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Poetry/Modernist

From Gerald R. Lucas

Modernist poetry refers to a wide-ranging cultural movement that emerged in the early 20th century and is characterized by a radical break with traditional forms and values.

General Characteristics

Some of the general characteristics of modernist poetry include:

  • Experimentation with form: Modernist poets often experimented with new forms of poetry, including free verse, fragmented or disjointed lines, and unconventional structures.
  • Use of symbolism and allusion: Modernist poets frequently used symbols and allusions to represent complex ideas or emotions.
  • Emphasis on individual experience: Modernist poets often focused on the individual experience rather than the collective or universal.
  • Critique of society: Many modernist poets criticized the social and cultural norms of their time, often using their poetry as a means of social and political commentary.
  • Ambiguity and fragmentation: Modernist poets often employed ambiguity and fragmentation to reflect the fragmented nature of modern life and thought.
  • Stream-of-consciousness: Modernist poets sometimes used the stream-of-consciousness technique to explore the inner workings of the mind and to depict the flow of thoughts and emotions.
  • Rejection of traditional literary conventions: Modernist poets rejected traditional literary conventions such as rhyme, meter, and narrative structure.
  • Interest in multiple perspectives: Modernist poets often explored multiple perspectives and points of view, including those of marginalized and minority groups.

These characteristics are not exhaustive, but they provide a general sense of the key features of modernist poetry.

W. H. Auden

Hart Crane

T. S. Eliot

Robert Frost

Langston Hughes

Dylan Thomas

William Butler Yeats