Why Theory Modernist Novel
37 snips
May 27, 2024 Exploring the evolution of endings in novels, sacrifice and redemption in 'A Tale of Two Cities', modernist themes in Dickens' 'Bleak House', analysis of modernism and post-modernism, immersive writing techniques, symbolism of cuts in literature, and Antonioni's connections to English rockers in 'Blow-Up'.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Modernist Novel's Ending as Cut
- Modernist novels emphasize memorable endings, unlike 19th-century novels that focus on memorable openings.
- The modernist novel's ending functions as a cut, marking a break rather than a conclusion.
Modernism Reflects World Overload
- The modernist novel reflects being overwhelmed by meaning and world, seeking breaks to make sense of existence.
- Endings serve to punctuate and offer singular moments amid excessive signification.
Endings: Conclusion vs. State
- Ending in earlier novels acted as summative closures; in modernism, endings do not summarize but highlight the act of ending itself.
- Modernist endings leave readers in a state of reflection rather than definitive conclusion.