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The 20th century was filled with horrific and blood shedding wars. The conditions and results of the wars had an impact on literature and writers.
The 20th century was filled with horrific and blood shedding wars. The conditions and results of the wars had an impact on literature and writers.
World War I
World War I
World war I broke out in 1914 after the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand. This assassination was the event that ignited the start of the war. Rising nationalism, tension, militarism, and imperialism where some of the causes of the War.The Allies ( Italy, France, Russia, Great Britain and later the United States) fought against the Central Powers ( Germany, Austria-Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire) ultimately defeating them in 1918. However, during the four years of destruction millions of people lost there lives and soldiers fought in horrible conditions. Many soldiers came pack from the war with what was called shell shock. The experiences they encountered in the trenches where horrific. Combining the deaths of civilians and soldiers World War I was one of the most destructive wars in history with 37 million people killed. The traumotizing effect on many soldiers sparked a period of what was called war poetry. Poets and soldiers such as Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen experienced the horror of war and its cruelty. During there time at the same hospital with injuries from battle Sassoon mentored Owen about the negativity of war. Soon Owen , as Sassoon had done, was writing poetry about discouragement of war and how it brings suffering and torture. Many other writers however at the beginning of the war wrote poetry that glorified war and inspiring young men to enlist. The impact of there literature was a contributing factor to driving young men to go to battle and many to end up dead.
World War II
World War II
After World War I there was a lot of economic instability in Europe. Germany had been made responsible for the War and that took a big economic toil on them. Through this Adolf Hitler began to rise to power. He became chancellor of Germany and promised his country that his way was the right way to success. Hitler established the Nazi party as the only one in Germany and began to conquer eastern European countries. In 1939 he made an attack on Poland which resulted in Great Britain and France declaring War on Germany. From there on continued the most deadliest and tortures war until 1945. Germany , along with Italy and Japan, where part of the Axis power and the Soviet Union, France, Great Britain, China and later the United States where the Allied powers. Hitler led the Nazi party to not only dominate the world but exterminate millions of Jewish people in concentration camps. He believed in a superior Aryan race and the Jews where not categorized as Aryan's. During this deadly time prose where extremely influential. Starting from Hitlers rise to power he used compelling speeches to manipulate the people of Germany into believing that following his method will bring them economic and political stability. Hitler had a great way with words and had a strong and assuring quality in his speeches. Prose where also commonly used by Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Great Britain. He was also a very compelling speaker and inspired his country and soldiers to fight of the Axis. He was known to be as a impacting orator during the war in Britain.
Korean war
Korean war
The Korean War broke out when 75,000 soldiers from the North Korean Peoples Army crossed the 38th parallel that divided North and South Korea on June 25, 1950. During the War North Korea was supported by communist Soviet Union and South Korea was supported by the United States . The United States had sent out troops to help South Korea in July. The United States was concerned that this was not just a civil war but a war against communism. They feared if they do not stop it now the Soviet Union will push communism further into other countries. During the war around 5 million people died and in the end South and North Korea still remained separated by the 38th parallel. The Korean war had an effect on literature and prose. Many people spread propaganda, especially about communism. The fear of communism spreading was grounds for many people to use prose as spreading there information. The war had an effect on literature as well by having references and the Korean war featured in books and movies. It is still seen in the media today.
Sources:
"World War I | Facts, Causes, & History." Encyclopedia Britannica. N. p., 2018. Web. 23 May 2018.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B-24D%27s_fly_over_Polesti_during_World_War_II.jpg
Zone, Demilitarized. "Korean War - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.Com." HISTORY.com. N. p., 2018. Web. 23 May 2018.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ethiopian_Soldiers_Korean_War.jpg
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