American Literature

Introduction:

America entered the twentieth century optimistically as a wealthy, strong world power. Although
this time period started off with prosperity, it soon became one characterized by two world wars
and a severe economic depression. These events ushered in a new age in American literature,
Modernism, as writers began to attempt to express modern life with their writings.
The Modernist era was an era of boldness and fast-paced living. The culture saw the Harlem
Renaissance and the Roaring Twenties (also known as the Jazz Age). This was a time of
flourishing art and extravagant living that acted as a prequel to the Great Depression. In
literature, the era was characterized by a break away from traditional styles of poetry and other
types of writing. Ezra Pound began the Imagist movement. This poetry abandoned all traditional
forms and sought to portray a single image in time. It was during this time that authors began to
experiment with different styles of writing and earned American international acclaim.
Although their works were very different, Modern authors shared a common purpose, which
was to capture the essence of modern life. This purpose is why most modernist literature was
written in a pessimistic way. Most modern works reflected the thoughts and confusion of most
Americans, especially during the Great Depression and the two World Wars. The chaotic
literature revealed the instability of the American people's mindset as they attempted to
understand what was going on around them. There was also a loss of faith and hope in the
American people during this time period and a collapse of morality and values. Furthermore, this
loss of values led to a confused sense of identity and place in the world, as is iterated in T.S.
Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."
The literature of the era was often times fragmented to cause confusion and intentionally break
the flow of words in literature. Two major themes of the era were confusion and disillusionment.
These themes and this literary movement as a whole reflected the new mindset of the American
people after the turn of the century. It was because of this mindset and the loss of hope in the
American dream, that the major authors of the time period such as Fitzgerald, Hemingway,
Faulkner, Eliot, and Pound became known as the Lost Generation.
The Jazz Age, the Harlem Renaissance, and the Lost Generation are all associated with the
American Modernist period, roughly spanning the early 20th century, especially from the 1910s
through the 1930s.

● Jazz Age (1920s): This term, popularized by F. Scott Fitzgerald, refers to the post-World
War I period marked by prosperity, cultural experimentation, and the rise of jazz music.
It was a period of social change, seen in the works of authors like Fitzgerald himself in
The Great Gatsby.

● Harlem Renaissance (1910s–1930s): A cultural movement centered in Harlem, New

York, it celebrated African American cultural achievements in art, literature, music, and
intellectualism. Key figures include Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Claude
McKay. It is a vital part of the broader Modernist movement.

● Lost Generation (1920s): This refers to a group of American writers disillusioned by

the aftermath of World War I and the materialism of the 1920s. Writers like Ernest
Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein are key figures, expressing a sense
of dislocation and moral loss, which is a core aspect of Modernist literature.

All three movements contributed to the cultural dynamism of the American Modernist period,
which is characterized by a break from traditional forms and experimentation with new ways of
expression.

Literary Themes:
The major literary themes of the Modernist Era are confusion, isolation, and disillusionment.
These themes reflect the mindset of the American people and the feelings that plagued them
throughout the early 1900s. T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" is a good
representation of the theme of confusion by not only being confusing to read because of its
fragmentation, but also by showing a man (Prufrock) who is grappling with decision making and
trying to figure out what class of society he belongs in like many during this time period did.
 The theme of isolation shows not only in everyday relationships but as the American people's
take on world affairs. The U.S. desired to remain neutral through both World Wars, but
eventually were forced into participation. “In Another Country,” by Ernest Hemingway portrays
the isolation felt by soldiers and common Americans.
The theme of disillusionment is arguably the most common theme of the Modernist era. There
was a disillusionment in the American people that the first world war would be quick and
painless. The Great Gatsby displays the theme of disillusionment in that he truly believes that he
can recreate his past with Daisy. Katherine Anne Porter’s story, “The Jilting of Granny
Weatherall,” shows confusion and disillusionment that accompanies growing old and dying.
Overall, this widespread disillusionment reflected the loss of values and faith that suddenly
occurred in the American people at the turn of the century.

Key Authors:

T. S. Eliot - "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"

Ezra Pound - "A Few Don'ts" and "In a Station of the Metro"
William Carlos Williams - "The Red Wheelbarrow," "This Is Just to Say," and "The Great
Figure"
H.D. (Hilda Doolittle) - "Pear Tree"
F. Scott Fitzgerald - "Winter Dreams", The Great Gatsby
John Steinbeck - "The Turtle" from The Grapes of Wrath
Wystan Hugh Auden - "The Unknown Citizen"
e. e. Cummings - "old age sticks" and "anyone lived in a pretty how town"
Ernest Hemingway - "In Another Country"
William Faulkner - "A Rose for Emily" and Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
Katherine Anne Porter - "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall"
Eudora Welty - "A Worn Path"
James Thurber - "The Night the Ghost Got In"
Carl Sandburg - "Chicago" and "Grass"
Robert Frost - "Birches," "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," "Mending Wall," and
"Acquainted with the Night”
Langston Hughes - "The Negro Speaks of Rivers," "I, Too," "Dream Variations,"and "Refugee
in America"
 Jazz Age
The Great Gatsby
By: F. Scott Fitzgerald

I. SUMMARY:

The novel “The Great Gatsby” is the life story of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious and wealthy man who
throws extravagant parties at his mansion in Long Island. His story is narrated by Nick
Carraway, who becomes Gatsby’s neighbor and later his friend.

