The literary context: It was a reaction to realism/naturalism. Realism, as you might have guessed, based its ideas on the notion that there is such a thing as an absolute truth, and that it can be described objectively. Modernism can be seen as a reaction against that because one of the major themes is using multiple viewpoints. It follows that there is no such thing as an absolute truth when two people see things differently. Examples: Picasso's work, Faulkner's As I Lay Dying and many others.
Modernist literature is characterized by a break from traditional forms and an emphasis on subjective experience, fragmented narratives, and experimentation with language. Themes of alienation, individualism, and disillusionment with society are often prevalent. Modernist writers sought to capture the complexities and uncertainties of life in the rapidly changing world of the early 20th century.
Common themes include the assumptions that culture is broken, civilization is stuck, and reality is subjective.
Modernist literature often communicates a sense of discontinuity.
traditional
In many cases, modernist writers made heavy use of symbolism.
A common theme in modernist fiction is paradoxism. External crisis is another common theme in this type of literature. You will also notice fragmentation in this type of literature.
Modernist literature .
Modernist literature is characterized by a break from traditional forms and structures, experimentation with narrative techniques and perspectives, and an emphasis on exploring themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the fragmentation of individual experience in the modern world.
apexModernism was interested in creating new literary forms.
The early 20th century
In literature, modernist works during the twenties often featured fragmented narratives, stream of consciousness writing, and experimentation with form. In visual art, modernist works from this period tended to reject traditional techniques and styles, instead focusing on abstraction, surrealism, and unconventional subject matter.
Modernist literature rebelled against traditional storytelling techniques, embracing fragmentation, stream of consciousness, and experimentation with form. Modernist writers sought to capture the complexities and uncertainties of the modern world through innovative narrative techniques and a departure from conventional norms. This opposition to established styles helped redefine the boundaries of literature and challenged readers to engage with new modes of expression.
This occurred in the early 20th century.
Bryony Clare Randall has written: 'Dailiness in modernist literature'