “The Great Figure” pg.668 • This is in addition to the two poems included in this presentation.

17. After reading… • How do these poems reflect the characteristics of modern literature? Explain.

18. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock • Dramatic Monologue- The character speaks directly to the listeners. • Also features stream of consciousness • Character Profile- A character’s feelings, attitudes and views. • Protagonist- Central character in a work of literature. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhiCMAG658M

19. A Few Don’ts of an Imagiste • Don’t use words that don’t reveal anything. (Superfluous) • Don’t be mediocre if it has already been done better. • Don’t imagine that poetry is easier than any other form of art.

20. A Few Don’ts of an Imagiste • He compares: • A poet to a musician • Writing poetry to a scientific discovery • Inaccurate words to vacuums of slush

21. What does Hemingway say about writing? • Handout, pg. 692

22. Soldier’s Home • Antihero- Contrasts with the traditional hero. The traditional hero responds with courage and self-sacrifice. The antihero gives in to disillusionment, hopelessness, and inaction. • What parts of Hemingway’s speech mirror the character Krebs?

23. Soldier’s Home • Who is Harold Krebs? How is he like Prufrock? • Inauthentic • Observer rather than participant • Disillusioned and ineffectual • Handout

24. The Jilting of Granny Weatherall • What does it mean to be jilted? • What is a reflection? • What are ambiguities? • Read the story on page 771 and answer questions 1-4, 6, 10-13.

25. Archetype • The original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form; prototype. • In literature there are character archetypes. These archetypes are universal. • Archetype characters are easy for audiences to identify and connect with.

26. The Hero • A larger-than-life character that often goes on a journey or quest. The hero demonstrates the qualities and abilities valued by his culture. • Ex. King Arthur, Odysseus, Beowulf, Luke Skywalker, Frodo

27. The Father Figure • The protector or leader. Oversees others, not just the family, but the community as well. He guides with wisdom • Ex. Atticus Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird

28. The Mother Figure • Protective nurturer and gentle provider. Completes unselfish acts. • Ex. Harold’s mother in “Soldier’s Home”

29. The Fatal Woman/Temptress • A woman who uses her power to make men, especially the hero, weak. Powers include: intellect, magic, and beauty. Drawn to money and/or power. • Ex. Think of James Bond movies.

30. The Witch • A woman, often old and unattractive, who attempts to trap and destroy the protagonist. She may be disguised as young and pretty. • Ex. The Wicked Stepmother, the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz.

31. Monster/Villain • The antagonist who is in opposition to the hero. • Ex. The Big Bad Wolf from Little Red Riding Hood, Voldemort from Harry Potter

32. The Innocent • An inexperienced character that is exposed to the evils of the world. • Ex. Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Rapunzel

33. The Alter Ego/Double • Shows the dual nature within a person. • Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Incredible Hulk

34. Wise Old Man/Woman/Animal • Helps guide the protagonist • Ex. Yoda, Gandalf, Mr. Miagi

35. The Trickster/The Fool • Characters who trick others to get what they want. It can be innocent or harmful. Incapable of recognizing the rules. • Ex. Cheshire Cat, Bart Simpson, Ferris Bueller

36. The Underdog • Character in the wrong place at the wrong time, but usually wins something of value in the end. • Ex. The Ugly Duckling, Liz Lemon from 30 Rock • From Pugh/Robinson’s Archetypes

37. Thinking about archetypes • Which characters from American literature can you classify into archetypes? • Note: there are additional archetypes not mentioned in your notes.

38. Modern Unit Project • You should have two of the four activities finished by the end of the week. • Remember: all four project components are due on Thursday, April 21. This applies to all classes whether we meet on that day or not.

39. A Worn Path • What archetypal character is Phoenix Jackson? • What does the name Phoenix imply? • Examples of dialect. What does the dialect indicate? • How do people treat Phoenix? What does this show?

40. Thesis Statements • Thesis statements are crucial to an essay. • Essential to project part four. • Handout

41. Thesis Activity • Imagine you had to write an essay over the qualities of the modern hero, or antihero. Using the statement made by Joseph Campbell, create a thesis statement.

42. Sample Thesis • Write a thesis statement for the written response you completed last time during class.

43. Response • “The hero is today running up against a hard world that is in no way responsive to his spiritual need.” Modern society has become a “stagnation of inauthentic lives and living…that evokes nothing of our spiritual life, our potentialities, or even our physical courage.”  • Campbell also said that the times we live in are hostile to heroism. Heroes are people of action, but the drudgery of modern life has made many people observers rather than participants in life’s adventures. • How does Prufrock fit the disillusioned and ineffectual protagonist of modern literature?

44. Examples • The hero of modern literature is a disillusioned protagonist whose pretense causes him to observe rather than participate in society. • The modern hero is inauthentic causing him disillusionment and lack of participation in life’s adventures.

45. Theme • A sentence that explains the overall message of the story or poem. • It’s the what the author wanted you to learn or take away from the text. • Theme is NOT a single word. • Theme is NOT mood. • Theme is NOT a summary of events.

46. Theme • What is the theme of “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty”?

47. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty • Someone who is a “Walter Mitty” is “a commonplace unadventurous person who seeks escape from reality through daydreaming and typically imagines himself leading a glamorous life and becoming famous.” • Filled with parodies. (A work that ridicules another work by imitating its style or content.)