60 Questions
What were the main factors characterizing the inter-War period?
The main factors characterizing the inter-War period were economic weakness, social conflicts, and political reorganization.
What were the key changes in the position of women during the war?
The war brought political, economic, and social emancipation for women.
What was the focus of government policy in the 1920s?
The government policy in the 1920s focused on home affairs.
What was the outcome of the Anglo-Irish war in terms of Ireland's division?
The outcome of the Anglo-Irish war led to the division of Ireland into Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland.
What condition did the British establish for the creation of the Irish Free State?
The British established the condition that the six counties of Northern Ireland should not be coerced into a united Ireland.
What are two characteristics observed in the fiction of the Modernist period?
The alienation of the artist and experimentation in writing.
What is the main characteristic of Modernist novels in terms of chronology?
Lack of chronology.
What are two techniques commonly used in Modernist novels to represent time?
Sudden jumps and temporal juxtapositions.
What aspects of the character are emphasized in Modernist novels instead of plot events?
The character's consciousness, unconsciousness, memory, and perception.
What historical events influenced the literature of the 1930s?
The Great Depression, rise of Hitler, Fascism, and Nazism.
What are two poetry collections by W.B. Yeats that reflect his increasing realism during the period mentioned in the text?
The Green Helmet and Other Poems (1910) and Responsibilities (1914)
What were the two major events that forced Yeats to confront the realities of life?
The impact of the 1914-18 war and the Irish troubles of 1916
From which sources did Yeats draw his symbols for expressing his philosophy?
His study of philosophy, French symbolistes, and earlier symbolical poets like Blake and Shelley
Who is the American-English poet and leader of the modernist movement mentioned in the text?
T.S. Eliot
Which two poetic works by T.S. Eliot are mentioned in the text?
The Waste Land (1922) and The Four Quartets (1943)
What are some techniques Virginia Woolf used to create a tightly organized form in her novels?
Virginia Woolf used poetic devices such as recurrent images and restricted the time of the action.
What is the main theme of A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf?
The main theme of A Room of One's Own is the difficulties encountered by women writers in a man's world.
What is the narrative style used in The Waves by Virginia Woolf?
The narrative style used in The Waves is recording the stream of consciousness.
What is the subject of Between the Acts by Virginia Woolf?
The subject of Between the Acts is a village pageant recording English history and impending war.
What were some of the cultural influences that William Butler Yeats fought against in his native Ireland?
William Butler Yeats fought against the cultural influences of English rule in Ireland during the Victorian period.
What was the impact of the World War II on the United Kingdom?
The country was completely devastated and population deprived from their basic necessities.
Who supported the British economically and with raw materials during World War II?
The United States
When did the United States declare war on Germany during World War II?
1941
How many fighting men did Great Britain lose in World War II?
Over 300,000
What were the two main periods in the literary background of the 20th century?
Modernism and the period from the 30s onwards
What were some of the characteristics of poetry during the inter-war years?
Characteristics of poetry during the inter-war years included the use of 'vers libre' and obscurity to convey complex states of mind, the influence of symbolism and allusiveness, and the emergence of surrealism and new traditionalism.
What were some of the challenges faced by the English theatre in the 1920s?
The English theatre faced challenges such as poor productions, a demand for light and escapist entertainment for troops, competition from the cinema, and the dominance of spectacle and musical comedy on the London stage.
What were some of the developments in drama during the inter-War period?
Some of the developments in drama during the inter-War period included the movement away from realism, the revival of poetic drama, and the influence of expressionism both abroad and in England.
Who was Virginia Woolf and what were some of her contributions to literature?
Virginia Woolf was a British author known for her original contributions to the novel form and her role as a distinguished critic. She emphasized the continuous flow of experience, the indefinability of character, and the way time is experienced in her works.
What were some of the themes explored by Virginia Woolf in her novels?
Some of the themes explored by Virginia Woolf in her novels include the continuous flow of experience, the indefinability of character, the passage of time, and the characters' awareness of historic time.
During which period did the Conservative Party have electoral success in the UK?
1931-1945
Which country supported the British economically and with raw materials during World War II?
United States
When was Eire finally declared a republic?
1948
What event marked the beginning of a bitter civil war in Ireland?
The establishment of the Irish Free State
Which literary movement is associated with the period from the beginning of the 20th century to the 1930s?
Modernism
Who was Virginia Woolf's husband and what did they establish together?
Leonard Woolf, and they established the Hogarth Press
Which of the following is NOT a novel written by Virginia Woolf?
A Room of One's Own
What was the focus of Virginia Woolf's experimentation in her novels?
Time perception
Which literary group was centered in Gordon Square, London?
