Early 20th

Century American
Literature
 Early 20th Century American Literature

The years leading up to, during, and following World War I saw the
emergence of significant movements in drama, poetry, fiction, and
criticism. The turbulent postwar era also left its mark on books of
all genres. The era produced a wide range of literary works, with
prominent writers of fiction, poetry, and drama often experimenting
with radical technical approaches.
Table of Contents

Locomotive
The Gift of Magi
The Hack Driver
Trees
Richard Cory
Locomotive
By William Saroyan
 William Saroyan
Born in August 31, 1908 in Fresno, California in Unted States into an
Armenian immigrant family. William was an American playwright, novelist,
and short story writer, William is best know for his works that explore the
human condition with a mix of humor. Throughout his carrer, William
received multiple awards for his contributions to literature.
He died on May 18, 1981.
 Characters

Locomotive 38 - The Odd Willie - The First Person

Indian Man Narrator
 Summary
The story was about an Indian man, the story starts around an encounter between
the narrator, Willie, and an Ojibway Indian who calls himself Locomotive 38.
Despite the Indian's claim to be poor, he reveals ownership of valuable land in
Oklahoma with oil wells. The Indian expresses a desire to buy a Packard
automobile and asks Willie to be his driver. They went on a journey to Mendota,
having in conversations along the way. Despite Willie's assumption that the
Indian couldn't drive, it is later revealed that he knew how to drive all along. The
story explores themes of identity and the unpredictability of human behavior.
 Moral:
The story teaches us
not to judge people
based on stereotypes
or appearances, as
human behavior can
be unpredictable.
THE GIFT
OF MAGI
BY WILLIAM SYDNEY PORTER
WILLIAM SYDNEY PORTER
One of the most popular short story
writers of the late nineteenth and early
centuries.
Also known as O Henry
He was an orphaned and the only
education that he had was in a private
school manage by his aunt.
His wide experience, interest in humanity,
and kindliness made him stand out as a
short story writer.
CHARACTERS:

James "Jim" Dillingham Young

Della Dillingham Young

CHARACTERS:

Madam Sofronie
 SUMMARY
Narrates the tale of Jim and Della Dillingham, a young, poor
married couple who are unable to afford to buy gifts for one
another for Christmas. By the time The Gift of the Magi ends,
Jim and Della find out they can't use the gifts they bought for
one another. Jim sold the watch chain that Della had given
him to purchase her hair combs. Della had to sell her hair to
pay for Jim's watch chain. The narrator concludes by
explaining that their presents are the greatest because they
express how much they care for one another.
 MORAL

It illustrates how true love may drive us to make sacrifices

for the people we love. They sacrifice for each other and for
each other. Giving is a way to express our concern for other
people, and love has no limits.
The Hack Driver
By: Sinclair Lewis
 Sinclair Lewis
Sinclair Lewis was born on February 7, 1885, and he passed away on January 10, 1951.
Sinclair Lewis became the first American to be awarded the Nobel Prize in
Literature in 1930
The citation on the diploma from the Nobel Institute emphasized
Lewis's exceptional skills, praising his "powerful and vivid art of
description" and his adept use of "wit and humor in the creation of
original characters."
 Sinclair Lewis
The Nobel Prize was awarded to Lewis in acknowledgment of his significant contributions
to literature, particularly his ability to craft compelling narratives, vividly describe scenes,
and create memorable characters with a touch of wit and humor.
Sinclair Lewis is renowned for several influential works, including:
-Main Street (1920)
-Babbitt (1922)
-Arrowsmith (1923)
-Elmer Gantry (1927)
Characters:
The Hack Driver

