Modern American Literature: Key Movements and Analysis
Unit 1: Make It New – Poetry for a New Century
Historical Context and Introduction
Modernism emerged as a response to the rapid changes in industrialization, war, science, and psychology. Writers rejected Victorian sentimentalism in favor of experimentation, fragmentation, and unconventional forms.
Key Features of Modernist Poetry
- Imagism: Clarity, direct treatment of the subject, and economy of language.
- Fragmentation: Poetry mirrors the disordered reality of modern life.
- Free Verse & Experimental
Origins of American National Literature and Early Novelists
The Rise of a National Literature
Debates Over a National Literary Identity
In the early years of the new republic, there was disagreement about how American literature should grow. There were three different points of view. One group was worried that American literature still lacked national feeling and did not want books based on European culture. Another group felt that American literature was too young to declare its independence from the British literary tradition. The third group also felt that
Read MoreLanguage, Identity and History in Brian Friel’s Translations
Language, Identity and History in Brian Friel’s Translations
Setting and historical context
Brian Friel’s play Translations explores the deep connections between language, identity, and history. Set in 1833 in the rural village of Baile Beag, the play takes place during the British Ordnance Survey of Ireland, when Irish place names were translated into English. Through this historical moment, Friel examines how language shapes cultural identity and how its loss can lead to misunderstanding and conflict.
Read MoreAAVE Phonetics, Morphosyntax & Lexicon
AAVE Phonetics
- Monophthongization: [ai] > [a].
- Pin/pen merger: [e] > [i].
- Non-rhotic: r-dropping in postvocalic position.
- [ju:] > [u:]: (e.g., biutiful > butiful).
- Consonant cluster reduction: final consonant disappears (e.g., lift > lif, sand > san, desk > des) (when plural, this does not apply).
- Nasal + voiceless stop preservation: with nasal + p, t, k we do not delete anything (e.g., jump, can’t).
- [ŋ] > [n]: velar nasal (e.g., -ing) realized as alveolar nasal (e.g., jumping,
Jackie Robinson in 42: Breaking Baseball’s Color Barrier
42 — Jackie Robinson and Racial Barriers in Baseball
42 is a movie based on a true story about the first African American player in Major League Baseball. It is directed by Brian Helgeland. Shortly after World War II ended, many baseball stars returned to the league, but the surprising event during this period was that Branch Rickey, the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers (now known as the Los Angeles Dodgers), signed Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in MLB. Even though many white
Read MoreLiterary Analysis: Alternate History, Duty, and Generational Gaps
The Adventure by Jayant Narlikar: Alternate History and Quantum Theory
The Adventure by Jayant Narlikar is a science-fiction story that skillfully combines history, philosophy, and the concept of parallel realities. The narrative centers on Professor Gangadhar Gaitonde, a renowned historian deeply interested in Indian history, particularly the Third Battle of Panipat.
Gaitonde’s Journey into a Parallel World
While traveling by train to Bombay, Gaitonde contemplates how history might have unfolded differently
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