AMERICAN LITERATURE AT THE TURN OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: TRANSITION, INNOVATION, AND CULTURAL IDENTITY
Keywords:
Keywords: American literature, twentieth century, realism, modernism, cultural identity, innovationAbstract
Abstract
This article explores the transformation of American literature at the turn of the
twentieth century, a period marked by significant social, cultural, and artistic change.
The study examines how literary movements evolved during this transitional era,
moving from realism and naturalism toward modernism. Particular attention is given
to the ways in which writers responded to industrialization, urbanization, and shifting
cultural values. The research highlights the contributions of authors such as Henry
James, Theodore Dreiser, and Edith Wharton, whose works reflect both continuity and
innovation in literary forms. Their writings reveal the tensions between tradition and
change, as well as the emergence of new narrative techniques and thematic concerns.
Furthermore, the article argues that this period played a crucial role in shaping
American cultural identity. Literature became a medium through which writers
explored issues of class, gender, and individual consciousness, contributing to the
development of a distinct national voice in the global literary landscape.
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