Among the key elements of Modernist literature in general are formal experimentation and the notion of an “avant-garde,” that is, a small group of artists and thinkers at the forefront of creative work whose ideas are ahead of popular tastes. Certainly writers such as Pound, Eliot, Stein, etc., were much less concerned with establishing a large audience than with challenging some of the conventions surrounding literature. For many people, their work remains challenging and difficult. What are some of your response to their work, and what conclusions can you draw from these responses?
