World War I and The Literary Transition Into Modernism Essay

World War I and The Literary Transition Into Modernism World War I was the culmination of many things. On the surface, it was the ultimate in international disputes. Never before had the nations of the civilized world boiled over on such an enormous level. So large was the scale of World War I that there were few countries who did not feel its effects. On a more profound level, the human being had never before exacted such damage upon themselves in the name of warfare. Due to the absolute horror of the violence, man became shell-shocked psychologically and disillusionment filled many people. The psychological effects of this conflict would alter world views for years to come, especially as recorded in the post-war literature.†¦show more content†¦After years of vicious trench warfare, gas attacks, and artillery shellings, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany abdicated in late 1918. The allied forces settled the terms of peace at Versailles in 1919, ending the war. In all, total deaths of all nations reached over eight-and-a-half million. Total casualties involved numbered thirty-seven million. The damage to the European infrastructure was immeasurable. The damage done to the psyche of the survivor is hard to estimate. A gauge by which to judge the effects of World War I is the literary world. Through the written word, artists of the 1920s and afterward expressed their disillusionment that the violent conflict triggered in the form of modernism. The world reacted to the war, and the writers in Europe and the U.S. expressed a common sentiment. â€Å"The era following World War I marked by tremendous social upheaval and economic and political devastation, gave rise to modernism. Modernism began in Europe as a response to the devastating effects of World War I. Broadly, it refers to literary work produced in the interwar period; more specifically, it references the breakdown of traditional society under the forces of modernity† (Norton). Much of this description relates to the literary elements of Edith Wharton’s Age of Innocence, a novel written amidst the violence and aftermathShow MoreRelatedThe Birth Of The Realism And Modernism Era1322 Words   |  6 PagesEdith Wharton Literary History The birth of the Realism and Modernism era appeared during the late eighteenth century to early nineteenth century. Both Realism and Modernism are evident in many of Edith Wharton’s literary works. Realism came from chaotic times where it â€Å"encompasses the period of time from the Civil War†(Realism from American). The United States grew enormously after the civil war with â€Å"the rapid growth in industrialism and urbanization, an expanding population base due to immigrationRead MoreThe Wasteland, by T.S. Eliot857 Words   |  4 Pagesliving death. He uses techniques such as narration, historical, literary, and mythic allusions. Using themes and techniques from his earlier work, Eliot publishes The Wasteland. 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