The Twenties of the Twentieth century. English Literature in the 1930s and 1940s William Butler Yeats

Seminar 14
TWENTIETH CENTURY ENGLISH LITERATURE (1915-2000)


plan:

1. 
   The Twenties of the Twentieth century.
   
2. 
   English Literature in the 1930s and 1940s
   
3. 
   William Butler Yeats(1865-1939)
   

4.James Joyce(1882-1941)


KEY WORDS: Massive unemployment, The terrible destruction of World War, great diversity of artistic values and artistic methods, the art of Katherine Mansfield is a significant, traditions of English realism, catastrophic effects, provides a bridge from the Victorian Age into the twentieth century, “The Countess Cathleen” (1892), “Deirdre” (1907), senator in the Irish Free state in 1922 and in 1923 received the Noble Prize for Literature;
The 1920s were not a tranquil period for Britain. Massive unemployment was created by the return of hundreds of thousands of veterans to civilian life. English literature changed in both form and subject matter between the end of World War I in 1918 and the beginning of World War II in 1939. The terrible destruction of World War I left many people with the feeling that society was falling apart.
The 20th century English literature is remarkable for a great diversity of artistic values and artistic methods. Following the rapid introduction of new modes of thought in natural science, sociology and psychology, it has naturally reacted to absorb and transform this material into literary communication. Fundamental political, social and economic changes in the world and, particularly, in Great Britain deeply affected the creative writing of the new century. The works of such writers as H.F.Wells, Bernard Shaw, John Galsworthy, Arnold Bennet, Joseph Conrad, E.M. Forster, Katherine Mansfield showed an earnest desire to express the feelings and thoughts of the British people. It was the basis of their approach to literature. That’s why their works became a new investment in the heritage of English realism and stimulated its further development. In the short-story genre the art of Katherine Mansfield is a significant contribution to the traditions of English realism.