Literary Movements of the Postmodern Period (1914-1945)

Metaphysical Poets

• The best-known metaphysical poets are John Donne, Henry Vaughan, Andrew Marvell, and George Herbert.
• Characteristics of metaphysical poetry include:
  • Spoken quality of the poetry
  • Colloquial diction
  • Philosophical exploration
  • New and original conceits
  • Irony
  • Exploration of questions such as "Does God exist?"

Metaphysical Poem Examples

• "The Flea" is a common example of metaphysical poem
• Other examples include "The Collar" by George Herbert and "The Retreat" by Henry Vaughan
• "To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell is another example of metaphysical poetry

Symbolism

• Symbolism refers to things that are meaningful in our life
• Physical symbols such as a smile, hug, or threat have meaning that hinges on context
• Examples of symbolism in literature include:
  • The green light in "The Great Gatsby"
  • Snakes in the Harry Potter series

The Postmodern Period

• The postmodern period spans from 1914 to 1945
• Notable writers of this period include:
  • T.S. Eliot
  • Morrison
  • Shaw
  • Beckett
  • Stoppard
  • Fowles
  • Calvino
  • Ginsberg
  • Pynchon
• Multiculturalism led to the canonization of non-Caucasian writers
• Magic Realist flourished with surrealistic writings embroidered in conventions of realism

Literary Movements

• A literary movement is a group of literary works created around the same time
• Works include essays, poems, and other forms
• Same writer working in multiple forms is common
• Authors from various walks of life find themselves writing about the same subjects
• Authors commonly have the same way and intentions

Types of Literary Movements

• Metaphysical poetry peaked in 17th century England and Europe
• This movement explored everything from irony to philosophy
• During this period, poets relaxed their strict use of meter and explored new ideas

History of Metaphysical Poetry

• The word metaphysical was used by writers to describe 17th-century poets
• These poets are noted for their "unnaturalness"
• T.S. Eliot is one of the many 20th-century literary critics who helped establish the reputation

The Romantic Period

• The romantic period spans from 1790 to 1830
• Poets in this period often wrote about nature, imagination, and individuality
• Notable romantic poets include:
  • Coleridge
  • Blake
  • Keats
  • Shalley
  • Johann von Goethe
  • Jane Austen

The Victorian Period

• The Victorian period spans from 1832 to 1901
• Writing from this period includes sentimental novels
• Notable Victorian writers include:
  • Elizabeth Browning
  • Alfred Lord
  • Tennyson
  • Matthew Arnold
  • Robert Browning
  • Charles Dickens
  • Bronte sisters
• Pre-Raphaelites idealized the morality of the medieval period
• The end of this period is marked by the intellectual movements of Aestheticism

The Modern Period

• The modern period spans from 1914 to 1945
• Notable modernist writers in Britain include:
  • Yeats
  • Seamus Heaney
  • Dylan Thomas
  • Auden
  • Virginia Woolf
  • Wilfred Owen
• Notable modernist writers in America include:
  • Robert Frost
  • Flannery O'Connor
  • The lost generation writers
  • The Harlem Renaissance writers, including Baldwin and Ellison
• Realism was the dominant fashion during this era, but disillusionment with the world wars led to new experimentation