American literature has changed a lot through the years and historical events have a big impact on this change. Events such as World War II. World War II was a global war that extended from the year 1939 to the year 1945. World War II had changed American literature because a new generation came out of it along with new themes and new trends. A literary historian named Malcolm Cowley had described the years separating the two wars as a “second flowering” of American writing. (“After World War II”)
World War II had occurred just two decades after the last global conflict, yet World War II was more widespread and by far the deadliest war in history. Although the war began when the Nazi Germany's had attacked on Poland in September of 1939, the …show more content…
When African Americans had returned from the war the still found themselves in a country that didn’t grant them full rights even though they had put their lives on the line for their country, but not long after the march for full civil rights had begun. In 1948 the U.S. army had become integrated. In 1954 the Supreme Court struck down segregation in public school in the landmark case Brown v Board of Education. The movement accelerated in the 1960s, with landmark Civil Rights legislation passed in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. (“Civil Rights for …show more content…
World War II had enormous impact on American writing. The literature that emerges from the experience of World War II was precisely different from that of WWI, and yet it also seems to be aligned with the themes of disillusionment. However, it shows a nation that was united and confident in its powers to endure and to lead transitioned to a new enlightened period of the experience gained; or so it seems. (“American Literature after World War II”)
The American Dream was reflected as guilt and disillusionment in American literature. Writers like Joseph Heller wrote about the corruption of the military bureaucracy. Catch-22, captures the disillusionment of the citizenry with the government and its unconcern for the individual. (“enotes”) And certain works, such as Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, reflected the hysteria that can overtake a nation, as
World War II had occurred just two decades after the last global conflict, yet World War II was more widespread and by far the deadliest war in history. Although the war began when the Nazi Germany's had attacked on Poland in September of 1939, the …show more content…
When African Americans had returned from the war the still found themselves in a country that didn’t grant them full rights even though they had put their lives on the line for their country, but not long after the march for full civil rights had begun. In 1948 the U.S. army had become integrated. In 1954 the Supreme Court struck down segregation in public school in the landmark case Brown v Board of Education. The movement accelerated in the 1960s, with landmark Civil Rights legislation passed in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. (“Civil Rights for …show more content…
World War II had enormous impact on American writing. The literature that emerges from the experience of World War II was precisely different from that of WWI, and yet it also seems to be aligned with the themes of disillusionment. However, it shows a nation that was united and confident in its powers to endure and to lead transitioned to a new enlightened period of the experience gained; or so it seems. (“American Literature after World War II”)
The American Dream was reflected as guilt and disillusionment in American literature. Writers like Joseph Heller wrote about the corruption of the military bureaucracy. Catch-22, captures the disillusionment of the citizenry with the government and its unconcern for the individual. (“enotes”) And certain works, such as Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, reflected the hysteria that can overtake a nation, as