The Literature of Love Context: Key Contextual changes in the 20th C

Question 1

Two world wars

Answer 1

A crisis of faith in religion and humanity reflected within Literature

New understanding of man’s capacity for evil/to be brainwashed

Fear of totalitarian regimes e.g. China and the USSR

Question 2

Urbanisation

Answer 2

Growth of machines

Growth of consumer culture

Many writers concerned about humans becoming increasingly alienated and routines and lifestyles becoming automated, like machines

Question 3

Karl Marx and Marxism

Answer 3

He wrote about the ongoing struggle between workers and their oppression by capitalist forces

Ongoing theme in 20th C literature

Question 4

Globalisation

Answer 4

Travel advances

Mixing of different communities - huge diversity, cultural enrichment but also tensions

Decline of colonialism explored in post-colonialism literature

Question 5

Civil rights movements e.g. gender, race or sexuality

The 1960s in particular

Answer 5

Huge advances

Liberalisation of attitudes