Modern english literature

MODERN ENGLISH LITERATURE

The fear of a German invasion and the aerial bombardments of heavily industrialized areas united the country and forged a spirit of comradeship among the British people. England’s most notable postwar achievement was the peaceful liquidation of its once vast empire. This imperial loss and domestic economic problems caused British statesmen to develop a new approach in world affairs. Seeking closer ties with Europe, England accepted an invitation to join the common Market.

• The fear of a German invasion and the aerial bombardments of heavily industrialized areas united the country and forged a spirit of comradeship among the British people. England’s most notable postwar achievement was the peaceful liquidation of its once vast empire. This imperial loss and domestic economic problems caused British statesmen to develop a new approach in world affairs. Seeking closer ties with Europe, England accepted an invitation to join the common Market.
• Some of the poetry of the period, particularly, the work of Dylan Thomas, was marked by an extravagant, romantic rhetoric. The works of Ted Hughes were simpler in style, but his poetry powerfully evokes the world of nature, using a richly textured pattern of metaphor and mythic suggestiveness for its effects.
• English drama experienced a renaissance in the 1950s and 1960s. It was stimulated by the presence of large numbers of first-rate actors and directors and the works of playwrights like John Osborne, John Arden, Harold Pinter, Tom Stoppard, and Edward Bond.

In the 20th century in English Literature appeared such young writers like Graham Greene, Charles Percy Snow, Norman Lewis, and James Aldridge, who created their works in the spirit of optimism. They are mature writers with anti-imperialist and anti-colonial point of view. In the fifties there appears a very interesting trend in literature the followers of which were called “The Angry Young Men”. The post-war changes had given a chance to a large number of young people from the more democratic layers of the society to receive higher education at universities. But on graduating, these students found they had no prospects in life. Unemployment had increased after the war. No one was interested to learn what their ideas on life and society were. They felt deceived and became angry. Works dealing with such characters, angry young men, who were angry with everything and everybody. Outstanding writers of this trend were John Wain, Kingsley Amis, John Brain, Colin Wilson and the dramatist John Osborne. It is important to note that they did not belong to a clearly defined movement. They criticized one another in press. But they had one thing in common - an attitude of unconformity to the established social order. Through their characters these writers were eager to express their anger with society.

• In the 20th century in English Literature appeared such young writers like Graham Greene, Charles Percy Snow, Norman Lewis, and James Aldridge, who created their works in the spirit of optimism. They are mature writers with anti-imperialist and anti-colonial point of view. In the fifties there appears a very interesting trend in literature the followers of which were called “The Angry Young Men”. The post-war changes had given a chance to a large number of young people from the more democratic layers of the society to receive higher education at universities. But on graduating, these students found they had no prospects in life. Unemployment had increased after the war. No one was interested to learn what their ideas on life and society were. They felt deceived and became angry. Works dealing with such characters, angry young men, who were angry with everything and everybody. Outstanding writers of this trend were John Wain, Kingsley Amis, John Brain, Colin Wilson and the dramatist John Osborne. It is important to note that they did not belong to a clearly defined movement. They criticized one another in press. But they had one thing in common - an attitude of unconformity to the established social order. Through their characters these writers were eager to express their anger with society.