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Read the following from your text (or click the linked material): Modernism (1901-Present)Introduction to the Twentieth Century and After William Butler Yeats (1865-1939):"Down by the Salley Gardens" (audio); "When You are Old"; "Leda and the Swan" Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) : "A Room of One's Own" James Joyce (1882-1941) (VOD): "Araby" D. H. Lawrence (1885-1930) (VOD): "Piano"; "The Snake" (You Tube); "The Horse Dealer's Daughter" W. H. Auden (1907-1973) (VOD):"Musee des Beaux Arts" (audio); "In Memory of Yeats"; "Funeral Blues" (YouTube) Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) (VOD):"The Hunchback in the Park"; "Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night" (audio) Doris Lessing (b. 1919) (VOD):"To Room Nineteen" Derek Walcott (b. 1930) (VOD): "A Far Cry from Africa"; "the Glory Trumpeter" (audio #4); "Midsummer" Jhumpa Lahiri (b. 1967): "Hell-Heaven" (not in text) |
Brief Lecture:
Modernism in England began with World War I. The early years of modernism were dominated by the Edwardian age. Modernism ended in the mid-1960s as England watched its political and military power diminish.
One of the most reknown writers during this time period was T.S. Eliot. Although Eliot was selfish and insensitive (he shipped off his first wife to an insane asylum and never visited her) and has been accused of being a Nazi sympathizer, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is one of my favorite poems of all time. Another interesting fact about Eliot is that his collection of poems, entitled Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, laid the inspiration and foundation for the famous Broadway musical, Cats.
A favorite piece from the Modern Period is Doris Lessing's "To Room Nineteen." If you saw the movie or read The Hours, you will recall the Julianne Moore character who felt so oppressed in her traditional maternal role that she attempted suicide in a lonely hotel room. Although Lessing was never given credit, I believe that the author of that novel was inspired by the protagonist in Lessing's short story. After you read Lessing's poignant tale, I'm sure that you will agree with my theory.
Step One: Read the textbook assignments or the corresponding links above.
Step Two: Please check the schedule for the final exam deadline.