Modern Age (1901–Present): Complete Lecture Sheet (Part–1)

Historical Background, Literary Movements & Features of the Modern Age

১. Modern Age কী?

Modern Age হলো English Literature-এর এমন একটি যুগ, যেখানে মানুষের জীবন, সমাজ, যুদ্ধ, বিজ্ঞান, প্রযুক্তি, মনস্তত্ত্ব এবং অস্তিত্বের সংকট সাহিত্যকে গভীরভাবে প্রভাবিত করে।

এই যুগে সাহিত্য Classical বা Romantic আদর্শ থেকে সরে এসে বাস্তবতা, বিভ্রান্তি, বিচ্ছিন্নতা এবং নতুন শিল্পরীতির দিকে এগিয়ে যায়।

২. Modern Age-এর সময়কাল

1901 – Present

Exam Fact

Modern Age begins with the death of Queen Victoria (1901).

৩. Modern Age-এর Timeline

৪. Historical Background of Modern Age

Major Historical Events

৫. Edwardian Period (1901–1910)

Named After

King Edward VII

Features

Social change.
Beginning of Modernism.
Decline of Victorian morality.
Scientific progress.

Important Writers

Joseph Conrad
E. M. Forster
George Bernard Shaw
H. G. Wells

৬. Georgian Period (1910–1936)

Named After

King George V.

Features

Nature poetry.
Rural England.
Simplicity.
Pre-WWI optimism.

Georgian Poets

Rupert Brooke
Walter de la Mare
John Masefield
D. H. Lawrence (early works)

৭. World War I (1914–1918)

Literary Effects

Horror of war.
Death.
Loss of faith.
Alienation.
Broken civilization.

Important War Poets

Wilfred Owen
Siegfried Sassoon
Rupert Brooke

৮. World War II (1939–1945)

Literary Effects

Existential crisis.
Fear.
Despair.
Human suffering.
Nuclear anxiety.

৯. Modernism

Definition

Modernism হলো একটি literary movement যা traditional literary forms ভেঙে নতুন techniques ব্যবহার করে।

Motto

Make It New

— Ezra Pound

১০. Causes of Modernism

১১. Characteristics of Modern Literature

Main Features

১২. Alienation

Definition

মানুষ সমাজ থেকে বিচ্ছিন্ন অনুভব করে।

Examples

T. S. Eliot
Kafka
Beckett

Keywords

Loneliness, Isolation, Meaninglessness.

১৩. Disillusionment

Definition

War-এর পর মানুষ আশা হারিয়ে ফেলে।

Examples

The Waste Land
Wilfred Owen’s poems

১৪. Fragmentation

Modern literature-এর narrative প্রায়ই ভাঙা ও অসম্পূর্ণ।

Examples

The Waste Land
Ulysses
Mrs Dalloway

১৫. Stream of Consciousness

Most Important Literary Technique

Definition

Character-এর mind-এর continuous thoughts উপস্থাপন করা।

Important Writers

James Joyce
Virginia Woolf
Dorothy Richardson

১৬. Symbolism

Modern writers symbols ব্যবহার করে গভীর অর্থ প্রকাশ করেন।

Examples

১৭. Mythical Method

Introduced by

T. S. Eliot

Purpose

Ancient myths ব্যবহার করে modern society ব্যাখ্যা করা।

Examples

The Waste Land
Ulysses

১৮. Imagism

Founder

Ezra Pound

Features

Precise images.
Simple language.
No unnecessary words.
Free verse.

Motto

Make It New

১৯. Symbolism Movement

Important Influence

W. B. Yeats
T. S. Eliot

২০. Existentialism

Definition

Human existence has uncertainty and absurdity.

Features

Meaninglessness
Isolation
Freedom
Responsibility

Important Writers

Samuel Beckett
Albert Camus
Jean-Paul Sartre

২১. Psychological Literature

Influence

Freud’s psychoanalysis changed literature.