The Bloomsbury group
Which American playwright was influenced by expressionism and mentioned in the text?
Eugene O'Neill
Which novel by Virginia Woolf focuses primarily on the stream of consciousness of its characters?
The Waves
Which novel by Virginia Woolf is a historical fantasy with evocations of literary England?
Orlando
Which essay by Virginia Woolf describes the difficulties encountered by women writers in a man's world?
A Room of One's Own
Which novel by Virginia Woolf takes place on a single day and features a village pageant recording English history?
Between the Acts
Which biographical work by Virginia Woolf is a full-length biography of the art critic Roger Fry?
Roger Fry
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the inter-War period?
Technological advancements
What was the outcome of the Anglo-Irish war?
Ireland was divided into Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland
What was the focus of government policy in the 1920s?
Social welfare
What was the condition established by the British for the creation of the Irish Free State?
Northern Ireland should not be coerced into a united Ireland
What major change occurred in the position of women during the war?
Economic emancipation
Which two poets influenced T.S. Eliot's works mentioned in the text?
William Blake and Percy Bysshe Shelley
Who awarded T.S. Eliot both the Order of Merit and the Nobel Prize for Literature?
The Swedish government
What impact did the 1914-18 war and the Irish troubles of 1916 have on W.B. Yeats?
They led him to grapple with the realities of life
What did T.S. Eliot's experiments in diction, style, and versification do for English poetry?
Revitalized it
What did T.S. Eliot shatter and erect through his critical essays?
Old orthodoxies and new ones
Which two characteristics can be observed in Modernist fiction?
The emphasis on plot events and the representation of time
What influenced the literature of the 1930s?
The rise of Hitler and the shadow of Fascism and Nazism over Europe
What is the main theme of W.H. Auden's poetry?
The defiance against sexual repression and the quest for spiritual renewal
What were the influences on the verse dramas coauthored by Auden and Isherwood?
The poetry of Dylan Thomas and the writings of Sigmund Freud
What were the most significant models and inspiration for the young writers of the period?
Yeats's mature poetry and Eliot's Waste Land
Study Notes
Inter-War Period
- The inter-war period was characterized by a complex and turbulent time in world history.
- The period saw significant changes in the position of women, with women gaining more independence and freedom.
- Government policy in the 1920s focused on economic recovery and stability.
Irish Independence
- The Anglo-Irish war resulted in the division of Ireland, with the creation of the Irish Free State.
- The British established the condition that the Irish Free State would be a Dominion of the British Empire.
Modernist Literature
- Two characteristics of Modernist fiction are experimentation with time and a focus on the inner lives of characters.
- Modernist novels often feature non-linear chronology and use techniques such as stream-of-consciousness and multiple narrative perspectives to represent time.
- Instead of plot events, Modernist novels emphasize the inner lives and thoughts of characters.
- The literature of the 1930s was influenced by historical events such as the rise of fascism and the Spanish Civil War.
W.B. Yeats
- W.B. Yeats' poetry collections, such as "The Tower" and "The Winding Stair", reflect his increasing realism during the period.
- Yeats drew his symbols from Irish mythology and folklore to express his philosophy.
- Two major events that forced Yeats to confront the realities of life were the 1916 Easter Rising and the Anglo-Irish war.
T.S. Eliot
- T.S. Eliot was a key figure in the Modernist movement and was influenced by poets such as Dante and Baudelaire.
- His poetic works, such as "The Waste Land" and "The Hollow Men", are notable for their experimentation with form and style.
- Eliot's critical essays helped to establish a new set of literary standards and values.
Virginia Woolf
- Virginia Woolf was a key figure in the Modernist movement and was known for her experimentation with novel form and style.
- Her novels, such as "Mrs. Dalloway" and "To the Lighthouse", often feature non-linear chronology and a focus on the inner lives of characters.
- Woolf's writing often explored themes such as feminism, identity, and the human experience.
- She was married to Leonard Woolf and together they established the Hogarth Press.
World War II
- The impact of World War II on the United Kingdom was significant, with the country suffering heavy losses and damage.
- The United States declared war on Germany in 1941 and supported the British economically and with raw materials.
- Great Britain lost around 383,000 fighting men during the war.
Literary Movements
- The Modernist movement was a key literary movement of the 20th century, characterized by experimentation with form and style.
- The inter-war period saw the rise of other literary movements, such as Expressionism and Surrealism.
Theatre and Drama
- The English theatre in the 1920s faced challenges such as censorship and commercial pressure.
- Despite these challenges, the period saw significant developments in drama, including the rise of experimental and avant-garde theatre.
Exploring the Complexities of Inter-War Poetry: Symbolism, Allusiveness, and Surrealism
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