Jay is deeply in love with Daisy Buchman, a woman he met before going to war. But when Jay
came back, he knew that Daisy is already married to Tom Buchman, a wealthy but arrogant man.
Despite Daisy’s marriage, Jay dreams of rekindling his romance with Daisy and believes that his
wealth and status can help to win her back.

Eventually, Gatsby and Daisy begin an affair and later, Tom discovers it when Daisy addresses
Gatsby afffectionately in his presence without any hesitation. At a heated confrontation in a
hotel, Gatsby demands Daisy to tell Tom that she never loved him but Daisy admits she loves
both of them and that creates tension.So Tom exposes Gatsby’s illegal wealth from smuggling,
and Daisy chooses to stay with Tom. Tom is confident of Daisy’s loyalty so he allows Gatsby to
drive her home.

On their way home, their car hits and kills Myrtle, Tom’s mistress. Gatsby later reveals to Nick that
Daisy was driving the car but he plans to take the blame. Nick urges Gatsby to leave but he refuses.
Tom however, tells Myrtle’s husband George that Gatsby owns the car. Believing Gatsby to be
Myrtle’s lover, George kills Gatsby at his mansion before taking his own life.
 II. AUTHOR BACKGROUND

F. Scott Fitzgerald (born September 24, 1896, St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.—died December 21,
1940, Hollywood, California) was an American short-story writer and novelist famous for his
depictions of the Jazz Age (the 1920s), his most brilliant novel being The Great Gatsby (1925).
His private life, with his wife, Zelda, in both America and France, became almost as celebrated
as his novels.

Fitzgerald was the only son of an unsuccessful, aristocratic father and an energetic, provincial
mother. Half the time he thought of himself as the heir of his father’s tradition, which included
the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” Francis Scott Key, after whom he was named, and
half the time as “straight 1850 potato-famine Irish.” As a result he had typically ambivalent
American feelings about American life, which seemed to him at once vulgar and dazzlingly
promising.

III. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s "The Great Gatsby," published in 1925, stands as a quintessential reflection
of the Roaring Twenties, a decade marked by economic prosperity, cultural change, and societal
upheaval in the United States. Beyond its literary merit, the novel holds significant historical
importance, capturing the complexities of American life during a transformative period. Through
its exploration of the American Dream, social class, and cultural dynamics, "The Great Gatsby"
not only mirrors its era but also critiques the values that defined it.

I. Reflection of the American Dream

At the heart of "The Great Gatsby" is a profound examination of the American Dream, a concept
that promised opportunity and success through hard work and determination. Set against the
backdrop of the 1920s, the novel portrays a society that increasingly equates wealth with
happiness and social status. Jay Gatsby, the enigmatic protagonist, epitomizes the self-made man
who rises from humble beginnings to immense wealth, embodying the hope and ambition that
characterize the era.

However, Fitzgerald critiques this ideal by illustrating the hollowness of Gatsby's dream. Despite
his wealth and extravagant parties, Gatsby remains isolated and unfulfilled, revealing the moral
decay and disillusionment that often accompany the relentless pursuit of success. This duality
highlights a crucial historical tension: while the 1920s were a time of prosperity, they were also
marked by a growing sense of disillusionment, setting the stage for the economic collapse that
would follow in the Great Depression.

II. Cultural Context and Changing Values

"The Great Gatsby" is also significant for its portrayal of the cultural shifts occurring during the
1920s. The decade witnessed a surge in consumerism, the rise of jazz music, and a challenge to
traditional values, particularly regarding gender roles and sexuality. The character of Daisy
Buchanan embodies the complexities of womanhood in this era. As a flapper figure, she
represents both liberation and entrapment, highlighting the conflicting expectations placed upon
women.

Additionally, the novel reflects the broader cultural landscape, including the impact of
Prohibition and the changing moral codes of the time. The extravagant parties Gatsby hosts serve
as a façade for the underlying decadence and lawlessness that defined the era, exposing the
contradictions within a society that espoused values of respectability while simultaneously
indulging in vice.
IV. GENRE IDENTIFICATION
The Great Gatsby can be considered a tragedy in that it revolves around a larger-than-life hero
whose pursuit of an impossible goal blinds him to reality and leads to his violent death.

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s "The Great Gatsby" is a seminal work of American literature that defies
simple classification, but it is primarily identified as a novel of realism and modernism. The text
intricately weaves together themes of the American Dream, social class, and the human
condition, while employing stylistic elements that reflect the complexities of the 1920s. This
essay will explore how "The Great Gatsby" embodies the characteristics of realism and
modernism, positioning it as a multifaceted narrative that captures the spirit of its time.