Themes

Dreams
Memory
Subconscious
Desire

২২. Major Literary Movements of Modern Age

২৩. Major Writers of Modern Age

Modern Poets

Modern Novelists

Modern Dramatists

২৪. Modern Age vs Victorian Age

২৫. Modern Age — Important Literary Terms

২৬. Important Dates

২৭. 50 Important MCQs (Job Exam)

২৮. Previous BCS / NTRCA Important Facts

২৯. One-Minute Final Revision

Modern Age → 1901–Present

Begins with → Death of Queen Victoria (1901)

Edwardian Age → 1901–1910

Georgian Age → 1910–1936

Modernism → Make It New (Ezra Pound)

World War I → Disillusionment

World War II → Existential Crisis

Stream of Consciousness → Virginia Woolf & James Joyce

Mythical Method → T. S. Eliot

Imagism → Ezra Pound

Theatre of the Absurd → Samuel Beckett

Modern Age (1901–Present): Complete Lecture Sheet (Part–2)

W. B. Yeats (1865–1939): Complete Notes for BCS, NTRCA, Bank & University Admission

১. W. B. Yeats — Introduction

Literary Identity

Irish Poet
Symbolist Poet
Mystic Poet
Nobel Laureate

Exam Fact: Yeats is the greatest Irish poet of Modern English Literature.

২. Yeats-এর সাহিত্যিক পরিচয়

তাঁকে বলা হয়—

Father of Irish Literary Revival.
Symbolist Poet.
Mystic Poet.
National Poet of Ireland.

Main Themes

Ireland
Mythology
Nationalism
Symbolism
Mysticism
Love
History

৩. Irish Literary Revival

Definition

Irish culture, mythology ও literature-কে পুনর্জাগরিত করার আন্দোলন।

Founder Figures

Institution

Abbey Theatre (1904)

৪. Abbey Theatre

Founded

1904

Founders

W. B. Yeats
Lady Gregory
Edward Martyn

Importance

National Theatre of Ireland.

৫. Nobel Prize

Year

1923

Reason

Outstanding poetic achievement inspired by Irish spirit.

Exam Fact: Yeats received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923.

৬. Yeats-এর Literary Characteristics

৭. Major Works of W. B. Yeats

৮. The Lake Isle of Innisfree

Theme

Peace
Nature
Escape
Simplicity

Importance

Nature provides spiritual peace.

Famous Line

I will arise and go now…

৯. Easter 1916

Background

Irish Easter Rising (1916)

Theme

Nationalism
Sacrifice
Revolution
Transformation

Famous Line

A terrible beauty is born.

১০. Meaning of “A Terrible Beauty”

Beauty came through sacrifice and violence.

Very Important Exam Question

১১. The Second Coming

Published

1920

Theme

Chaos
Civilization
Apocalypse
New era

Most Important Modern Poem

Famous Opening

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.

Frequently Asked in BCS/NTRCA

১২. Symbolism in The Second Coming

১৩. Gyre Theory

Most Important Theory

Introduced by

Yeats

Meaning

History moves in cyclical spirals.

Every civilization rises and falls.

Shortcut

History = Cycles (Gyres)

১৪. Sailing to Byzantium

Theme

Art
Immortality
Spiritual journey
Old age

Symbol

Byzantium = Eternal Art

Famous Line

That is no country for old men.

১৫. Byzantium — Symbolism

১৬. Among School Children

Theme

Childhood
Philosophy
Aging
Unity of life

Famous Line

How can we know the dancer from the dance?

১৭. Leda and the Swan

Theme

Greek mythology
Violence
Birth of civilization
History

Symbol

Swan represents Zeus.

১৮. Symbolism in Yeats

Major Symbols

১৯. Mysticism in Yeats

Yeats believed—

Spiritual world exists.
Human soul is immortal.
Occult knowledge.
Magic and symbols reveal truth.

২০. Yeats and Irish Mythology

Uses

Celtic myths.
Irish legends.
Fairy tales.
Ancient heroes.

Purpose

Build Irish national identity.

