Lost+Generation+of+Writers

="Lost Generation" of Writers =

The Lost Generation is used to describe American writers such as F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway's in the 1920's who became know for their literature after WWI. These writers were rebelling against what America had become by traveling to Europe to experience literary freedom in their cosmopolitan way of life. The literal meaning of this term is that nearly an entire generation of soldiers were killed during the war. The symbolic meaning of this term is that the "lost generation" is referring to the survivors of the war who were robbed of a normal life because they returned home either physically wounded, mentally wounded or both. Before the war, people believed that if one acts righteously, good things will happen.

W orld War I destroyed this idea. Fitzgerald, Stein and Hemingway's literature portrayed the era that lost their morals, as materialistic people who were only focused on small details such as money. Their literature caught people's attention and brought people together who were mentally and physically damaged from the war. It showed people what American had become, and taught them that if you act virtuously, it may not bring you good things. Finally, it showed everyone that money does not always bring happiness, because there is often depression behind it.



From left: F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway.

Well known books of this time include //The Great Gatsby// by F. Scott Fitzgerald, //Three Lives// by Gertrude Stein and //The Sun Also Rises// by Ernest Hemingway.

//The Great Gatsby// was a book focused on the materialistic lives of society after the war. //"The partygoers care only about themselves and being at a great party."// This quote from the book shows that these people were not focussed on the important things in life, but just the elements that would benefit themselves.

//Three Lives// was an autobiography written by Stein. In this book, she tried to enable the reader's consciousness to be able to understand and observe the mechanics of another mind by writing in dialogue.

//The Sun Also Rises// was a book focussed on the life of a World War I veteran who spent most of his drinking because the war had shattered most of their beliefs and left them psychologically and morally lost.

The writers of the lost generation impacted the writing of authors today. They escaped to Europe to write in their own style of writing, because at the time, American culture only accepted Victorian styles of writing. If they hadn't travelled to Europe's cosmopolitan way of life and written in their own style, authors today would not have that freedom as well. F. Scott Fitzgerald, Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway changed American literature for the better in the 1920's.