Compare or contrast how two authors represent the modern man

Assignment Brief

Instructions:

Your task is to write a 750-950 word essay on ONE of the three topics listed below. Aim for a 5-paragraph essay structure (introduction with thesis, three or more body paragraphs, and a conclusion). The word count does not include the Works Cited page or formatting. *Incorporate two direct quotes from the literary selection to support your analysis and be sure to use MLA style guidelines and provide citations and a works cited listing with your essay. Write in the third person objective voice, omitting all use of first person (I, me, we us) and second person (you), and speak in the present tense ("Mark Twain writes" rather than "Mark Twain wrote"). 
Please note, no revisions of essays are accepted. Once an essay is graded, the grade is final. 

• Write a critical analysis of one of the works from weeks 3 or 4. 
• Compare or contrast how two authors from weeks 3 and/or 4 represent the "Modern" man.

*Note: If writing about e.e. cummings, please note that the author does not use uppercase letters when writing his name and in most of his poetry. Please follow his example and use lower case letters when writing his name and when quoting from his poems.

Note: Please read! When writing a comparison you are arguing that the two pieces are mostly similar, and when writing a contrast, you are arguing that they are mostly different. Be sure that you have isolated a strong and debatable thesis on which to build the essay. Simply pointing out the similarities or differences is not analysis, and essays that do this will not earn a passing grade. Instead, argue that they are mostly similar or mostly different in order to prove some bigger point. For example, you might say that both stories are good examples of Modernism, and then state the reasons why.

Answer the question of which literary work from this week seems most representative of the Modern viewpoint as you understand it. Some research on Modernism might be required here. Be sure to identify at least 3 reasons or points to explore in the body of your paper. You might examine 3 qualities of Modernism and discuss how those qualities appear in the literary selection you`ve chosen for this assignment. 

Should you choose to use outside references, these must be scholarly, peer-reviewed sources obtained via the APUS library (select Advanced Search and check the Peer Reviewed box).

Sample Answer

Modern Isolation and Inner Conflict in T.S. Eliot’s “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”

Modernist literature often reflects the fragmented, uncertain world of the early 20th century, a time marked by war, industrialisation, and a crisis of identity. Among the many works that express this viewpoint, T.S. Eliot’s poem The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock stands out as a powerful example of the Modernist worldview. The poem, through its disjointed style, focus on the individual’s inner conflict, and scepticism about social progress, captures the alienation and disillusionment of modern life. Eliot presents his character, Prufrock, not as a hero but as an anxious, self-conscious man paralysed by fear and indecision. The poem’s themes, structure, and language demonstrate the qualities of Modernism, making it one of the most representative works of the era.

One defining feature of Modernism is a sense of fragmentation, both in the structure of a work and the mind of its characters. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock does not follow a traditional narrative or linear progression. Instead, it shifts abruptly between thoughts, questions, and memories, reflecting Prufrock’s mental instability and inability to focus. The opening lines, “Let us go then, you and I, / When the evening is spread out against the sky” (Eliot 1-2), suggest movement and purpose, but the rest of the poem contradicts this, as Prufrock becomes stuck in endless self-doubt. The use of fragmented imagery and shifting perspectives mirrors the disjointed nature of modern life, where certainty and tradition no longer provide clear direction.

Another key element of Modernism is the focus on the individual’s inner world, often filled with doubt, anxiety, and alienation. Prufrock is a man consumed by self-consciousness, worrying about how others perceive him and fearing rejection. He imagines social interactions in painful detail, saying, “Do I dare disturb the universe? / In a minute there is time / For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse” (Eliot 45-48). This inner conflict prevents him from acting, and the poem becomes a record of his mental paralysis. Unlike traditional heroes of earlier literature, Prufrock is passive and uncertain, a reflection of the modern man who feels disconnected from others and unsure of his role in the world.

A third characteristic of Modernism in the poem is its questioning of progress and meaning. Rather than celebrating human achievement or moral clarity, Eliot’s poem presents a world where meaning is elusive and human actions seem trivial. Prufrock’s constant questioning, “And would it have been worth it, after all…?” (Eliot 100), reveals his deep scepticism about the value of his life and choices. There is no clear goal or resolution; instead, the poem ends with a sense of quiet defeat, as Prufrock resigns himself to inaction: “Till human voices wake us, and we drown” (Eliot 131). This ending captures the disillusionment many felt in the early 20th century, as old values collapsed and new ones failed to take their place.

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