Virginia WoolfJames Joyce
Writers from the Modernist period used individualism, intellectualism, and anti-realism in their writing. They also used experimentation in their writing extensively as change just for the sake of change.
They were coping with the psychological aftermath of World War I.
The younger writers had to cope with the psychological aftermath of World War I, and their work was darker, more disillusioned.
Points of view
Modernist writers often favored simple settings.
Modernist writers of fiction tended to prefer indirect characterization. Modernist writers also preferred unreliable narrators. Other literary devices used in modernist writing were stream-of-consciousness and interior monologue.
Existentialism was one of the prominent philosophical influences on modernist writers, but not all modernist writers adhered to existentialism. Many modernist writers drew from a variety of philosophical and literary movements, such as surrealism, naturalism, and symbolism, to express their ideas and themes. Existentialism's focus on individual experience, freedom, and the search for meaning resonated with some modernist writers, but it was not the only philosophy impacting their work.
Virginia WoolfJames Joyce
The modernist movement challenged American writers to experiment with new literary forms, question traditional beliefs and values, and explore the complexities of modern society. They sought to break away from conventional writing styles and explore new ways of representing reality and human experience.
larger; more varied
Novels focused on inner thoughts and feelings of characters.
In many cases, modernist writers made heavy use of symbolism.
Novels focused on inner thoughts and feelings of characters.
Plot.
The Modernist writers wrote at a time when literacy rates were increasing due to improvements in education and access to literature. Their works were often characterized by experimentation with form, language, and narrative structure to reflect the changing social and cultural landscape of the early 20th century.
Mid-19th