Origin and Influences of Postmodern Age

The Postmodern age in English literature emerged in the mid-20th century, primarily after World War II, as a reaction against modernism. While modernism sought to find meaning in a chaotic world through order, structure, and innovation, postmodernism rejected the idea of absolute truths and embraced ambiguity, playfulness, and skepticism toward grand narratives.

Postmodernism was heavily influenced by movements such as:

  • Existentialism (Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus)
  • Marxism (Louis Althusser, Antonio Gramsci)
  • Structuralism and Post-Structuralism (Ferdinand de Saussure, Jacques Derrida)
  • Psychoanalysis (Sigmund Freud, Jacques Lacan)
  • Deconstruction (Jacques Derrida)
  • Cultural and Media Theories (Jean Baudrillard, Michel Foucault)

Causing Movements of Postmodern Age

Several socio-political and intellectual movements contributed to the rise of postmodernism:

  • World War II Aftermath:- The destruction and chaos led to a loss of faith in reason, progress, and traditional values.
  • Cold War and Globalization:- The ideological conflicts and the rise of mass media created an era of uncertainty and multiple perspectives.
  • Civil Rights and Feminist Movements:- These movements questioned historical narratives and demanded inclusivity in literature and culture.
  • Advancements in Science and Technology:- Cybernetics, artificial intelligence, and media saturation blurred the lines between reality and representation.

Literature of the Postmodern Age

Postmodern literature is characterized by experimental techniques, non-linear narratives, and a departure from traditional storytelling. It often questions the nature of reality, identity, and the role of the author.

Characteristics of Postmodern Literature

  • Metafiction – Writing that self-consciously addresses the nature of fiction itself (e.g., John Barth’s Lost in the Funhouse).
  • Intertextuality – References to other literary works, blending past and present (e.g., Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49).
  • Fragmentation – Non-linear, disjointed narratives (e.g., Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five).
  • Irony, Parody, and Playfulness – Mocking traditional forms and using humor (e.g., Joseph Heller’s Catch-22).
  • Pastiche – Imitation of various literary styles (e.g., Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale).
  • Magical Realism – Blending the real with the fantastical (e.g., Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children).
  • Unreliable Narrator – Questioning the reliability of the storyteller (e.g., Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho).
  • Hyperreality and Simulacra – Exploring the blurred lines between reality and media representation (e.g., Don DeLillo’s White Noise).

Prominent Writers and Their Works

  • Thomas Pynchon – Gravity’s Rainbow, The Crying of Lot 49
  • Kurt Vonnegut – Slaughterhouse-Five, Breakfast of Champions
  • Joseph Heller – Catch-22
  • Don DeLillo – White Noise, Underworld
  • Margaret Atwood – The Handmaid’s Tale, Oryx and Crake
  • Salman Rushdie – Midnight’s Children, The Satanic Verses
  • Jeanette Winterson – Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
  • David Foster Wallace – Infinite Jest
  • Bret Easton Ellis – American Psycho


Postmodern literature reflects the uncertainties, contradictions, and fragmented nature of contemporary life. It challenges traditional forms and blurs boundaries between genres, reality, and fiction. By questioning absolute truths and embracing multiplicity, postmodernism remains a defining force in literature, continuing to influence writers and literary criticism today.