I. Realism in The Great Gatsby

Realism, as a literary genre, aims to depict everyday life and society with a focus on ordinary
characters and situations. Fitzgerald’s portrayal of the Jazz Age reflects a commitment to
realistic depictions of social dynamics and moral complexities. The novel’s setting—New York
City and its affluent suburbs—serves as a backdrop for the exploration of the American social
hierarchy. Through the eyes of Nick Carraway, the narrator, readers gain insight into the lives of
the wealthy elite, characterized by opulence and superficiality.

The characters in "The Great Gatsby" are vividly drawn and grounded in their social contexts.
Tom Buchanan, Daisy Buchanan, and Jay Gatsby are emblematic of the era’s materialism and
moral decay. Their interactions reveal the tensions of class and status, illustrating the
disillusionment that accompanies the pursuit of the American Dream. Fitzgerald’s use of detailed
descriptions and nuanced character development allows readers to engage with the realities of
the time, making the novel a poignant commentary on the socio-economic landscape of the
1920s.
 II. Modernism in The Great Gatsby

While "The Great Gatsby" incorporates elements of realism, it is also distinctly modernist.
Modernism emerged as a response to the disillusionment of the early 20th century, characterized
by a break from traditional forms and an exploration of subjective experiences. The
fragmentation of narrative structure, the use of symbolism, and the exploration of existential
themes are hallmarks of modernism that Fitzgerald adeptly employs.

One of the most notable modernist elements in the novel is its narrative style. Nick’s first-person
perspective offers a subjective view of the events and characters, allowing readers to navigate the
complexities of truth and perception. His unreliable narration raises questions about memory and
reality, a key theme in modernist literature. Furthermore, the use of symbolism, such as the green
light at the end of Daisy’s dock, represents Gatsby’s unattainable dreams and the broader
concept of the American Dream itself. This symbol, like many others in the novel, invites varied
interpretations, embodying the modernist belief in the multiplicity of meaning.

The themes of alienation and disillusionment prevalent in "The Great Gatsby" further align it
with modernism. Gatsby’s tragic pursuit of love and acceptance highlights the emptiness of
wealth and the isolation that can accompany it. The novel suggests that despite the outward
appearances of success, characters grapple with profound internal struggles and a pervasive
sense of loss. This exploration of the human condition resonates with the modernist emphasis on
the complexities of individual experience in a rapidly changing world.
V. HISTORICAL CONTEXT

Fitzgerald popularized the term “Jazz Age.” It’s used today to define the period during which
Fitzgerald lived and wrote about it. It is also sometimes referred to as the “roaring twenties.”
This was a period of shifting morals post-WWI, flappers, prohibition, and wild parties. There
were new freedoms for women, and they demonstrated their freedom by cutting their hair short
and changing what they wore. The novel, which is set four years after WWI, is considered to be
a portrait of this period with characters like Daisy Buchanan representing, to a degree, the
flappers of the day and Gatsby’s parties reflecting the celebrations seen regularly throughout the
city.

World War I features in other ways in the novel as well. Nick and Gatsby are veterans of the war
although the latter’s history is less clear. The Jazz Age ended in 1929 when the stock market
crashed and the Great Depression began.

VI. THEME AND REALITY

I. GENDER NORMS

Women in the early 1900, they didn't have the privilege to speak up their opinions and feelings.
They were assigned to obey men, especially their husbands. Women tend to spend their time
mostly doing house chores and serving men. In the story, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s "The Great
Gatsby" serves as a vivid portrayal of the 1920s, a transformative era marked by significant
social change, particularly concerning women’s rights. It shows how this kind of treatment
affects the thinking and feeling of a woman and how they fought to redeem their rights.
The female characters in The Great Gatsby interact differently with their period’s gender norms.
Daisy expresses disappointment that her child is a girl, saying her highest hopes for her are
that she’s a “beautiful little fool,” conveying how limited she thinks women’s options are in the
world. Meaning, in this era women are viewed as weak human beings that even the mother itself
is disappointed with the outcome. This simply means that in the early 1900’s men were more
superior than women.

However, due to their willingness, it did change how women lived in that era. From being
voiceless to having the power and privilege to vote for whoever they want. The 1920s witnessed
some positive political changes for women, most significantly in the passage of the 19th
Amendment, which gave women the right to vote. Women were also increasingly finding
employment, a trend that would increase during World War II, when many men left factories to
go to war.

In conclusion, "The Great Gatsby" intricately weaves the issue of gender norms into its narrative,
using its characters to reflect and critique the societal expectations of the 1920s. Fitzgerald
exposes the limitations and contradictions inherent in both male and female roles, illustrating
how these norms shape and constrain individuals. Through Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker,
Fitzgerald portrays the desire for independence amidst societal constraints, emphasizing the
complexity of women’s experiences in a rapidly changing world. The novel ultimately serves as
a reminder of the ongoing struggle for gender equality, illustrating how the fight for women’s
rights is intricately woven into the fabric of American society. s work remains relevant,
prompting ongoing discussions about gender and societal expectations in contemporary society.

II. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION

The decade of the 1920s is also often called the “Jazz Age,” a time when musicians like Jelly
Roll Morton, King Oliver, and Louis Armstrong brought jazz music to a mainstream audience.
Jazz musicians were almost always Black, and their popularity carried complex political
ramifications because 1920s America was still highly segregated. Most Black Americans lived
under Jim Crow, a series of laws and social codes that forced them to live, work, and learn
separately from whites.

