Modernism is widely acknowledged as probably the most important and influential artistic-cultural phenomenon of the twentieth-century, whether it is considered primarily as a movement, a period, a genre, a style or an ideology (cf. Poplawski 2003, p. 5).
In order to find out what is so special about the literary period between 1901 and 1939 extra-literary developments and contexts as well as thematic and formal innovations according to modernism will be considered at first in this paper.
Afterwards the modernist short story, as an important ‘invention’ of modernist writers, and its main characteristics and features are of interest. In this respect some writers of the modernist era, such as Joseph Conrad, James Joyce, Sherwood Anderson etc., and some of their short stories will be considered to get a completed picture of the topic. Katherine Mansfield, one of the great Modernist innovators of twentieth-century English literature, plays a central role in this regard. After a biographical overview her contribution to the ‘invention’ of the short story with special interest to characteristic features of her way of writing will be presented.
Finally, the aim should be to explore how one of Katherine Mansfield’s last short stories ‘The Fly’ can be used for English language teaching. At first a short plot summary and various kinds of interpretations are given to get at the real meaning of the story. Then a concrete example of classroom treatment, including a worksheet, will be dealt with. This worksheet gives attention to text gaps, which can be found within the short story, in the way that they can be seen as ‘adjunctive structures’ and can be used for text work in groups.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. (Literary) ‘Modernism’
2.1 Extra-Literary Conditions and Influences
2.2 Themes and Formal Innovations
3. The Modernist Short Story
3.1 Beginnings, Development and Main Features
3.2 Katherine Mansfield
3.2.1 Life
3.2.2 Contribution to the ‘Invention’ of the Short Story and Thematic Innovations
4. Katherine Mansfield ‘The Fly’
4.1 Summary
4.2 Interpretations
4.3 A Short Story for English Language Teaching?
4.3.1 ‘Adjunctive Structures’
4.3.2 Worksheet
5. Conclusion
Objectives & Topics
This paper explores the evolution of the modernist short story, with a specific focus on the contributions of Katherine Mansfield. It examines how technical innovations and stylistic shifts defined the modernist era, ultimately analyzing how Mansfield's short story 'The Fly' utilizes ambiguity, symbolism, and text gaps as effective tools for English language instruction.
- Theoretical foundations of literary Modernism and the concept of "uncertainty."
- Key characteristics and formal innovations of the modernist short story.
- Biographical and literary analysis of Katherine Mansfield's career.
- In-depth interpretation of symbolism and character psychology in 'The Fly.'
- Practical pedagogical application of 'adjunctive structures' for classroom text work.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Beginnings, Development and Main Features
Many critics impute the beginning of the modernist short story in America to Stephen Crane: “[I]t was Crane’s impressionism– the combination of the subjectivity of romanticism with the so-called objectivity of realism– that did the most to effect this transition” (May 2002, p. 12). He uses specific moments of reality of the everyday in his stories. By dealing with a combination of expressive emotions and ironic observation Crane delivers insight into both objective and subjective perspectives. This attains the effect that the narrator, simultaneously, seems to be involved and aesthetically detached.
Frank Stockton, Ambrose Bierce and O. Henry belong to those writers who focused rather on a formalised aesthetic reality, which looks back on the works of Edgar Allan Poe– thus on the former period of romanticism (cf. ibd., p. 13). Allen claims that the change to the specifically British modernist short story can be dated at 1878, the year in which Lionel Stevenson published “A Lodging for the Night”. It is also stated that the symbolist movement gave the decisive impulse to the development of the short story in the 1890s, the period that H. G. Wells called “the Golden Age” of the short story in England. The key aim of modernist short story writers was to focus on technique and form rather than on content alone (cf. May 2002, p. 14).
Due to the profundity of his vision and his keen sense of language use Joseph Conrad managed to explore the field of philosophic generalisations in his works. Therefore he is considered to be the one who effectively made the transition between the old-fashioned tale of the nineteenth century and the modernist short story. Short story writers, including Conrad and Joyce, focused on concrete situations in the real world. In “The Secret Sharer”, one of Conrad’s most famous symbolist/impressionistic stories, he uses a specific technique to embody psychic processes: he creates the theme of a psychological double in a person who exists outside and inside the character at the same time (cf. ibd., pp. 14-15).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the central role of Modernism as a cultural phenomenon and sets the stage for exploring its influence on the short story and the pedagogical potential of Katherine Mansfield's work.
2. (Literary) ‘Modernism’: This chapter examines the extra-literary influences, such as discoveries in psychology and science, that fostered a sense of uncertainty and pushed writers toward formal innovations like the interior monologue.
3. The Modernist Short Story: This section traces the shift from traditional tales to the modernist short story, focusing on the techniques of key authors like Joseph Conrad, James Joyce, and significantly, Katherine Mansfield.
4. Katherine Mansfield ‘The Fly’: The chapter provides a detailed summary and diverse interpretations of the story, followed by a pedagogical approach to using it in English classrooms through text gaps.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes how Modernist stylistic innovations, particularly those employed by Mansfield, redefine the short story genre and validate its utility for advanced language learning.
Keywords
Modernism, Literary Modernism, Katherine Mansfield, Short Story, Uncertainty, Epiphany, Interior Monologue, The Fly, Adjunctive Structures, Symbolism, English Language Teaching, Narrative Technique, Identity, Ambiguity, Psychology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work focuses on the development of the modernist short story, specifically highlighting how Katherine Mansfield utilized new narrative techniques and thematic explorations to innovate the genre.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
Central themes include the modernist preoccupation with uncertainty, the complexity of human identity, the impact of psychological developments, and the transition from structured plotting to more symbolic, moment-based storytelling.
What is the primary goal of the author?
The primary goal is to bridge the gap between academic literary analysis of Modernism and practical application by demonstrating how Mansfield's 'The Fly' can be utilized in the English classroom.
Which scientific methods are applied in the paper?
The paper uses a comparative literature approach and structural text analysis, focusing on stylistic devices, narrative structures, and the pedagogical method of working with "adjunctive structures" (text gaps).
What is covered in the main section?
The main section covers the history of the modernist short story, a biography of Katherine Mansfield, an interpretive analysis of 'The Fly', and a guide on using the story for text work in educational settings.
Which keywords best describe this academic work?
Key terms include Modernism, Katherine Mansfield, Short Story, Uncertainty, Narrative Technique, and English Language Teaching.
How does the author interpret 'The Fly'?
The author interprets the story as a modernist exploration of grief, ambiguity, and the human struggle against the inevitability of death, highlighting the boss as a character torn between victimhood and cruelty.
What are 'adjunctive structures' in the context of the pedagogical section?
Adjunctive structures refer to identified gaps or ellipses within the text of the short story that learners can use as opportunities for guided text production and group work.
How does the biographical background influence the author's reading of Mansfield?
The author correlates the traumatic experiences in Mansfield's life—such as her brother's death and her illness—with the themes of despair and mental torment found in her stories, particularly 'The Fly'.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Steffi Joetze (Autor:in), 2010, Literary Modernism: Katherine Mansfield and the Short Story, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/174063