২১. Yeats as National Poet

Why?

He celebrated—

Irish independence.
Irish history.
Irish heroes.
Irish culture.

২২. Yeats vs Eliot

২৩. Important Literary Terms

২৪. Important Dates

২৫. 50 Important MCQs (Job Exam)

General MCQs

Easter 1916 MCQs

Second Coming MCQs

Sailing to Byzantium MCQs

Literary Terms MCQs

২৬. Previous BCS / NTRCA Important Facts

২৭. One-Minute Final Revision

W. B. Yeats → Father of Irish Literary Revival

1923 → Nobel Prize in Literature

Abbey Theatre → Founded 1904

The Second Coming → Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold.

Easter 1916 → A terrible beauty is born.

Sailing to Byzantium → Byzantium symbolizes Eternal Art.

Gyre Theory → History moves in cycles.

Yeats → Symbolist Poet + Mystic Poet + Irish National Poet

Modern Age (1901–Present): Complete Lecture Sheet (Part–3)

T. S. Eliot (1888–1965): Complete Notes for BCS, NTRCA, Bank & University Admission

১. T. S. Eliot — Introduction

Literary Identity

Father of Modern Poetry
Modernist Poet
Literary Critic
Dramatist

Exam Fact: T. S. Eliot is called the Father of Modern English Poetry.

২. কেন Eliot-কে Father of Modern Poetry বলা হয়?

তিনি Modern Poetry-তে নতুন techniques নিয়ে আসেন—

Fragmentation
Symbolism
Mythical Method
Free Verse
Stream-like narration
Urban imagery

৩. Eliot-এর Literary Characteristics

৪. Major Works of T. S. Eliot

৫. The Waste Land (1922)

পরিচয়

Importance

Most important Modernist poem.

৬. Why The Waste Land is Famous?

It represents—

Spiritual barrenness.
Cultural decay.
Modern civilization.
Disillusionment after World War I.

৭. Structure of The Waste Land

Five Sections

৮. Famous Opening

April is the cruellest month.

Meaning

Spring brings painful memories to a spiritually empty world.

Very Important MCQ

৯. Themes of The Waste Land

১০. Symbols in The Waste Land

১১. Mythical Method

Most Important Literary Technique

Definition

Ancient myths explain modern civilization.

Sources Used

Holy Grail Legend.
Fisher King Myth.
Upanishads.
Bible.
Greek Mythology.

Exam Fact

Mythical Method = T. S. Eliot

১২. Fisher King Myth

Symbolizes

A wounded king causes barren land.

Meaning in Waste Land

Modern civilization is spiritually wounded.

১৩. Ending of The Waste Land

Sanskrit Words

Datta

Dayadhvam

Damyata

Final Word

Shantih Shantih Shantih

Meaning

Peace beyond understanding.

Very Important Exam Fact

১৪. The Hollow Men (1925)

Theme

Spiritual emptiness.
Fear.
Failure.
Meaninglessness.

Famous Line

This is the way the world ends, Not with a bang but a whimper.

Frequently Asked MCQ

১৫. Symbolism in Hollow Men

১৬. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock (1915)

Theme

Alienation.
Anxiety.
Love.
Modern urban life.

Character

J. Alfred Prufrock

Famous Line

Do I dare disturb the universe?

১৭. Prufrock — Characteristics

Prufrock is—

Hesitant.
Lonely.
Self-conscious.
Modern anti-hero.

১৮. Four Quartets

Collection Includes

Theme

Time.
Memory.
Eternity.
Spirituality.

১৯. Journey of the Magi

Theme

Birth.
Death.
Spiritual transformation.

Published

1927

২০. Ash-Wednesday

Theme

Faith.
Repentance.
Spiritual rebirth.

২১. Objective Correlative

Most Important Literary Theory

Definition

A set of objects, situations or events that evoke emotion.

Introduced in

Hamlet and His Problems

Shortcut

Objective Correlative = Eliot

২২. Hamlet and His Problems

Genre

Literary criticism.

