Discuss American Modernism as seen in the work of two American poets from 1910 to 1945

American modernism as seen in the work of two American poets

Introduction

The origins of modernism in the American poetry dates back a few centuries, to the works of writers who believed that the old school of thought was no longer required and poetry should be expressed in a language that is for the layman. Poets believe that in the year 1910, poetry writing underwent a major change and the old methods of expression were abandoned ever since. According to poets, it was a turning point in the history of the art of poetry.

In the year 1910, when the automobiles and airplanes had just started operating and man was on the verge of discovering a number of new ways of living, poetry writing also took a deep turn and emerged completely renewed. Artists from across the world converged in Paris, London and other such cities of Europe to promote new ideas and concepts. The artists all got together to reinvent poetry writing and their art forms.

American poetry first started as efforts by colonists to make their own additions to English poetry. In the beginning, their efforts and their art was based mainly on the British models of art but then around the 19th century, their own idiom began to emerge and modern American poetry was created (Untermeyer, 1921).

Wallace Stevens

Wallace Stevens was one of the most famous American poet who used modernism as the base for his art. Born in 1879, he was an insurance executive by profession but his love for the art of poetry was too strong and eventually he let go of his profession and immerged into the modern poetry writing world. He died at the age of 75, in 1955.

His most famous poems include titles ...