The Great Gatsby reflects the racist attitudes and anxieties of the times. The white, wealthy main
characters listen to jazz music but do not socialize with Black New Yorkers, and, in a
particularly troubling passage, Nick expresses derisive amazement to see a fancy car with Black
passengers driven by a white chauffeur. Tom speaks admiringly of a book called The Rise of the
Colored Empires, a fictionalized version of a white supremacist tract published in 1920. Jim
Crow is not explicitly discussed in the novel, as for many white Americans, it was an accepted
state of affairs.

In conclusion, "The Great Gatsby" serves as a powerful critique of racism and its pervasive
influence on American society in the 1920s. Through characters like Tom Buchanan and Myrtle
Wilson, Fitzgerald exposes the deep-seated prejudices that shape their lives and interactions. The
novel ultimately reveals the ways in which race, class, and the American Dream intersect,
suggesting that the pursuit of success is inextricably linked to the realities of systemic inequality.
By highlighting these issues, Fitzgerald invites readers to reflect on the enduring legacies of
racism and the ongoing struggle for equality in America.

Harlem Renaissance

Twelve Years a Slave

 By: Solomon Northup

A. Summary

"Twelve Years a Slave" is a powerful autobiography written by Solomon Northup, he is a free

Black man who was tricked, kidnapped, and became a slave in the year 1840s. The book shares
his horrible experience as a slave for 12 years before he finally became free again.

Northup was born free in New York; he is working as a violinist, and he is living a comfortable
life with his wife and children. In 1841, he was tricked by two men offering him a job as a
musician in Washington, D.C. When he got there, he was drugged, kidnapped, and became a
slave in the South.

He endured brutal conditions under several masters, notably Edwin Epps, who was very cruel.
Northup worked primarily on cotton and sugar plantations, experiencing hard physical labor,
beatings, and psychological abuse. Despite this, he never lost hope of returning to his family and
gaining his freedom.

When he was a slave, he met other enslaved people, including Patsey, a woman who endured
even worse abuse from Epps. Northup's share a story that highlights the violence, cruelty, and
inhumanity of slavery, as well as the resilience of the human spirit that they experienced.

12 years later, with the help of a Canadian abolitionist named Samuel Bass, Northup was able to
send letters to friends in the North and finally gained his freedom secured by legal action, and he
was reunited with his family in the year 1853. Northup's account of slavery is one of the most
detailed and personal stories of this dark period in American history.

B. Author Background
Who Was Solomon Northup?

Solomon Northup grew up a free man, working as a farmer and violinist while having a family.
He was lured south and kidnapped in 1841 and enslaved for more than a decade, enduring
horribly violent conditions. Northup was freed in 1853 with help from colleagues and friends.
His experiences are the subject of the book and film 12 Years a Slave.

Early Life

Northup was born in July 1808 in Minerva, New York. His father Mintus had once been
enslaved but was released upon his former master's death, and hence Solomon and his older
brother Joseph grew up knowing freedom. Northup worked with his father on a farm growing up,
and also took to books and playing the violin.

QUICK FACTS

- Name: Solomon Northup

- Birth Year: 1808

- Birth State: New York

- Birth City: Minerva

- Birth Country: United States

- Gender: Male

- Best Known For: Solomon Northup was an African American farmer and musician
who was taken hostage and sold into slavery in 1841. His story is told in the film '12
Years a Slave.'
 - Industries

- Music

- Journalism and Nonfiction

- Death Year: 1863

- Death City: Unknown

Freed in 1853 and Death

Samuel Bass, an anti-slavery Canadian carpenter visiting the Beouf plantation, befriended
Northup and reached out to friends of the musician back in Saratoga Springs, looking for
verification that he had been a free member of the community. Lawyer Henry B. Northup, who
was part of the family from which Mintus and his clan took their name, traveled south and
facilitated Solomon's release in 1853.

The same year Northup published the narrative/memoir Twelve Years a Slave. The work, known
for its meticulousness and thoughtful quality, became a top seller and aided the abolitionist
cause, later becoming an important, public historical document.

Northup subsequently gave lectures on his experiences and worked with the Underground
Railroad in helping those fleeing slavery to reach Canada. He later disappeared from public life
and is thought to have died around 1863.

Legacy and Films

Years later, filmmaker/photographer Gordon Parks released an American Playhouse film on

Northup's life, Solomon Northup's Odyssey. And at the end of the millennium, Saratoga Springs
resident Renee Moore established the event "Solomon Northup Day: A Celebration of Freedom,"
which was set up by the city as an annual occurrence in 2002.
In 2013, the film 12 Years a Slave, based on the book by Northup and directed by British
filmmaker Steve McQueen, was released.

C. Historical Significance

Solomon Northup’s autobiography titled "Twelve Years a Slave" gives us great historical
significance for these reasons:

1. First person perspective of slavery: This autobiography shows and provides the unusual
and detailed story that came from a free Black man named Solomon Northup who was
tricked, kidnapped, and became a slave in the South. This autobiography shows the
audience a story that has a personal, humanized point of view of brutal experiences that
Northup as well as the other free black man experience in slavery in the South.

