Angry Young Men 

Angry Young Men are defined in Encyclopaedia Britannica as "various British novelists and playwrights who emerged in the 1950s and expressed scorn and disaffection with the established sociopolitical order of their country.  Their impatience and resentment were especially aroused by what they perceived as the hypocrisy and mediocrity of the upper and middle classes" (1). 

Important Members of the Angry Young Men 

John Osborne, Jimmy Porter, Tony Richardson, Alan Sillitoe, Tom Courtenay, Keith Waterhouse, John Braine, Lindsay Anderson, John Schlesinger, Shelagh Delaney (2)

Examples of Writing 

In a play "Look Back in Anger" by John Osborne, which is the typical work of the Angry Young Men movement. 

"You see I learnt at an early age what it was to be angry – angry and helpless. And I can never forget it. I knew more about – love… betrayal… and death, when I was ten years old than you will probably ever know in your life." (3)

In a poem "Wasted"  by Kingsley Amis, where the author shows us how the lower classes suffered in a cold winter evening.

"That cold winter evening

The fire would not draw,

And the whole family hung

Over the dismal grate

Where rain-soaked logs

Bubbled, hissed and steamed." (3) 

Works cited: 

 1) Britannica , The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Angry Young Men". Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 Jun. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Angry-Young-Men. Accessed 8 October 2024.

2) Wallenfeldt, Jeff. "10 Angry Young Men". Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Feb. 2017, https://www.britannica.com/list/10-angry-young-men. Accessed 8 October 2024.

3) Baldwin, Emma. "Angry Young Men". Poem Analysis, https://poemanalysis.com/movement/angry-young-men/. Accessed 8 October 2024.

Jan Josefík 537309