The Lawyer The Advocate’s clerk

 Summary
I dare say there's no man of large affairs, whether he is bank president, senator, or dramatist, who
hasn't a sneaking love for some old rum hound in a frightful hat, living back in a shanty and making his
living by ways you wouldn't care to examine too closely. (It was the Supreme Court justice speaking. I
do not pretend to guarantee his theories or his story.) He may be a Maine guide, or the old garageman
who used to keep the livery stable, or a perfectly useless inn-keeper who sneaks off to shoot ducks
when he ought to be sweeping the floors, but your pompous big city man will contrive to get back and
see him every year, and loaf with him, and secretly prefer him to all the highfalutin' leaders of the
city.
 Summary
There's that much truth, at least, to this Open Spaces stuff you read in advertisements of wild
and wooly Western novels. I don't know the philosophy of it; perhaps it means that we retain a
decent simplicity, no matter how much we are tied to things, to house and motors and expensive
wives. Or again it may give away the whole game of civilization; it may mean that the apparently
civilized man is at heart nothing but a hobo who prefers flannel shirts and bristly cheeks and
cussing' and dirty tin plates to all the trim, hygienic, forward-looking life our folks' makeup put on
for them.
 Summary
When I graduated from law school, I suppose I was About as artificial and idiotic and ambitious as
most youngsters. I Wanted to climb, socially and financially. I wanted to be famous and dine at large
houses with men who shuddered at the common people who don’t dress for dinner. You see, I hadn’t
learned that the only thing duller than a polite dinner is a conversation afterward, when the victims
are digesting the dinner and accumulating enough strength to be able to play bridge Oh, I was a fine
young calf!
Moral
The narrative highlights the timeless appeal of authenticity and simplicity
in the face of modern life's complications, implying that true human
connections and a return to the fundamentals provide a deeper sense of
fulfillment than the pursuit of material success and social status.
TREES
By Joyce Kilmer
 Alfred Joyce Kilmer
He was an American Writer mainly known for his poem
Trees and other poems. He was also an editor,
literary critic, and journalist.

He was deployed to France as a soldier and died

because of a sniper’s bullet at the second battle of
the Marne
 Poem About:
This poem was released in August 1913 by
Alfred Joyce Kilmer.
This poem is about the writer’s admiration
for Trees. In the poem, he expresses how
beautiful a tree is and how only God can
make a tree.
 TREE
By Alfred Joyce Kilmer

I think that I shall never see

A tree that may in summer wear
A poem lovely as a tree.
A nest of robins in her hair;
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
Who intimately lives with rain.
A tree that looks at God all day,
Poems are made by fools like me,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
But only God can make a tree.
 MORAL
The moral of this poem is that you
have to appreciate nature.
By Edwin Arlington Robinson
 EDWIN ARLINGTON
ROBINSON
Was born on December 22, 1869 in Head Tide, Maine.
Although he was one of the most prolific American poets of
the early 20th century—and his Collected Poems (1921) won
the first Pulitzer Prize ever awarded to poetry—he is
remembered now for a few short poems. is a narrative poem
written by Edwin Arlington Robinson. It was first published in
1897, as part of The Children of the Night, having been
completed in July of that year; and it remains one of
Robinson's most popular and anthologized poems. The poem
describes a person who is wealthy, well educated, mannerly,
and admired by the people in his town. Despite all this, he
takes his own life.
 CHARACTERS:

The Townspeople
Richard Cory
V1 / 2025

POEM ABOUT
RICHARD CORY
By: Edwin Arlington Robinson The poem describes a person
Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
who is wealthy, well educated,
We people on the pavement looked at him:
He was a gentleman from sole to crown, mannerly, and admired by the
Clean favored, and imperially slim.
people in his town. Despite all
And he was always quietly arrayed, this, he takes his own life.
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
"Good-morning," and he glittered when he walked.
And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—
And admirably schooled in every grace:
In fine, we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.

So on we worked, and waited for the light,

And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night,
Went home and put a bullet through his head.
 MORAL

Material Wealth Doesn't Guarantee Happiness: The poem suggests that despite
Richard Cory's wealth and social status, he is not immune to inner struggles or
dissatisfaction. It serves as a reminder that material success does not
automatically lead to happiness, and individuals may face personal challenges
regardless of their external circumstances.
 Thank you!
Researchers: David Tayo - Locomotive
Myra Manaligod - The Gift of Magi
Ruzzell Ravanera - The Hack Driver
Freesia Lepalam - Trees
Mikaella Yapit and Derek Fabia - Richard Cory