Lecture 10 Theme:American literature of the 20th centuries Plan 1.Historical, political and economic backgroundat the end of the19th – the beginning of the 20thcentury 2. Realism in American literature of the XX century a)Jack London b)Theodore Dreiser. Criticism of the “American Dream” c)William Faulkner d)Ernest Hemingway. e)John Steinbeck. f)Francis Scott Fitzgerald 3. Americandrama a)Eugene O’Neil. b)Tennessee Williams. 4. American literature of the post World War II period 1.Historical, political and economic backgroundat the end of the19th – the beginning of the 20thcentury The turn of ages in America is a period from the end of the Civil war to the end of the World War One.It was a new epoch characterized by the strengthening of exploitation of the working people, growth of poverty of farmers. 80s and 90s were marked byworkers’ strikes. The workers demonstration in Chicago on the first of May 1886 was suppressed by the police, the organizers were arrested and executed (put to death). Mass working class movement promoted the appearance of socialist organizations. By the end of the 19thcentury America starts imperialist wars. USA interferes with the internal affairs of different countries. When World War One broke out in Europe, the USA remained neutral at first and only in 1917 started its participation in the war. By the beginning of the 20th century the USA became the richest country and the centre of the capitalist world. Free lands the West, that predermined the peculiaritiesof the historical development of America, brought the American dream, which was caused by the persistent illusions about a special American way of development.
At the turn of ages in American literature there were different tendencies and movements – romanticism was still popular, realism, naturalism, adventurous imperialist literature and others. 2.Realism in American literature of the XX century Realism is a powerful literary movement. In the 20th century American literature it was represented by most outstanding talented writers asJack London, O. Henry, Theodore Dreiser, SherwoodAnderson, Upton Sinclair, Sinclair Lewis, Francis Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck, by talented poets as Karl Sandberg, Robert Frost, Langston Hughes and many other men of letters. a) Jack London Jack London (1876—1916) is one of the greatest American writers. During 16 years of his literary career, he published about 50 books: short stories, novels, essays. He was a master of animalistic genre. He had to start working early and he had changed many jobs before he became a famous writer. At sixteen he was an oyster pirate, travelled across the ocean as a sailor, and later tramped from San-Francisco to New York with an army of the unemployed. These hardships influenced his outlook, and he learned two things, first that he would have to educate himself so that he could work with his brain; and second that there was something wrong with the economic system of the United States.
Want to read all 21 pages?
Previewing 3 of 21 pages Upload your study docs or become a member.
Want to read all 21 pages?
Previewing 3 of 21 pages Upload your study docs or become a member.
End of preview
Want to read all 21 pages? Upload your study docs or become a member.