Modernism (British Modernists)

Lesson One: Introduction to modernism

I. Historical Context:
• Modernist writers were influenced by the chaotic and fragmented world of the early 20th century.
• With the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, there was a clear shift away from Victorian realism.
• The movement spans from the early 1900s to the 1940s, with some roots in the late 19th century.
II. Definition:
The definition of Modernism is not universally agreed upon, but it is understood through its main goals and
characteristics.
• According to The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, Modernism involves breaking away
from traditional rules and conventions, exploring new perspectives on humanity's role in the universe, and
experimenting with form, style, and language (Cuddon 516).
• Similarly, The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms describes Modernism as a revolutionary
movement focused on rejecting Victorian conventions, using experimental techniques, and emphasizing
individual perspectives (Murfin and Ray 268).
III. Characteristics:
• Disillusionment with Traditional Beliefs: Factors like rapid industrialization, urbanization, and the trauma of
World War I led to a deep disillusionment with traditional beliefs in human progress. Hence, these authors looked
into new modern point of views to express their ideas.
• Rejection of Victorian Realism: Modernists believed the old forms of literature (such as realism) were not
enough for capturing the new, complex, individual experiences of modern life.
• Embrace of Subjectivity and Fragmentation: They rejected the structured, objective portrayals of life typical of
Victorian literature.
• Experimentation and Innovation: Modernism embraced a spirit of experimentation, innovation, and
individualism.
IV. Key figures
• Virginia Woolf: She famously noted that "on or about December 1910, human character changed," symbolizing a
shift towards Modernism.
• Ezra Pound: The poet Ezra Pound’s phrase "Make it new!" became a rallying call for fresh and new approach to
capture literature.
• James Joyce: James Joyces explored the concept of individualism to challenge the traditional view of portraying
the objective representations of the world.

Discussion/Reflection:
• How did the consequences of World War I influence the new shift in Modernist literature?
• What does it mean for a writer to "break away from tradition"?

Lesson two: The Emergence of Modernist Literature (1880s–1910)

Introduction:
The Modernism movement in Britain was shaped by a range of social, political, and historical factors, from emerging new
ideas to political upheaval caused by the wars, movements for liberation particularly women’s right, and the impacts of
imperialism and industrialization.
Part one:
I. Ground-Breaking ideas: Groundbreaking ideas across various fields shaped how Modernists perceived and
represented reality.
• Art: Modernist literature was heavily influenced by avant-garde artists like Édouard Manet, who rejected
traditional artistic conventions. Movements like Impressionism, Cubism, and Expressionism inspired writers to
 experiment with new forms and perspectives, reflecting the fluidity of human experience and challenging
conventional portrayals of reality.
• Psychology: The rise of psychology, particularly through figures like Wilhelm Wundt, Freud and William James,
reshaped literature. Freud’s theories on the unconscious and repression, along with James’s concept of "stream of
consciousness," encouraged modernist writers to explore complex, fragmented inner lives and the irrational
aspects of human behavior.
• Social Perspectives: Marxism, by Karl Marx, with its critique of capitalism and advocacy for a classless society,
influenced Modernist thought. These ideas on exploitation of capitalism inspired Modernist writers to question the
status quo and explore themes of inequality and revolution, especially after the Russian Revolution.
• Natural Science and Humanities: Darwin’s theory of adaptation and G.J. Frazer’s studies on myths and cultures
encouraged Modernist writers to explore change, adaptation, and the irrational forces that shape human identity.
These ideas challenged traditional views of human nature and inspired more new aspects in representations of
human experience.
• Philosophy: Nietzsche’s radical critiques of morality, religion, and culture had a profound impact on Modernist
writers. His rejection of absolute truths and promotion of self-created meaning, Nihilism, resonated with writers
grappling with a world that seemed increasingly uncertain and devoid of traditional values.
• Technology: Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, which revolutionized the understanding of time, space, and energy,
inspired Modernist writers to experiment with the portrayal of reality. His concept that time and space are relative
and dependent on context encouraged writers to break away from linear narratives and explore the subjective
nature of experience.

Discussion Questions:
1. How did Art influence Modernist literature and its view of the world?
2. How did Modernist writers use new ideas to explore the human mind?
3. What new criticism of society focused on economic equality?
4. How did scientific discoveries in physics and biology change how Modernist literature portrayed reality, time,
and space?

