Poets and Writers:
Poets and writers of the 1920s varied greatly in their styles and subject matter.
Chicago poet, historian, folklorist, and novelist Carl Sandburg used common speech to glorify the Midwest, as did Pulitzer Prize winner—Willa Cather, who wrote about life on the Great Plains.
Several poets had an important impact on the literacy culture.
Gertrude Stein, an avant-garde poet of the era, was a mentor to many writers, including Ernest Hemingway.
Some poets used clear, concise images to express moments in time, while others concentrated on portraying what they perceived to be the negative effects of modernism.
Among playwrights, one of the most innovative was Eugene O’Neill.
His plays, filled with bold artistry and modern themes, portrayed realistic characters and situations, offering a vision of life that sometimes touched on the tragic.