Contemporary Literature is basically twentieth-century literature, emerging from 1960 onwards. It is a modern form of writing, restricting itself to a definite time period. Modern or Contemporary Literature can otherwise be called a product of the post-Second World War situation.
Contemporary or Modern Literature was born out of the devastations of the Second World War, when cynicism, frustration and disillusionment crept into the lives and minds of mankind after witnessing the damages caused by the War. People became bitter and could no longer cherish on the glorious past which gave birth to Romantic and Metaphysical works. It is these pessimistic attitudes that found expression in Contemporary Literature Books.
Contemporary Literature Books have a wide range, covering all kind of literary works. Thus globally, we have books on prose, poetry, dramas, plays, novels, short stories, literary essays written and published extensively. All these works have in common, some unique features :
Linguistic and Stylistic Characteristics -
- Open Form of writing
- Free Verse found in poetic compositions
- Discontinuous narrative is a common literary trait
- Juxtaposition or combination of ideas and themes was practiced widely
- Intertextuality or borrowing and transformation of certain ideas from some other texts is a frequent criterion
- Extensive use of Classical Allusions
- Sharing ideas and themes from other languages and cultures
- Unusual usage of Metaphors added beauty to the writings
Thematic Features -
- Contemporary Literature Books shattered the existing social customs and cultural faiths
- The meaning and sense of the writings deviate from their usual subjects
- Human miseries, depression and disillusionments in the face of a bleak and hopeless post-War era found expression in most of the Modern literary works
- Contemporary Literature Books depict vividly, the stark and bitter realities, without relishing on the glorious and the legendary pasts
- Modern Literature is essentially an urban creation, introducing fresh themes in novels like the Stream of Consciousness Novels
- Contemporary literary works are heavily influenced by the severity of the scientific and technological changes of the 20 th century
Some
well-known 20 th century literary works and their authors are:
Novels
- ‘Metamorphosis' by Franz Kafka
- ‘Drums in the Night' by Berthold Brecht
- ‘Heart of Darkness' by Joseph Conrad
- ‘Dubliners' by James Joyce
Poetry
- Wilfred Owen (The Send-off, Anthem for the Domed Youth, etc.)
- Ezra Pound (Canzoni, Prevenca, etc.)
- T. S. Eliot (The Waste Land , Ash Wednesday, etc.)
- W. B. Yeats (Leda and the Swan, The Lake Isle of Innisfree, etc.)
Dramas
- ‘Look Back In Anger' by John Osborne
- “Antigone' by Jean Anouilh
Modern Prose / Short Stories
- ‘The Stalled Ox' by Saki
- ‘Rain' by William Somerset Maugham
Modern or Contemporary Literature is a significant literary branch, existing worldwide. The realistic notes found in these works can never be shadowed by the glorious literary works of the past.