Famous Theory

Objective Correlative.

Opinion

Eliot criticized Hamlet.

২৩. Tradition and the Individual Talent

Published

1919

Main Ideas

Tradition is essential.
Poet should know literary history.
Poetry is impersonal.

Famous Concept

Impersonality Theory

২৪. Impersonality Theory

Meaning

Poetry should express art, not personal emotions.

Formula

Poet → Medium, not Hero.

২৫. Eliot as Literary Critic

Important Critical Works

২৬. Eliot and Modernism

Eliot introduced

Fragmentation.
Mythical Method.
Objective Correlative.
Urban imagery.
Symbolism.

২৭. Eliot vs Yeats

২৮. Important Literary Terms

২৯. Important Dates

৩০. 50 Important MCQs (Job Exam)

General MCQs

Waste Land MCQs

Mythical Method MCQs

Hollow Men MCQs

Literary Criticism MCQs

৩১. Previous BCS / NTRCA Important Facts

৩২. One-Minute Final Revision

T. S. Eliot → Father of Modern Poetry

The Waste Land → Bible of Modernism (1922)

Five Sections → Burial of the Dead → Game of Chess → Fire Sermon → Death by Water → What the Thunder Said

April is the cruellest month → The Waste Land

Mythical Method → Eliot

Objective Correlative → Hamlet and His Problems

Impersonality Theory → Tradition and the Individual Talent

This is the way the world ends… → The Hollow Men

Nobel Prize → 1948

Modern Age (1901–Present): Complete Lecture Sheet (Part–4)

১. Virginia Woolf — Introduction

Literary Identity

Modernist Novelist.
Feminist Writer.
Essayist.
Stream of Consciousness Novelist.

Exam Fact: Virginia Woolf is one of the greatest Modern Novelists.

২. Virginia Woolf-এর Literary Characteristics

৩. Stream of Consciousness

Most Important Modern Technique

Definition

Character-এর continuous thoughts, feelings, memories and emotions-এর flow.

Features

Interior monologue.
Free association.
Memory.
Psychological narration.

Major Writers

৪. Major Works of Virginia Woolf

৫. Mrs Dalloway (1925)

Published

1925

Theme

Time.
Memory.
Loneliness.
Society.
Mental illness.

Setting

London

One single day.

Main Characters

৬. Mrs Dalloway-এর Themes

৭. Big Ben Symbolism

Symbol

Big Ben = Time

Exam Fact

Time controls human life.

৮. Septimus Warren Smith

Represents

PTSD.
War trauma.
Mental breakdown.
Alienation.

৯. To the Lighthouse (1927)

Theme

Time.
Family.
Art.
Memory.
Human relationships.

Structure

১০. Symbolism in To the Lighthouse

১১. A Room of One’s Own (1929)

Genre

Essay.

Theme

Feminism.
Women’s education.
Economic independence.

Famous Idea

A woman needs—

Money and a room of her own.

Very Important Exam Fact

১২. Orlando

Theme

Gender identity.
Time.
Transformation.

Importance

Modern feminist novel.

১৩. The Waves

Theme

Consciousness.
Identity.
Time.
Life cycle.

Part–B : James Joyce (1882–1941)

১৪. James Joyce — Introduction

Literary Identity

Modernist Novelist.
Stream of Consciousness Writer.
Experimental Writer.

১৫. James Joyce-এর Literary Characteristics

১৬. Major Works of James Joyce

১৭. Ulysses (1922)

Published

1922

Setting

Dublin

Time

One Day — 16 June 1904

Importance

Greatest Stream of Consciousness Novel.

১৮. Main Characters of Ulysses

১৯. Ulysses and Odyssey

Joyce parallels Homer’s Odyssey.

Mythical Method Example

Modern Dublin = Ancient Greece.

২০. Stream of Consciousness in Ulysses

Famous Example

Molly Bloom’s long uninterrupted thoughts.

Importance

Interior Monologue reaches highest form.

