Modern English Literature: Twentieth Century

The Modern Age in English Literature started from the beginning of the twentieth century and it followed the Victorian Age. The most important characteristic of Modern Literature is that it is opposed to the general attitude to life and its problems adopted by the Victorian writers and the public, which may be termed "Victorian". The young people during the first decade of the present century regarded the Victorian Age as hypocritical, and the Victorian ideals as mean, superficial and stupid. This rebellious mood affected modern literature, which was directed by mental attitudes, moral ideals, and spiritual values diametrically opposed to those of the Victorians. Nothing was considered as certain; everything was questioned. In the field of literary technique also some fundamental changes took place. What the Victorians had considered as honourable and beautiful, their children and grand children considered as mean and ugly. The Victorians accepted the voice of authority, and acknowledged the rule of the expert in religion, in politics, in literature and family life. They had the innate desire to affirm and confirm rather than to reject or question the opinions of the experts in their respective fields. They showed readiness to accept their words at face valve without critical examinations.