2. Validation of Anti-Slavery Movements: It was published in 1853, when Northup's

account came at a time when the abolitionist movement was gaining momentum. This
autobiography was used by the abolitionists to show the readers the cruelty of slavery,
and fight for their abolition.

3. Exposes the Kidnapping of Free Black People: Northup’s story shows the lesser-
known aspect of slavery of free Black people in the North, where they often kidnapped
and became slaves, revealing how fragile freedom was for African Americans at that
time.

4. Influential Narrative: This autobiography book played a very important role in shaping
and developing opinion on slavery and boosting the debates that led to the Civil War.
 5. Cultural and Educational Impact: Twelve Years a Slave has become an important
document in understanding and sharing America’s slavery history. The story had a 2013
film adaptation that helped bring the story to other audiences, making Northup’s story a
very important educational tool for discussions about race, history, and especially human
rights.

D. Genre Identification

The story Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup has four literary genres, and those are:

1. Autobiography: The story has personal and firsthand experience of Solomon Northup. It
is focused on telling us, the readers, his experience, which includes how he became a SL.
It also tells us what is his, as well as what the other free black man experiences when he
became a slave in the South, before he finally gets his freedom again and reunites with
his loved ones.

2. Slave Narrative: The story has a classic example of a slave narrative; this is a genre
where enslaved individuals share their past experiences after being slaved to expose the
cruelty of the slavery.

3. Historical Nonfiction: The book provides and shows readers facts and evidence,
considering that Northup shares his experience of slavery in the 19th-century American
South. The story shares some specific and important events and locations, as well as
people's experiences.
 4. Memoir: Solomon Northup shares his personal experiences and memories during the
slavery in this book, when he became a slave and finally being free again.

This story shares the emotional and psychological effect of slavery on him as well as on the other
free black man. These genres contribute to the book's significance in literature and history.

E. Historical Context

The historical context of the story Twelve years a slave is revolving around the antebellum
United States. This is a period marked by slavery's deep entrenchment in Southern society and
economy. Solomon Northup’s memoir, published in 1853, details his experience of 12 years
enslavement. Highlighting the brutal reality of the system.

During that time, the South's agricultural economy relied heavily on their enslaved labor,
particularly in cotton and sugar plantations.

The events influencing that period includes Fugitive Slave Acts, which allowed for the capture of
escaped and free African Americans, and the Missouri Compromise (1820), which aimed to
balance free and slave states as the nation expanded. The growing abolitionist movement also
boosted the tension between North and South, eventually leading to the Civil War. Northup’s
story reflects the precariousness of freedom for Black Americans and the harsh realities of
slavery.
F. Themes and Reality

Solomon Northup's “Twelve Years a Slave” is a poignant memoir that depicts the harsh reality of
slavery in 19th-century America. The book's fundamental theme is the dehumanizing character
of slavery, which affects both the enslaved and the enslavers. Northup's account illustrates the
cruelty, inhumanity, and institutional violence that slavery perpetuated, depriving people of their
identity, freedom, and dignity. This theme runs throughout his account, while other themes such
as survival, perseverance, the desire for liberation, and the fragility of justice provide a more in-
depth knowledge of the enslavement experience. Northup's book also shows the moral
degeneration of a civilization that was established upon human dependence and analyzes the
manner in which legal and social structures sustained this cruel institution.

The novel also explores the theme of racial injustice, revealing the widespread racial
inequality that characterized pre-war American culture. Northup’s kidnapping and later
enslavement despite being a free man reveals the danger of Black freedom. His story highlights
the racial discrimination that entered the legal and social systems, as well as the vulnerability of
African Americans, even in free states. This focus on racial injustice calls attention to how
systematic racism is in America and how easily Black people could be stripped of their rights
and reduced to property.

“Twelve Years a Slave” also explores the brutal realities of sexism and racism within
slavery, particularly affecting enslaved women. Women faced racial oppression and additional
exploitation due to their gender, as depicted in the character of Patsey, who suffers sexual abuse
by her master, Edwin Epps. Mistress Epps perpetuates sexism by directing her anger towards
enslaved women, highlighting white women's power over them. Enslaved women were often
denied their roles as mothers, with their ability to bear children being exploited. The narrative
highlights the complex suffering endured by enslaved women under oppressive systems.
UNDERLYING MEANINGS IN “TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE”

The underlying meanings within “Twelve Years a Slave” emphasize the moral and psychological
toll that slavery inflicted on everyone involved. One of the most significant underlying messages
is the emphasis on human endurance. Despite being subjected to great suffering for twelve years,
Northup never lost hope of freedom. His unwavering determination to survive and his belief in
ultimate justice shows the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Another meaning in the text is the hypocrisy of Christianity. Northup highlights how many
slaveholders, who claimed to uphold Christian values, often used religion to justify their harsh
treatment of enslaved individuals. The narrative exposes the inconsistency between the moral
principles of Christianity and the cruel actions of those who owned slaves. Northup illustrates
how religion was twisted to support the institution of slavery, demonstrating how enslavers
distorted their faith to defend their brutality, all while betraying the core teachings of their
religion.