Part two: (continued)

II. Women's Rights:

The British suffrage movement took a bold turn in 1903 with the formation of the Women's Social and Political
Union (WSPU) by Emmeline Pankhurst. British suffragettes used dramatic protests, such as chaining themselves to
lampposts and smashing windows, to demand the right to vote. In 1918, women over thirty were granted the vote,
and by 1928, the voting age for women was lowered to 21.
III. British Imperialism:
In the 1800s, Britain expanded its overseas territories to secure markets for its goods. Rudyard Kipling, a pro-
imperialist, defended imperialism in works like The White Man's Burden. In contrast, anti-imperialists like George
Orwell and Joseph Conrad critiqued its brutality. Orwell’s Burmese Days and Conrad’s Heart of Darkness exposed
the harsh realities of colonial rule. Meanwhile, W.B. Yeats addressed imperialism from a colonized point of view,
exploring the tensions between Irish nationalism and British colonial influence in his poetry.
IV. The Great War:
World War I, referred to as the Great War, brought unprecedented destruction, especially on the Western Front. The
Battle of the Somme resulted in massive British casualties, raising profound doubts about the value of military
heroism. The disillusionment from this war led to a reevaluation of national pride, although World War II soon
followed, bringing even greater devastation to Britain.
V. Industrialism and Rapid Growth of the City:
The Industrial Revolution and urbanization brought rapid changes, creating a chaotic, alienating environment in
cities. Modernist writers explored the psychological impacts of these shifts, often portraying cities as impersonal,
isolating places where individuals struggled with a sense of anonymity and despair.
Discussion Questions:
1. What actions did the women in Britain take to fight for their right to vote?
2. How did George Orwell and Joseph Conrad criticize imperialism, and how were their views different from
Rudyard Kipling’s?
3. How did World War I affect British society and literature?

Lesson Three:
The Flourishing of Modernism (1910– 1945): A Literary Explosion in Content and Technique
I. Content
1. Rejection of Traditional Values: Modernist writers rejected past conventions.
2. Elevation of individualism: Modernists focused on the individual experience rather than the collective
experience of their characters.
3. Questing the past: Themes like nostalgia, remorse, reminiscence, guilt, memories, reflections, and recollections
all were used by modernists to question the omni-presence of the past on our daily lives in the present.
4. Question Reality: Modernists challenged the certainty of reality by rejecting fixed truths and embracing
ambiguity, subjectivity, and fragmentation, unlike Victorian writers who presented reality as stable and orderly.
5. The haunting or presence of the past: Modernist literature reflects the idea that history continuously influences
the present. Modernist writers often explored how the past shape’s identity, memory, and consciousness.
6. Psychological Fiction: Focused on characters' internal lives, motivations, and conflicts rather than dramatic
action.
7. The "Unreal City": Urban life became a central theme, depicting the anonymity, mechanization, and alienation
of modern cities.
8. Alienation: Many works explored feelings of alienation and spiritual emptiness, particularly in the wake of war.
9. Fear of Technology
10. The danger of new technology, often looking back to earlier periods for wisdom and meaning.
II. Techniques:
1. Stream of Consciousness: This technique, first termed by William James, captures the continuous flow of a
character's thoughts, often in an irregular and associative manner with violation of grammar. It features non-
linear timelines, subjective perspectives, and incomplete sentences, nonchronological order.
2. Epiphany: An epiphany is a sudden realization or insight that changes a character's understanding or
perspective. For example, in James Joyce’s The Dead, Gabriel Conroy experiences an epiphany at the end of the
story when he realizes that he has a shallow perspective about himself and others especially about his wife’s
past.
3. Allusion: Allusions are subtle references to other works, historical events, or cultural elements. They require
readers to recognize and understand these references to grasp their full meaning. For instance, in Joyce’s The
Dead, the word “dead” itself carries an allusion to Thomas Moore’s poem "Oh Ye Dead!" Moore was a famous
Irish poet, and this poem is about the dead returning to visit the living, blending themes of memory, loss, and the
past haunting the present.
4. Irony: Modernist writers used various forms of irony—verbal, situational, and dramatic—to reflect
disillusionment and detachment from reality.
• Verbal Irony: This occurs when a character or speaker says one thing but means the opposite. It
often resembles sarcasm but is not always meant to be mocking. Example: If it's raining heavily and
someone says, “What lovely weather we’re having!” this would be verbal irony because the statement
contradicts the actual situation.
• Situational Irony: Situational irony happens when the outcome of a situation is entirely different
from what was expected. It involves a difference between what is anticipated and what actually
occurs. Example: A fire station burns down. The irony lies in the fact that a place associated with
preventing fires is itself on fire, defying logical expectations.
 • Dramatic Irony: This type of irony is when the audience knows something that the characters do not.
It creates tension or suspense because readers/viewers are aware of the true situation, while the
characters are not. Example: In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows that Juliet is not
truly dead but in a deep sleep. Romeo, however, believes she is dead, leading him to take his own life.
The dramatic irony here intensifies the tragedy because the audience knows the truth while the
characters act on false beliefs.

Discussion Questions:
1. How did modernist writers reject traditional values, and how did this influence their portrayal of reality?
2. How does the use of the stream of consciousness technique help convey the complexities of a character’s inner
life?
3. Can you think of an example of irony in a modernist text? How does it add to the overall meaning or theme?