10. Modernism (Faulkner)

The flourishing of modernism dates back to the 20 - 30ss of the 20 century.

Naturally the name of the trend comes of the word "modern" - something new and fresh. It differs from realism in many basic ways:

1) Modernists saw the cause of human actions in man's subconscious or subliminal sphere.

2) modernists concentrated on man's inner world, thoughts and feelings. For this purpose they elaborated a special technique known as. "a stream of consciousness".

3) that of stream of consciousness - "an interior monologue" ("внутренний монолог").

The very term "stream of consciousness" is a phrase which describes the unspoken thoughts and feelings of the character.

4) Modernism was both a period in art and a literary trend. Zigmund Freud. He split human nature into levels:

The Super Ego (Сверх Я) -the Ego (Я) - the Id (Подсознательное) –

1. Experiments with time and lang-e

2. Plot structure (exp), schooling situations

The most prominent modernist prosaic writers were Henry James & William Faulkner.

William Faulkner had in his works both the traces of "the lost generation" & modernism. William Faulkner had in his works both the traces of "the lost generation" & modernism. W. Faulkner was born in the state of Mississippi, he took part in World War I (but not for long as he was wounded & came back home). As it was already mentioned his works were influenced by the war experience ("Soldier's Pay") and often dealt with the theme of "the lost generation". Besides he also represented the Southern School of Writers.

11. American drama. (o’Neill, Williams)

American Drama of the 19th was aimed at entertaining - vaudevilles & musicals were very popular. So, everything in drama was done for entertainment.. Drama in America focused on the evils of American society: its economic conditions & impossibility to achieve the American Dream. That is how the American Dream turns out to be the American Tragedy

Eugene O`Neill read & was influenced by the works of Strindberg, Ibsen, Chekhov. In his works he managed to combine elements of expressionism with the traditional realism, mythology, classical tragedy (the Ancient Greek traditions) & usage of Biblical myths. In all his plays E. O'Neill touches upon the problem of dramatism of our human existence, nevertheless all his works differ from one another.

Tennessee Williams was an American playwright, author of many stage classics. After years of obscurity, he became suddenly famous with The Glass Menagerie (1944), closely reflecting his own unhappy family background. This heralded a string of successes, including A Streetcar Named Desire, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Orpheus Descending, and Sweet Bird of Youth. His later work attempted a new style that did not appeal to audiences, and alcohol and drug dependence further inhibited his creative output

12. Postmodernism in am (Vonnegut, Heller, Pynchon)

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.  was an American novelist who wrote works blending satire,black comedy, and science fiction, such as Slaughterhouse-Five Cat's Cradle, and Breakfast of Champions . He was known for his humanist beliefs as well as being honorary president of theAmerican Humanist Association.

The novels of such writers as  Vonnegut, Pynchon, Heller,contain elements of black humor.

Joseph Heller was an American satirist author. He wrote the influential Catch-22 about American servicemen during World War II. It was this work that was the origination for the expression, 'catch 22', used commonly to express absurdity in choice.

Thomas Ruggles Pynchon, Jr. is an American novelist. Pynchon is noted for his imagination and wild sense of humor.

styles and themes, including the fields of history, science and mathematics. Gravity's Rainbow also derives much from Pynchon's background in mathematics: at one point, the geometry of garter belts is compared with that of cathedral spires, both described as mathematical singularities