The corruption of power is the story's another underlying issue. Northup shows how, however in
different ways, slavery corrupted both the captives and the enslavers. The slavery system drove
the enslavers toward greater cruelty while robbing the enslaved of their humanity. In the story of
how the system of slavery transformed ordinary men into despots, Northup shows how moral
integrity can be undermined by having authority over others. This highlights the manner in
which slavery dehumanized all those involved, oppressors and abused alike.

REPRESENTATION OF REALITY IN “TWELVE YEAR A SLAVE”

Solomon Northup's narrative, "Twelve Years a Slave," is indeed a powerful and credible
representation of slavery in 19th-century America. His story is supported by various sources,
including legal documents, contemporary newspapers, and other slave accounts. These sources
validate his detailed depictions of plantation life, exhausting labor, and the cruel punishments
imposed on slaves. Northup's work is particularly notable for its remarkable attention to detail.
His precise descriptions of the daily experiences of slavery, such as the labor on cotton and sugar
plantations and the organization of slave society, provide readers with an intimate look at the
inner workings of the institution. His keen observations offer important insights into the complex
dynamics between enslaved individuals and their masters, as well as the psychological and
emotional impact of slavery on everyone involved. This level of detail is crucial in conveying the
routine brutality of slavery and its widespread consequences. Northup's narrative stands as a
trustworthy depiction of the harsh realities of slavery, reinforced by historical records and
testimonies from 19th-century
 THE “LOST GENERATION”

A Farewell to Arms

By: Ernest Hemingway

A. SUMMARY:

"A Farewell to Arms" is the story of Lieutenant Frederic Henry, an American ambulance driver
under the Italian army, and the ways in which he found himself trapped in the midst of World
War I despair, thus leaving him with immense feelings of disillusionment.

His sanctuary still lies in his love for Catherine Barkley, a British nurse, at the start, but as the
war rages on with its rise in chaos and brutality of war, he feels the pain at the loss of his men.
He encounters the pointlessness of battle and the nightmarish shadows of death that haunt him
every day in the suffering body parts of his fellow soldiers.

After being injured, he is taken for treatment in a hospital where he and Catherine grow more
intimate. Their happiness however does not last long as the war continues to tamper with their
peace. Finally, Frederic deserts the army in a bid to find peace, as well as be reunited with
Catherine.

The novel ends in tragedy when Catherine gives birth to their child, but complications in the
delivery result in her death. Frederic will now have to face acute grief and the futility of his
experiences, concluding that love will surely be short-lived if loss is inevitable.

This story is set on exploring the theme of love, war, disillusionment, and a search for meaning
in a chaotic world, summarizes the difficulties of the Lost Generation who lived through the

aftermath of World War I.

 B. AUTHOR’S BACKGROUND:

Ernest Hemingway is an American writer also known as Ernest Miller Hemingway, (born July
21, 1899, Cicero [now in Oak Park], Illinois, U.S.—died July 2, 1961, Ketchum, Idaho) was an
American novelist and short-story writer, awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954. He was
noted both for the intense masculinity of his writing and for his adventurous and widely
publicized life. His succinct and lucid prose style exerted a powerful influence on American and
British fiction in the 20th century.

Hemingway was repeatedly rejected for military service because of a defective eye, but he
managed to enter World War I as an ambulance driver for the American Red Cross. On July 8,
1918, not yet 19 years old, he was injured on the Austro-Italian front at Fossalta di Piave.
Decorated for heroism and hospitalized in Milan, he fell in love with a Red Cross nurse, Agnes
von Kurowsky, who declined to marry him. These were experiences he was never to forget.

After recuperating at home, Hemingway renewed his efforts at writing, for a while worked at
odd jobs in Chicago, and sailed for France as a foreign correspondent for the Toronto Star.
Advised and encouraged by other American writers in Paris—F. Scott Fitzgerald,Gertrude Stein,
Ezra Pound—he began to see his non journalistic work appear in print there, and in 1925 his first
important book, a collection of stories called In Our Time, was published in New York City; it
was originally released in Paris in 1924.

In 1926 he published The Sun Also Rises, a novel with which he scored his first solid success. A
pessimistic but sparkling book, it deals with a group of aimless expatriates in France and Spain—
members of the postwar Lost Generation, a phrase that Hemingway scorned while making it
famous. This work also introduced him to the limelight, which he both craved and resented for
the rest of his life. Hemingway’s The Torrents of Spring, a parody of the American writer
Sherwood Anderson’s book Dark Laughter, also appeared in 1926.
C. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

A Farewell to Arms, third novel by Ernest Hemingway, published in 1929. Its depiction of the
existential disillusionment of the “Lost Generation” echoes his early short stories and his first
major novel, The Sun Also Rises (1926). A Farewell to Arms is particularly notable for its
autobiographical elements.

A Farewell to Arms remains significant not just as a story of love and war, but as a poignant
commentary on the human condition in a time of unprecedented turmoil. Its enduring relevance
continues to spark discussions about the nature of conflict, love, and the search for meaning in a
fractured world.

