Modernism Terms
a late 19th to early 20th-century movement characterized by a conscious break from traditional writing styles and societal norms, spurred by disillusionment following World War I
Modernism
Alienation
This themed stemmed from the profound loneliness and isolation caused by the industrial revolution.
Virginia Woolf
Who is the author?
Who is Ratan?
The girl from the village that helps The Postmaster and see him as a father figure.
The author of the autobiographical essay "Shooting an Elephant"
Who is George Orwell?
A narrative technique attempting to replicate the continuous, often disjointed flow of human thought.
Stream Of Conciousness
Disillusionment
This theme was caused by wild spread loss of faith in government, religion, and traditions. This intensified after WW1
What Mable is talking about when she says "It is not right!"
The new dress she had made special.
What feeling does the setting impress upon the Postmaster?
Isolation/loneliness
The system of government practiced by the British did Orwell as well as many other Modernist writers disapprove of/reject?
What is imperialism?
a writing style where the author abandons strict chronological order; and narratives are broken into fragments, jumps, and ruptures.
Fragmentation or Fragmentation of Time
This theme was lead by people stepping away from what was deemed as acceptable and normal. This theme explores the erosion of established cultural values.
Breakdown of social norms
Who is the Fly in the "middle of the saucer"?
Mable, she sees herself as lowly and struggling to keep her head up in the party.
The Postmaster views no one around him as "Kin" what does this mean?
It means that he does not see anyone, even Ratan as an equal or someone he can connect with.
The legal justification for killing the elephant
The elephant had killed a man.
The use of several viewpoints or voices rather than an authoritative omniscient narrator. Used to illustrate the different ways a situation can be viewed.
Multiple Perspectives and subjectivity
Questions stable or universal truths; emphasizes individual perception and fragmented realities.
Subjectivity of the truth
Society
Hoe does Ratan's view of the postmaster differ from the view the Postmaster has of her?
Ratan sees him as potential family, even him giving him a nickname that means father. The postmaster sees her as a temporary servant.
When the people gathered are watching Orwell to see what he'll do he says
"Here I am... Seemingly the leading actor of the piece"
Which is indicates what type of irony?
(Hint: there are three types, Dramatic irony, verbal irony, and situational irony.
Situational irony
When modernist abandoned the Enlightenment ideal of humanity as entirely rational, they they began exploring exploring irrational, dream-like states. Exploring the opposite of the conscious world
Then unconscious, or the surreal
People began questioning their government and any forms of authority.
Skepticism of Authority
The other guests are butterflies or dragonflies and Mable sees herself as a housefly trapped in milk, the milk representing the pressure she feels from society. What theme of Modernism does this signify?
Isolation/alienation
Why does Ratan refuse the money that the Postmaster offers?
She refuses it, saying, "no one need bother about me," indicating her deep emotional attachment and feelings of loss. She wanted connection more than she wanted money.
George Orwell said that despite the legal justification he had not wanted to kill the Elephant, why does he kill the Elephant?
He kills it to avoid looking foolish in front of a crowd of people who hated him.