History of english literature plan

Literary Features of the Period :

The Modern Period is dominated by novels. The novel evolved to an art from in this period. It became realistic and dealt with social problem with a view to educating the readers. Influenced by Psychology the novelists dealt with the inner problems of the characters rather than their outer problems. Instead of simple, chronological normative technique, the "stream of consciousness" or "the use of the interior monologue" was accepted as a main weapon of the novelists. However, in the twentieth century the novel shifted its interest from realistic problems to entertaining subjects. Science fiction and thriller became more popular.

Drama also realistically dealt with social problems. Ibsen's influence is significant in the drama of this Period. Intellectual exercise of the contemporary problems was so important in the drama of this period that these plays lack imagination and poetry. Poetic Drama began in this period. The Postmodern drama dealt with the absurdity of human existence and reveal the "nothingness" or "meaninglessness" of human efforts.

In the poetry of this period a search for a tradition is noteworthy. The late Victorians gave way to the Georgians. Then the Imagists replaced the Georgians but after a few years they themselves disappeared. In the second decade of the 20th century there had been another movement known as dadaism. In the 1920s Dadaism was developed to surrealism. The disillusionment of the hapes for a new world following the First World War found expression in the poetry of this period. With the change of subject and outlook, the poetic technique also changed. The poets started using free verse. Symbols and conceits were used so frequently that poetry became obscure.