Hemingway wrote and revised A Farewell to Arms in 15 months. The work was first published
serially in the United States in Scribner’s Magazine between May and October 1929. Charles
Scribner’s Sons reportedly paid Hemingway $16,000 for the rights—the most the magazine had
ever paid for a serialized work. In the late 1920s, Scribner’s Magazine had an average annual
circulation of about 70,000. Despite attempts by the publisher to censor Hemingway’s work,
many subscribers canceled their subscriptions to the magazine. They cited (among other things)
Hemingway’s bad language and “pornographic” depictions of premarital sex as reasons for
terminating their subscriptions. Authorities in Boston outright banned the magazine. On June 21,
1929, The New York Times reported :
The June issue of Scribner’s Magazine was barred from book stands...by Michael H. Crowley, Superintendent of
the Police, because of objections to an installment of Ernest Hemingway’s serial, ‘A Farewell to Arms.’ It is
said that some persons deemed part of the installment salacious.

D. GENRE IDENTIFICATION:

I. Realism

A Farewell to Arms has been praised for its realistic depiction of war. Its realism has
often been attributed to personal experience: the novel is informed in no small part by
Hemingway’s own wartime service. Although Hemingway spent less time and had a
 more limited role in World War I than his protagonist, the resemblance between his
experience and Henry’s is nonetheless striking.

II. Autobiographical Elements and War

While not strictly autobiographical, the novel draws on Hemingway’s own experiences
as an ambulance driver during World War I, blending fiction with personal history.

During World War I, Hemingway worked as an ambulance driver for the American Red
Cross. Like Henry, he served on the Italian front and suffered a severe injury on the
Austro-Italian front. On the night of July 8, 1918, while handing out chocolate and
cigarettes to soldiers, Hemingway was struck by fragments of an Austrian mortar shell.
He was wounded in the foot, knee, thighs, scalp, and hand. In all, he absorbed more than
200 pieces of shrapnel—by his own count, 237.

At its core, the book is a war novel, depicting the experiences of soldiers during World
War I and the profound effects of war on individuals and society.

III. Romantic Fiction

Von Kurowsky’s feelings for Hemingway were never as deep as his affection for her. She broke
off the relationship in a letter dated March 7, 1919, not long after Hemingway returned to his
home in Oak Park, Illinois. In the letter, von Kurowsky explained that she was “still very fond”
of Hemingway but “more as a mother than as a sweetheart.” According to his sister, Marcelline,
Hemingway vomited after reading the letter. Years after Hemingway’s death in 1961, his son,
Jack, called the loss of von Kurowsky the great tragedy of his father’s early life.
Von Kurowsky almost undoubtedly served as the source for the heroine in A Farewell to Arms.
When asked about Hemingway’s novel in 1976, she said, “Let’s get it straight—please. I wasn’t
that kind of girl.” She objected to the insinuation that she and Hemingway were lovers, insisting
that Catherine Barkley was an “arrant fantasy” and that the affair in the hospital was “totally
implausible.”
The love story between Frederic Henry and Catherine Barkley is central to the narrative, making
it a work of romantic fiction that explores themes of love and loss amidst the backdrop of war.
E. HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

In A Farewell to Arms, Hemingway provided a realistic and unromanticized account of war. He

wanted readers to experience the events of the novel as though they were actually witnessing
them. Using a simple writing style and plain language, he omitted inessential adjectives and
adverbs, rendering the violence of the Italian front in sparring prose. To give readers a sense of
immediacy, Hemingway used short declarative clauses and made frequent use of the conjunction
and. Many years after the publication of A Farewell to Arms, Hemingway explained that he used
the word for its rhythmic quality: it was, he said, a “conscious imitation of the way Mr. Johann
Sebastian Bach used a note in music when he was emitting a counterpoint.” The same language
animates the protagonist’s voice, thoughts, and dialogue. The effect is similarly lifelike.
Hemingway authentically replicated the way soldiers speak in times of war—profanities and all.
(At the request of the publisher, Hemingway’s editor, Maxwell Perkins, replaced the profanities
with dashes. Hemingway reportedly reinserted the words by hand in a few first-edition copies of
the novel, one of which he gave to Irish novelist James Joyce.)

Although Hemingway referred to the novel as his Romeo and Juliet, the tone of A Farewell to
Arms is lyric and pathetic rather than tragic. Grief turns the hero away from, rather than toward, a
deeper examination of life. Hemingway’s depiction of Henry reflects the pathos of the Lost
Generation, whose members came of age during World War I. The conclusion of the novel—in
which Catherine and the baby die, leaving Henry desolate—is emblematic of the Lost
Generation’s experience of disillusionment and despondency in the immediate postwar years.

Interpretations of the title vary. The novel may take its name from a 16th-century poem by the
English dramatist George Peele. In Peele’s lyric poem, conventionally called “A Farewell to
Arms (To Queen Elizabeth),” a knight laments that he is too old to bear arms for his queen,
Elizabeth I:
His helmet now shall make a hive for bees;

And, lovers’ sonnets turn’d to holy psalms,

 A man-at-arms must now serve on his knees,

And feed on prayers, which are Age his alms:

But though from court to cottage he depart,

His Saint is sure of his unspotted heart.

