Modernist Literature: Lost Generation

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Questions and Answers

What was the primary contribution of John Dos Passos to American literature?

He was a major playwright and editor.

He was known for his innovative poetry techniques.

He solidified his reputation as a social historian and radical critic. (correct)

He primarily wrote children's literature.

What narrative technique does Dos Passos employ in Manhattan Transfer?

First-person narration.

Rapid-transit rider’s perspective. (correct)

Stream of consciousness.

Epistolary format.

Which of the following figures is NOT featured in Dos Passos' works?

Henry Ford

Thomas Edison

J.P. Morgan

William Faulkner (correct)

How did T.S. Eliot contribute to the Modernist poetry movement?

By challenging established poetic forms and beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

What prestigious award did T.S. Eliot receive in 1948?

Nobel Prize in Literature. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant theme in Dos Passos' works?

Historical realism through montages. Signup and view all the answers

What literary style is T.S. Eliot known for?

Linguistic and metrical experimentation. Signup and view all the answers

What year did T.S. Eliot become a British citizen?

1927 Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Lost Generation' refer to?

A generation disillusioned by their experiences during WWI Signup and view all the answers

What does Ashley's behavior in the 1920s symbolize in the context of the postwar period?

A sense of aimlessness and sexual liberation Signup and view all the answers

Which author is NOT associated with the Lost Generation?

Mark Twain Signup and view all the answers

In A Farewell to Arms, how does the war primarily affect the relationship between Frederic Henry and Catherine Barkley?

It ultimately disrupts their ideal future together Signup and view all the answers

Which literary work was published by Hemingway in 1926?

The Sun Also Rises Signup and view all the answers

What influenced the themes of Hemingway's literary works?

His experiences as a war correspondent and ambulance driver Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of both A Farewell to Arms and The Sun Also Rises with respect to the theme of war?

The physical and psychological impact on individuals Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the Lost Generation is accurate?

They were primarily focused on material wealth and success. Signup and view all the answers

Which literary technique is exemplified by Hemingway's theory of the iceberg?

Focusing on the narrative while omitting unnecessary details Signup and view all the answers

What led to Ernest Hemingway receiving the Nobel Prize for Literature?

His innovative writing style and use of modernist techniques Signup and view all the answers

How did Hemingway believe storytelling was strengthened according to his theory?

By omitting important events the author knows about Signup and view all the answers

In which year was John Dos Passos born?

1896 Signup and view all the answers

What was a common belief or sentiment among the members of the Lost Generation?

Disconnection from a materialistic society Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary expectation of women during the Victorian era?

To manage domestic duties and marry Signup and view all the answers

What does Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse depict?

The challenges of a Victorian family Signup and view all the answers

Which character in To the Lighthouse represents traditional Victorian values?

Mrs. Ramsay Signup and view all the answers

What external factor influenced Virginia Woolf's exploration of feminist concerns in her writing?

The Great War Signup and view all the answers

What is a major theme in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness?

The exploration of human nature and morality Signup and view all the answers

What significant event shaped the narrative structure of To the Lighthouse?

Time passage over ten years Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect distinguishes Virginia Woolf's literary style in To the Lighthouse?

Focus on stream of consciousness Signup and view all the answers

How did Joseph Conrad's background influence his work?

He was a non-native English speaker who overcame challenges Signup and view all the answers

What central theme does Conrad's Heart of Darkness primarily critique?

Imperialism Signup and view all the answers

Which character is compared to Odysseus in Joyce's Ulysses?

Leopold Bloom Signup and view all the answers

What does the character Jake Barnes struggle with in Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises?

His impotence due to a war injury Signup and view all the answers

In Ulysses, which character reflects the figure of Telemachus?

Stephen Dedalus Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was one of the concerns addressed by Keith Booker in the context of Heart of Darkness?

Issues of race and gender in European discourse Signup and view all the answers

What literary technique is notably employed in Joyce's Ulysses?

Stream of consciousness Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of Bloomsday in relation to Ulysses?

It is the day the events of the novel take place. Signup and view all the answers

Which character from Ulysses is paralleled with the figure of Penelope?

