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James Joyce is the pioneer of modernist fiction. His works gained popularity during the 20th century as it contained the elements and style of the modern era. The points are as follows - Experimentation with structure and style - James Joyce rejected the traditional writing style adapting to the recRead more
James Joyce is the pioneer of modernist fiction. His works gained popularity during the 20th century as it contained the elements and style of the modern era.
The points are as follows –
- Experimentation with structure and style – James Joyce rejected the traditional writing style adapting to the recent interest in non linear story telling and fragmented narratives during those times.
- Exploring the Stream of Consciousness – Stream of Consciousness reffers to the term where the readers can learn about the character’s inner thoughts and feelings. This was a new trend going on during the 20th century into which most of the modern writers tried to adapt. James Joyce’s works like ‘Ulysses’ and ‘A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man’ explore this psychological concept.
- Focus on individual’s inner experience – As known, Modern fiction involves personal experiences of the characters. This writing style allows the readers to know about the characters inner life and experience and James Joyce leaves no exceptions to that. We see in depth analysis of the character mostly in his works.
His works adhere to the features of writing style and structure of the Modern era hence making it a modernist fiction.
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T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Wasteland’ is a quintessentially modernist poem due its exploration of cultural decay. The poem is threaded together, carefully attaching fragments which reflect the shattered and despondent society of the post-world war I era. Eliot's clever use of myth and allusions, especially tRead more
T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Wasteland’ is a quintessentially modernist poem due its exploration of cultural decay. The poem is threaded together, carefully attaching fragments which reflect the shattered and despondent society of the post-world war I era. Eliot’s clever use of myth and allusions, especially the Fisher King and the search for the Grail legend, further accentuate the poem’s modernist tendencies and the search of meaning in the disoriented world.
The poem’s fragmented structure, juxtaposed with Eliot’s allusions, creates a sense of alienation and perplexity. The characters in ‘The Wasteland’ are usually passive and aimless, reflecting the spiritual anxiety characteristic of the post war society. Furthermore, his description and exploration of London underscore the cultural fragmentation and spiritual decay. This is another essential element of modernist poetry.
In addition to his modernist tendencies, Eliot has also drawn influence from Ezra Pound, who encouraged him to utilize and further experiment with new poetic styles and technique. Eliot’s interest in the philosophical ideologies of Immanuel Kant also molds his understanding of the human condition and the state of reality. Thus, Eliot’s influences, along with his own experiences, aided in the birth of ‘The Wasteland’, a venerated landmark in modernist poetry
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