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Characters in modernist texts grapple with existential questions and the meaning of life. Example: 'Waiting for Godot' by Samuel Beckett.

Modernist writers break away from established structures like sonnet or linear narrative forms. Example: 'The Cantos' by Ezra Pound.

Modernist texts often blur the lines between traditional literary genres. Example: 'Orlando' by Virginia Woolf combines biography, novel, and history.

Modernist texts often break from chronological sequencing, favoring fragmented narratives and multiple perspectives. Example: 'The Waste Land' by T.S. Eliot.

Modernist literature often dismisses traditional themes for darker, more complex subject matters. Example: 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' by T.S. Eliot.

A focus on the psychological landscape of characters, exploring complex emotional states. Example: 'The Sound and the Fury' by William Faulkner.

Modernist works often employ irony and satire to critique societal norms and perceptions. Example: 'A Modest Proposal' by Jonathan Swift.

A general sense of pessimism about the future or human nature permeates modernist literature. Example: 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley.

Modernist texts may utilize concise language to convey complex concepts. Example: 'The Red Wheelbarrow' by William Carlos Williams.

Modernist texts frequently feature urban landscapes, illustrating the alienation and decay of city life. Example: 'Manhattan Transfer' by John Dos Passos.

Writers use innovative narrative techniques and linguistic experiments. Example: The use of mot justes in 'The Sun Also Rises' by Ernest Hemingway.

Exploration of the subconscious mind and its influence on behavior and thought. Example: 'Ulysses' by James Joyce.

Intentional ambiguity leaves interpretations open and challenges readers' perceptions. Example: 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost.

Characters are often depicted as isolated or alienated from society. Example: 'The Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafka.

Modernist texts use symbolism to convey complex themes and emotions. Example: 'To the Lighthouse' by Virginia Woolf.

Inclusion of absurd situations that reflect the nonsensical nature of life. Example: 'Waiting for Godot' by Samuel Beckett.

Protagonists in modernist literature are often anti-heroes, flawed and with ambiguous morals. Example: 'The Sun Also Rises' by Ernest Hemingway.

Writing style that seeks to portray the inner workings of the mind, often disregarding grammatical convention. Example: 'Ulysses' by James Joyce.

Description of settings and characters based on subjective impressions rather than objective reality. Example: 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' by T.S. Eliot.

A stark contrast is often drawn between the natural world and the constructed urban environment. Example: 'The Waste Land' by T.S. Eliot.

Works are characterized by a fragmented structure, including disrupted plots or characters. Example: 'Mrs. Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf.

Frequent references to other texts and historical contexts to enrich the main text. Example: 'The Waste Land' by T.S. Eliot is laden with literary and cultural allusions.

Use of multiple perspectives to tell a story, showcasing the relativity of truth. Example: 'As I Lay Dying' by William Faulkner.

Modernist literature often downplays traditional plot in favor of exploring ideas and techniques. Example: 'In Our Time' by Ernest Hemingway.