২১. Epiphany Theory

Most Important Joyce Theory

Definition

Sudden spiritual realization.

Meaning

Ordinary events reveal profound truth.

Exam Fact

Epiphany = James Joyce

২২. Dubliners (1914)

Genre

Short Story Collection.

Stories

15 stories.

Theme

Paralysis.
Irish society.
Religion.
Family.

২৩. Paralysis

Most Important Concept

Joyce believed Dublin society was paralyzed.

Meaning

Unable to progress.

২৪. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Genre

Autobiographical Novel.

Hero

Stephen Dedalus.

Theme

Identity.
Art.
Religion.
Freedom.

২৫. Stephen Dedalus

Represents

Joyce himself.

Symbol

Artist seeking freedom.

২৬. Finnegans Wake

Published

1939

Importance

Most difficult Modern novel.

Feature

Experimental language.

২৭. Virginia Woolf vs James Joyce

২৮. Woolf vs Eliot vs Joyce

২৯. Important Literary Terms

৩০. Important Dates

৩১. 100 Important MCQs (Job Exam Focus)

Virginia Woolf MCQs

James Joyce MCQs

Comparative MCQs

৩২. Previous BCS / NTRCA Important Facts

৩৩. One-Minute Final Revision

Virginia Woolf → Stream of Consciousness + Feminist Novelist

Mrs Dalloway → One Day Novel (London)

Big Ben → Symbol of Time

To the Lighthouse → Lighthouse = Hope & Permanence

A Room of One’s Own → Feminism

James Joyce → Stream of Consciousness + Epiphany

Ulysses → Greatest Modern Novel (1922)

Leopold Bloom = Odysseus

Molly Bloom = Penelope

Stephen Dedalus = Telemachus

Dubliners → Paralysis

Epiphany → Sudden Spiritual Realization

Modern Age (1901–Present): Complete Lecture Sheet (Part–5)

George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Beckett, Harold Pinter + Final Modern Age Master Revision (1901–Present)

Part–A : George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)

১. George Bernard Shaw — Introduction

Literary Identity

Father of Modern Drama.
Problem Playwright.
Social Critic.
Nobel Laureate.

Exam Fact: Shaw is known as the Master of Problem Play.

২. George Bernard Shaw-এর Literary Characteristics

৩. Nobel Prize

Year

1925

Importance

Awarded for idealism and satire.

৪. Problem Play

Most Important Dramatic Term

Definition

Drama discusses social, moral, political and economic problems.

Pioneer

Henrik Ibsen.

Master in English

George Bernard Shaw.

Examples

৫. Major Works of Shaw

৬. Pygmalion (1912)

Genre

Problem Play / Comedy.

Theme

Social class.
Language.
Identity.
Transformation.

Main Characters

৭. Pygmalion-এর Theme

৮. Arms and the Man

Theme

War.
Heroism.
Reality vs Romance.

Famous Character

Captain Bluntschli.

৯. Saint Joan

Theme

Religion.
Politics.
Martyrdom.
Heroism.

১০. Shaw’s Dramatic Philosophy

Shaw believed—

Society can change.
Education reforms people.
Women deserve equality.
War is irrational.

Part–B : Samuel Beckett (1906–1989)

১১. Samuel Beckett — Introduction

Literary Identity

Theatre of the Absurd.
Existential Dramatist.
Nobel Laureate.

১২. Nobel Prize

Year

1969

Importance

Innovative drama depicting human condition.

১৩. Theatre of the Absurd

Most Important Literary Movement

Definition

Drama shows meaningless human existence.

Features

১৪. Waiting for Godot (1953)

Genre

Absurd Drama.

Theme

Waiting.
Hope.
Meaninglessness.
Existentialism.

Characters

১৫. Godot Symbolism

১৬. Famous Quote

Nothing happens, nobody comes, nobody goes.

Meaning—Life repeats endlessly.

১৭. Existentialism in Beckett

Themes

Absurd existence.
Isolation.
Anxiety.
Freedom.
Death.