M.A Part 1 - Sem II - Blog on 2.2 English Literature -1 (The Renaissance and Neoclassical Period) World wars and Poetry

2.2 English Literature- 1 (The Renaissance period and the Neoclassical period)

World Wars and their effect on Modern Poetry.

The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political and economic “rebirth” following the Middle Ages. Generally described as taking place from the 14th century to the 17th century, the Renaissance promoted the rediscovery of classical philosophy, literature, and art.

Neoclassical poetry is poetry that presents a specific style that is characteristic of the Neoclassical period. For example, neoclassical poetry commonly features rationalism, realism, didacticism, objectivity, and scholarly allusions.

 

The World wars changed the way Poetry looked at time.

Impact of World Wars on Modern Poetry:

Many of the strongest protests made against the war were made through the medium of poetry by young men horrified by what they saw. They not only wrote about the physical pain of wounds and deaths, but also the mental pain that were consequences of war.

The world wars had a profound impact on modern poetry, influencing themes, styles, and perspectives in various ways:

World War I sparked a reimagining of traditional poetic forms to capture the unimaginable experiences of the conflict. Poets like Wilfred Owen expressed grief, opposition to war, and the impact on individual consciousness.

Eg. Insesibiliy by Wilfred Owen.

The poem criticizes those at home and in power for their detachment and ignorance of the soldiers' suffering. Through its verses, Owen illustrates the grim reality of the battlefield and the psychological impact on those who fight, ultimately condemning the futility and brutality of war.

Irish poetry of the First World War reflected the widespread impact on families and explored themes of national identity, despite some like W.B. Yeats rejecting "passive suffering" as a suitable poetic subject.

World War II poetry captured the cultural responses to the physical conditions of war and its impact on both literal and figurative bodies. It reflected themes of loss, separation, destruction, and the struggle for identity.

Poets like T.S. Eliot, Randall Jarrell, and Karl Shapiro critiqued the glorification of war and expressed the devastating consequences through their works.

Eg. The Waste Land by T.S Eliot

The Waste Land can be viewed as a poem about brokenness and loss, and Eliot's numerous allusions to the First World War suggest that the war played a significant part in bringing about this social, psychological, and emotional collapse.

​The poetry that emerged from the world wars demonstrated an acute attention to the horror, sacrifice, and sublime reckoning of the conflicts, laying the groundwork for continued exploration and representation in modern literature.

 

Poetry brings to life the sufferings and the pain.  The current war between many developed countries has brought similar situations to be faced by the new generation of poets.

Poetry has its soul – it is happy and sometimes sad too.