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Module 7: The 20th Century and After, Part 1 (1902-Present)
We will spend 2 weeks in this module.
This document contains 4 sections:
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Overview
Readings
Resources
Responsibilities
Overview
When you think of this our last era in Brit Lit, I would like you to think of these 4 key
concepts: Change, War, Psychology, and Expanding Borders.
1. Change—the 20th century sparked massive shifts in what the British
experienced: collapse of the Empire, crumbling colonialism, women and
minorities demanding equal opportunity, rights, and a voice
2. War—Britain was in the center of both major global conflicts, losing millions of
soldiers in (at that time) the most advanced and destructive warfare the world
had ever known
3. Psychology—the changes of the times are reflected in a new focus for writers:
the world of the mind. Whereas the tales of old focused on epic battles for
heroes, the new epic takes place in the battlefield and the landscape of the mind.
4. Expanding Borders—remember where we started, with Beowulf coming to the
rescue of a poor village besieged by a monster? Now the world has expanded
globally. So has the literature. You will see that many selections in your text from
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the 20th century and After era are no longer “British” in the classic sense but are
influenced by British colonialism (Heart of Darkness, written by a Polish national)
and post-colonialism: Week 14 will require you to read classified as “British” but
which come out of New Zealand, South Africa, India and the new
transnational/multiracial communities of present-day Britain.
I’ll ask you to review a Power Point in Content, Module 7 on Modern British
Literature (some anthologies label the period from 1902-1980).
Week 13 Readings:
1. Short Stories:
A. James Joyce’s James Joyce's The Dead This is set on the Feast of the
Epiphany (very important!). It might appear there is nothing going on in
the story of this party, but there’s a lot going on in the mind of the main
character, Gabriel. Try to get inside his head. Sometimes students
don’t like this story until after we discuss it. Then it’s one of their
favorites! (NAEL, 1227-1256)
B. Virginia Woolf’s The Mark on the Wall Again, try to get in the speaker’s
head. What’s going through her mind? (NAEL, 1097-1102)
2. Essay/Speech: Virginia Woolf’s Professions for Women BUT WAIT! Before
reading this, read some background on the phrase The Angel in the House.
Do you remember me saying to you in the Victorian era, the perfect woman
was the Angel in the House? This will give you a little more background. You
need to see this to understand what Woolf is saying. Don’t worry; it’s short
The Angel in the House (NAEL, 1217-1220)
3. Poetry
A. William Butler Yeats
1) The Lake Isle of Innisfree (NAEL, 1062)
2) When You Are Old—talking to the love who rejected him (NAEL,
1063)
3) No Second Troy –more rejection, based on a real woman
(NAEL, 1066)
4) The Second Coming—The great film director Stanley Kubrick
loved this poem and used much of its imagery in his films:
Turning and turning in the widening gyre (2001: A Space
Odyssey) and the blood-dimmed tide is loosed (The Shining)
(NAEL, 1073-1074)
B. D.H. Lawrence’s Piano (NAEL, 1295-1296)
C. T.S. Eliot’s The Hollow Men (NAEL, 1320-1322)
Week 13 Resources
1) Required! Be sure to review the Power Point on Modern British Literature.
2) Required! Modernism & English Literature YouTube
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3) This is also useful for the final module: Mr. Osborne - Unit Preview 6 - The
Modern Era - YouTube
4) Matthew Macfadyen reads the poem 'When you are old' YouTube
5) No Second Troy - W. B. Yeats - YouTube
6) William Butler Yeats--The Second Coming YouTube
7) Vimeo: Piano by D.H. Lawrence
8) The Hollow Men - T.S. Eliot - YouTube
9) World War I Picture Slideshow YouTube
Week 13 Responsibilities:
1. Review Modern British Literature Power Point in Content, Module 7: 20th
Century & After, Part 1 Resources
2. Watch Modernism & English Literature YouTube
3. Complete Week 13 Readings, p. 2.
4. Participate in Week 13 Discussion.
5. Take Quiz 13: 20th Century & After, Part 1 (Questions will be based on
readings and Resources 1 & 2 above.)
