English 4 POSTMODERNISM Postmodernism Came about around the

English 4 POSTMODERNISM

Postmodernism Came about around the end of World War II Not actually studied as a form until the mid 1980 s. Suggests that the world is chaotic and that there are no universal truths. If that is the case, what do we do as a culture?

Characteristics of Postmodernism 1. Fragmentation (a separating or breaking apart) of plot, characters, theme, images, and overall storyline) Often not in the typical linear sequence or chronological order Stream of consciousness (a character’s thoughts and feelings are revealed as they develop) 2. Untrustworthy narrator Narrator(s) cannot always be trusted to tell the truth. Multiple narrators- There may be more than one narrator, showing the diversity of truth. 3. Characters -may be given little or no physical description, and one or more characters is usually an "outcast. “ 4. Role Reversal (gender, ethnicity, familial, etc. ) Women doing something typically “male” and/or vice versa Changing of customary racial roles.

More Characteristics 5. Ambiguous, unclear ending Often leaves a lot of questions Author / creator does not “tie everything neatly up”

Postmodern Themes 1. Destruction of the family unit 2. Loss of family, love, life, social order, etc. 3. Rejection/distrust of authority figures (government, religion, & other social institutions/practices)

Setting of the story Often has more meaning to it than just where the story takes place Sometimes there is no clear setting at all.

More characteristics 1. The use of improper grammar to reflect dialect 2. More sexuality 3. More use of first-person narrative -- reflects the lack of universal truth and that there are only individual truths

Postmodernist Writers Kurt Vonnegut Allen Ginsberg Khaled Hosseini Ken Kesey Tim O’Brien Alice Walker Truman Capote Thomas Pynchon William Burroughs Jack Kerouac David Foster Wallace Don Delillo Margaret Atwood

Conclusion Postmodernism may have all or some of the previously-mentioned characteristics It isn’t required that all the traits are used in order for a piece to be classified as postmodernist writing. The key characteristics are usually fragmentation, loss, distrust of authority, and the lack of universal truths.