Peele’s poem reflects some of the core themes of Hemingway’s novel: duty, war, and
masculinity. However, there is no evidence to suggest that Hemingway knew of the poem’s
existence, let alone took its title. As some scholars noted, Hemingway selected the title relatively
late in the publishing process, while performing manuscript revisions. These scholars argued that
the title—and, by extension, Peele’s poem—had no influence on the writing or shaping of the
novel.

Another interpretation of the novel’s title stresses the dual meaning of the word arms. In
deserting the Italian army, the protagonist bids farewell to “arms” as weapons. When Catherine
dies, he bids farewell to the loving “arms” of his mistress. This interpretation of the title blends
the two major themes of the novel: war and love.
Scribner defended Hemingway’s work, claiming “the ban on the sale of the magazine in Boston
is an evidence of the improper use of censorship which bases its objections upon certain passages
without taking into account the effect and purpose of the story as a whole.” The publisher argued
that the work was neither immoral nor “anti-war.”

A Farewell to Arms first appeared as a novel in the United States in September 1929. Scribner’s
ordered an initial print run of about 31,000 copies. Hemingway numbered and signed 510 first-
edition copies. The novel was Hemingway’s first best seller; it sold some 100,000 copies in its
first 12 months. Unlike the serial, the novel enjoyed a generally warm reception. A New York
Times review described it as “a moving and beautiful book.” In November 1929 the London
Times Literary Supplement deemed it “a novel of great power” and Hemingway “an extremely
talented and original artist.” The American novelist John Dos Passos—Hemingway’s
contemporary and sometime friend—called the novel “a first-rate piece of craftsmanship by a
man who knows his job.”

In Italy, news of the novel’s publication was not received well. Many Italians resented
Hemingway’s (highly accurate) depiction of the Italian retreat after the Battle of Caporetto. The
fascist regime under Benito Mussolini banned the novel. Some scholars speculated that the ban
was instituted in part because of a personal conflict between Hemingway and Mussolini. Years
before, Hemingway had interviewed Mussolini for The Toronto Daily Star. In an article
published in 1923, Hemingway referred to Mussolini as “the biggest bluff in Europe.” A
Farewell to Arms was not published in Italy until 1948.

Since its publication in 1929, Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms has been translated into many
languages, including Arabic, Italian, Japanese, and Urdu. A number of revised editions have
been published. Notably, in July 2012, Scribner published an edition of the novel containing all
47 alternative endings, in addition to pieces from early drafts.

F. THEME AND REALITY:

A Farewell to Arms was one of the most widely read war novels of the 20th century. It was
published during the period between World War I and World War II, a time when war novels
were very popular in the United States and around the world. A Farewell to Arms was published
in the same year as Erich Maria remarque’s magnum opus Im Westen nichts Neues (All Quiet on
the Western Front), which details the daily horrors of war on the Western front in laconic
understatement. Remarque’s characters, like Hemingway’s, are remarkably disillusioned with the
war. Hemingway and Remarque together set the precedent for future war novelists Evelyn
Waugh, Kurt Vonnegut, Joseph Heller, Tim O’Brien, Sebastian Faulks, and others whose work
expresses a cynical attitude toward war and violence.

"A Farewell to Arms" explores several profound themes that contribute to its depth and
enduring relevance and these themes intertwine to create a rich tapestry that examines the
complexities of human experience, making "A Farewell to Arms" a powerful exploration of life,
love, and the impact of war.
 I. War and Its Consequences

The brutality and futility of war are central to the novel. Hemingway portrays the
physical and emotional scars left on soldiers, illustrating the chaos and senselessness of
combat. The protagonist’s experiences underscore the disillusionment many felt after
World War I.

II. Love and Loss

The relationship between Frederic Henry and Catherine Barkley serves as a focal point for
exploring love amid the horrors of war. Their love offers solace but is also marked by tragedy,
highlighting the fragility of human connections in tumultuous times.

III. Disillusionment

The novel reflects the disillusionment of the "Lost Generation." Characters grapple with the
collapse of traditional values and the search for meaning in a world that feels increasingly
chaotic and indifferent.

IV. Isolation and Alienation

Characters often feel isolated, both physically and emotionally. Frederic’s journey reflects a
sense of alienation from society and the struggle to find connection and purpose amidst despair.

V. The Nature of Suffering

Hemingway delves into the inevitability of suffering, both in war and in life. Characters
confront pain, loss, and mortality, questioning the meaning of their experiences.

VI. Courage and Cowardice

The novel examines different forms of bravery, from physical acts of heroism to the emotional
courage required to confront one's feelings and fears. Frederic’s eventual decision to abandon the
war illustrates a complex understanding of what it means to be brave.

VII. The Search for Meaning

 Amidst the chaos of war, characters seek to find meaning in their lives. Frederic's journey
reflects the struggle to navigate love, loss, and existential questions about life’s purpose.

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