Week 13 Discussion Forum Questions
Remember that only up to 2 students may choose each question for initial post. Once
you decide, I advise you go in and put your choice in a Subject line. You can always go
back later and add your post. Before you begin composing, make sure other students
have not spoken for your question.
Choose only one of these! Again, don’t go to online analyses. What do you think?
1. The Dead A/Gabriel:
A. Paragraph 1This short story is about psychology. While not much appears
to be happening on the outside, a great deal can happen inside our minds.
Focus on the character of Gabriel. What’s in his mind at the party? What
does the information about his wife’s dead boyfriend make him realize or
think about?
B. Paragraph 2 How did you react to Gabriel? Defend your response. What
characteristics of 20th Century Modernism do you see in this story? Which
lines from this story especially stand out to you? Why? Finally, what’s a
question you have for us about this character or story?
2. The Dead B/Gretta:
A. Paragraph 1Just as we learn about the inside of Gabriel’s mind, we also
learn about Gretta’s. At the party, what kind of wife does she seem to be?
How does she seem different after her “confession” to Gabriel? Were you
surprised by the change in her behavior? Why or why not?
B. Paragraph 2 How did you react to Gretta? Defend your response. What
characteristics of 20th Century Modernism do you see in this story? Which
lines from this story especially stand out to you? Why? Finally, what’s a
question you have for us about this character or story?
3. The Dead C/Symbolism:
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A. Paragraph 1This short story uses many symbols and Christian allusions:
Gabriel (Angel’s name), the feast of the Epiphany, and 3 sisters (vs. 3
wise men). Some readers are intrigued by symbols of the galoshes or the
constant background of the snow or the meaning of the title. Choose 3
symbols you see in the story. They can be ones I have listed here, or ones
you find yourself. First, give the context of how each appears in the story.
Then explain what you think the symbols mean or what Joyce is using
them to represent.
B. Paragraph 2 How did you react to this story? Defend your response. What
characteristics of 20th Century Modernism do you see in The Dead?
Which lines from this story especially stand out to you? Why? Finally, ask
us a question related to one of your symbols.
4. The Mark on the Wall:
A. Paragraph 1Is this story even about anything? Does a story have to be
about something happening? Think about it: we spend 100% of our time in
our own heads; the only person you can never escape is yourself. Are our
random thoughts worthy of storytelling? Find 3 passages or images from
the story that interested you. Why do you suppose the narrator is thinking
about them?
B. Paragraph 2 How did you react to this story? Defend your response. What
characteristics of 20th Century Modernism do you see in “The Mark on the
Wall”? Which lines from this story especially stand out to you? Why? What
is one question you have about this Woolf’s story?
5. Professions for Women:
A. Paragraph 1 Find 3 observations/comments Virginia Woolf makes that you
find interesting. Quote from the text. Then tell us why these parts/lines
stood out to you. What was she saying here? Do you agree or disagree
with her?
B. Paragraph 2 Read The Angel in the House (NAEL, 1217-1220). What is
your reaction to it? Contrast it to Woolf’s ideas. How does it differ from
what she perceives as women’s roles? Finally, what is one question you
have for us about wither of these pieces?
6. Poetry: Choose either The Lake isle of Innisfree, When You Are Old, No Second
Troy, The Second Coming, Piano, or The Hollow Men and do the following:
A. Paragraph 1 Paraphrase the poem. (The Hollow Men is too long for this,
probably—instead, paraphrase the 5 parts.)
B. Paragraph 2 Find 3 images/symbols/poetic techniques you find
interesting. (Not 3 of each, but 3 all together) What are they, and why do
they stand out to you? Tell us why this poem speaks to you. Ask us a
question about your poem.
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