The Birth of a Movement

The dawn of the 20th century saw the rise of a literary movement that would change the course of English literature forever - Modernism. It was an era marked by disillusionment with traditional values, and writers sought to break free from conventional narrative structures and explore new ways to express their thoughts and emotions. Authors like Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and T.S. Eliot led this revolution, experimenting with stream-of-consciousness narration, fragmented narratives, and symbolism.

Experimentation in Form

Modernist authors were not content to simply tell stories; they sought to reinvent the very fabric of literature itself. They experimented with non-linear narratives, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. For instance, James Joyce's Ulysses follows its protagonist Leopold Bloom as he navigates Dublin over the course of a single day - but it does so through multiple narrative styles ranging from straightforward prose to poetic musings.

Breaking Down Social Barriers

The early 20th century also saw significant social changes that influenced literature - women gaining more rights for one thing (Virginia Woolf's feminist essays are testament to this). These shifts found expression in works like E.M. Forster's Howards End or D.H Lawrence's Sons & Lovers which explored themes such as class struggle and gender inequality.

The Rise of Literary Criticism

As literature evolved so did our understanding (and criticism) thereof! New critical theories emerged during this time period including Marxism (think Georg Lukacs), Psychoanalysis (Freudian psychoanalytic theory applied to literary works), structuralism etc., all attempting to interpret these complex texts in different ways.

5.War Time Writings & Their Impact on Society

World War I brought about profound changes both at home fronts across Europe but also within British society itself leading many authors such as Siegfried Sassoon or Wilfred Owen writing about their experiences at war while others like Aldous Huxley captured societal upheaval caused by conflict directly addressing issues related fear anxiety loss love death trauma PTSD etcetera...