Molly Bloom Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lost Generation

A group of American writers who came of age during World War I and gained literary recognition in the 1920s.
Emerged due to profound disillusionment and a lack of purpose after the war.
Inspired by a statement overheard by Gertrude Stein and later used by Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises (1926).
Experienced immense suffering and death during the war, leading to a loss of faith in traditional values and a focus on material wealth.
Felt disconnected from postwar America, which focused on materialism and lacked emotional depth.

Major Modernist Authors and Works

Ernest Hemingway

Born July 21, 1899; died July 2, 1961.
Widely recognized as one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.
Known for his novels and short stories; also a successful journalist and war correspondent.
Notable works: In Our Time (1925), The Sun Also Rises (1926), A Farewell to Arms (1929), To Have and Have Not (1937), For Whom the Bell Tolls (1940), Men Without Women (1927), Winner Take Nothing (1933), The Fifth Column (1938)
Awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954

John Dos Passos

Born January 14, 1896; died September 28, 1970.
Prominent American author and key figure among post-World War I novelists.
U.S.A. trilogy solidified his reputation as a social historian and radical critic of the state of American life.
Expanded his understanding of history through travel to Spain and other countries
Known for impactful use of newspaper headlines and popular songs in his work, as well as biographies of prominent figures of the era
Manhattan Transfer(1925)
Newsreels, biographic elements, and "camera-eye" technique

Thomas Stearns Eliot

American-English poet, playwright, literary critic, and editor.
Prominent figure in the Modernist poetry movement.
Recognized as a poet, dramatist, and literary critic, honored with the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948 for his contributions to contemporary poetry.
Works include The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, The Waste Land, The Hollow Men, Ash Wednesday, Four Quartets, Murder in the Cathedral, The Cocktail Party
Moved to the United Kingdom in 1914, becoming a British citizen in 1927.

Virginia Woolf's To the Lighthouse

Depicts life in a Victorian family facing challenges in the English countryside.
Presents different characters' viewpoints, offering complexity and inviting interpretation of metaphors, allusions, and irony.
Centers around the Ramsay family's anticipation of visiting The Lighthouse.
Illuminates the influence of external factors, such as World War I, on the transition from the Victorian to the modern era.
Explores women's opportunities in life.
Presents a contrast between traditional maternal figures (Mrs. Ramsay) and independent (Lily).

Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness

Written by a non-native English speaker, Joseph Conrad.
Thought-provoking and ambiguous work examining imperialism, capitalism, race, and gender.
Marlow's journey up the Congo River with the Belgian colonial service.
Explores the exploitation of natives and condemnation of immoral treatment by European colonizers during the 19th century.

James Joyce's Ulysses

Records the stories of three Dublin residents (Bloomsday) on June 16, 1904.
Romanized version of Homer's Odysseus.
Draws comparisons between characters: Leopold Bloom and Odysseus; Molly Bloom and Penelope; and Stephen Dedalus and Telemachus.
Explores themes like antisemitism, human sexuality, British control in Ireland, Catholicism, and Irish nationalism in the context of early 20th-century Dublin.

Hemingway's Novels

The Sun Also Rises (1926): Heavily influenced by his experiences in Paris, focuses on WWI veteran Jake Barnes' unfulfilled love for Lady Brett Ashley. Shows aimlessness of postwar Europe, symbolized by Jake's physical condition and societal structures
A Farewell to Arms (1929), focuses on WWI ambulance driver Frederic Henry and his troubled relationship with Catherine Barkley, contrasted to his relationship with Brett in The Sun Also Rises. War impacts, but less directly physically

Hemingway's Writing Technique

Emphasizes minimalist prose, avoiding excess context and exposition.
"Iceberg theory" leaves key aspects implied rather than explicitly stated but with impactful argument. Useful for condensing a lot of ideas without explicit repetition.

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Description

Explore the Lost Generation of American writers who emerged after World War I. This quiz covers major modernist authors like Ernest Hemingway and their key works, highlighting the disillusionment that shaped their writing. Test your knowledge of this influential literary movement of the 1920s.