Literary Elements In Postmodernism

Question 1

Briefly explain American society after WW2

Answer 1

The US grew in advanced after World War II.

Industrial production helped in the great depression in the 1930s.

And after US soldiers came home American society became a center for a progress and opportunity

Americans had more expendable income at the start of the 1950s Westfield mass consumerism And boosted media and television

Many Americans relocated to the suburbs in many modern shopping malls popped up around the country 

Question 2

How did the Cold War lead to Paranoia in American society

Answer 2

The cold war led to a nuclear arms race and a space race. The nuclear arms race was a struggle for power and in both nation stockpiled thousands of nuclear weapons enough to destroy the planet many times over.

So of course people were paranoid that they were gonna destroy the Earth with the bombs

Question 3

What key things did postmodernism develop on

Answer 3

1.)Abundant material wealth in America

2.) Innovative technological advancements

3.) Fear of nuclear war

Question 4

Elements of postmodernism

Answer 4

• Resistance to religion or nationalism or anything that intended to define humanity and society
• Uneasiness about affects of modern capitalism and society and the individual
  

Question 5

How did postmodernist writers push the limits in literature

Answer 5

1.) Playfulness with language
- parody, irony, satire

2.) timeline not Necessarily in a sequence

3.) Emphasis on self reflection 

Question 6

White noise by Don DeLillo

Answer 6

I postmodernist novel that portrays the fear of death and harmful effects of technology. Story is told in a satirical manner 

Question 7

The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker

Answer 7

Experimental novel about the musings of a man as he takes the escalator up to his office after buying shoelaces during his lunch break. The novel focuses on the Monday night activities such as milk cartons shoelaces and deodorant and throws lights on the value of every day human experiences

Question 8

Infinite Jest by Davaid Foster Wallace

Answer 8

A lengthy work sets in a future America

The US has merged with Canada and Mexico while New England has become a toxic waste dump. The novel includes extreme irony and satire and unorthodox structure to explore issues including drug addiction psychology and disoriented American

Question 9

Catch-22 Joseph Weller

Answer 9

Satirical novel set in 20th century Italy during World War II

The story is of a bombardier your Syrian who tries to save himself from war

The title refers to an Ironic rule that any man who flies a Bommer must be insane yeah any man who tries to avoid a Bommer mission because he feels insane must actually be saying because he realizes the danger. Thus any man who refuses is for us to fly more missions. 

Question 10

The crying lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon

Answer 10

Short novel tracing the struggles of Oedipa Mass As she discovers a very old conflicts between two mail companies. The novel uses Postmodernist characteristics to discuss absurd plot events such as a mail carrier conspiracy theory

Question 11

Slaughterhouse five by Kurt Vonnegut

Answer 11

Story of solider Billy Pilgrim. The focus of the story is the bombing of Dresden during the World War II.

In the story pilgrim was being held prisoner in the city.

The novel features post modern techniques such as Non-chronologicaltimeframe ,self reflexivity and satire

Question 12

How did the use of POV affect “Loneliness… an American Malady 

Answer 12

The analytical essay primarily uses second person point of you to address the audience directly. But McCullers Also blends this style with third person narrative. This unusual blending of points of view is representative of post-modern exploration of unorthodox forms and styles

Question 13

True or false Postmodernism focuses on the inner state of consciousness through self reflection

Answer 13

True

Question 14

True or false :

According to “Loneliness… an American Malady, although feelings of Loneliness may be rooted in being alone or in a state of xenophobia, McCullers Clarifies that the United States is not a xenophobic a nation instead the feeling of loneliness is rooted in Americans quest for identity. 

Answer 14

True

Question 15

According to McCullers, how can Americans overcome their feelings of loneliness

Answer 15

The cloaks the the feeling of love can dispel the feeling of isolation and the fear of loneliness. 

She says the quest for identity makes people question their very existence and purpose for their life

So it is love from another person that. Offers Solace and silences these haunting question

Question 16

Evaluate the fragmented perception of time in “The Brown Chest”

Answer 16

The story jumps years and even decades at a time. The fragmented timeframe is evident in how the narrator goes back-and-forth across his childhood and adulthood and how he perceive things differently at each stage.

When he is older he cherishes the old photos clothes and trinkets even though he didn’t care for them when he was a child

Question 17

Why does the narrator refer to himself as the ogre 👹

Answer 17

Probably because he feels old large and clumsy in comparison to his sons fiancé Morgan who seems to be delicate and full of innocence help and possibilities.

Question 18

Explain the contrasting views of Mona and the narrator regarding the chest

Answer 18

Morna near raider and the old objects in the chest with art and curiosity which is evident from her deep interest

On the other hand the narrator as a child was disgusted by and afraid of the old chest and its contents which to him represented death and decay

Question 19

True or false

it was only when the neighbor and his parents are dead and he has his own family that he understands the worst insignificance of all the old treasures his mother saved in the trust as well as the memories and family history he could discover and it’s contents 

Answer 19

True

Question 20

What is the central motif in the story of “The brown chest”?

Answer 20

The Chest

Question 21

Corollary

Answer 21

Something that naturally and immediately follows from another thing; an easily drawn conclusion 

Question 22

Frenetic

Answer 22

Frantic ;frenzied

Question 23

Malady

Answer 23

An undesirable state; a disease or disorder of the body

Question 24

Maverick

Answer 24

An independent individual; a nonconformist

Question 25

Pristine

Answer 25

Clean, unblemished