Literature In The 20's & 30's

Define Literature:

written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit, such as books, writings, leaflets, and other printed matter used to advertise products or give advice.

1920'S

JOURNALISM

• New cultural attitudes towards race, immigration, and social changes.
• Tabloid Journalism became more popular, such as crime, celebrity gossip, and sports

AUTHORS AND BOOKS

• Children's books became very popular, such as "The Little Red Hen" & "Little Black Sambo"
• Authors started to win Nobel Prizes
• Important authors of the decade were F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Dorothy Parker, T.S. Eliot, and more
• Ernest Hemingway was known for works like "A Farewell to Arms" &. "The Old Man and the See". He had experience in WW1 and that was a great influence in his work as well as other authors

F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

• Fitzgerald was basically the one who named the decade the "Jazz Age" with his work. He wrote "The Great Gatsby" & "The Side of Paradise" and he mainly focused and spoke of the negativity of the 1920's.

The 1920's mainly brought a fresh and insightful theme of literature through out the decade.

1930'S

JOURNALISM

• Outstanding stories of negativity, for example tragedies, politics, and Social climate.
• The Stock Market crash right before the turn of the decade was the main topic dominating the headlines.
• Journalism seemed to get more serious with reality.

AUTHORS AND BOOKS

• Famous writers included John Steinbeck, Henry Miller, Margret Mitchell, F.S. Fitzgerald, and Sinclair Lewis.
• A great amount of very popular works were created in this decade.
• the stock market crash in 29' actually seemed to be a great influence to writers at the time and really changed the tone from the 20's
• In 1930, the U.S. got their first Nobel Prize in literature thanks to Sinclair Lewis and his novel "Babbitt"

JOHN STEINBECK

• Steinbeck often wrote about poor, working class people and their hardships. "The Grapes of Wrath" was what he was greatly famous for, along with "Of Mice and Men", and "East of Eden".

During the 1930's, the literature in this decade was often blunt and direct in its social criticism and constant reality check.

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SIMILARITIES

• Reading was a very popular activity, people gained knowledge about current events. Books newspapers and magazines were very important in everyday life.
• Authors that were popular in the 20's, took up the 30's (Hemingway & Fitzgerald)
• In each decade, the overall topic was inspired by either events or the atmosphere of common life.

DIFFERENCES

• They had different influences (WW1 & The Depression)
• They had very different overall themes.
• The 30's seemed to be more involved with their literature (as well as movies)

WAS THERE CONTINUITY OR CHANGE

• In my option I think there was more change. For the fact that different inspirations occurred and definitely changed the written works, along with different events and different people. Literature shifts just as society shifts.