modernperiod讲述.ppt

Chapter 5  The Modern Period Brief introduction of the modern period In the second half of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century, both natural and social sciences in Europe had enormously advanced. Their rapid development led to great gains in material wealth. But when capitalism came into its monopoly stage, the sharpened contradictions between socialized production and the private ownership caused frequent economic depressions and mass unemployment. The gap between the rich and the poor was further deepened. To crown ot all, the catastrophic First World War tremendously people as well. I. Historical, social and cultural background 1.??Historically Modernism rose out of skepticism and disillusion of capitalism. The First World War and the Second World War had greatly influenced the English literature. 2. Economically The Second World War marked the last stage of the disintegration of the British Empire. Britain suffered heavy losses in the war: thousands of people were killed; the economy was ruined; and almost all its former colonies were lost. People were in economic, cultural, and belief crisises. 3. Ideologically The rise of the irrational philosophy and new science greatly incited modern writers to make new explorations on human natures and human relationships. II. Literary history of the period 1.????? Literary trends After the First World War, all kinds of literary trends of modernism appeared: symbolism, expressionism, surrealism, cubism, futurism, Dadaism, imagism and stream of consciousness. (1)Modern English poetry:It is, in some sense, a revolution against the conventional ideas and forms of the Victorian poetry. (2) Modern English novels:The first three decades of 20th century were golden years of the modernist novel. (3) The development of 20th century English drama:The most celebrated dramatists in the last decade of the 19th century were Oscar Wilde and George Bernard S