* Shared influences: Writers within a movement often draw inspiration from similar sources, be it historical events, intellectual trends, or other writers.
* Common themes and ideas: These shared influences lead to a convergence in the themes and ideas explored in the literature.
* Similar stylistic choices: Movements also develop distinct stylistic conventions. This can include things like language, structure, form, and the use of literary devices.
* Collective response to the times: Often, a literary movement emerges as a response to the social, political, or cultural context of the time. This shared context fuels a common thread in the literature produced.
Examples:
* Romanticism: This movement emphasized emotion, imagination, and the individual experience, reflected in the works of writers like Wordsworth, Shelley, and Keats.
* Realism: This movement sought to depict life realistically and objectively, as seen in the works of Balzac, Flaubert, and Tolstoy.
* Modernism: Characterized by experimentation with form, fragmented narratives, and a focus on the subconscious, Modernist literature includes works by Joyce, Woolf, and Eliot.
However, it's important to note:
* Not all writers within a movement adhere strictly to the conventions. There's always variation and individual expression within movements.
* Movements can overlap and influence each other. Some writers might blur the lines between movements or draw upon multiple influences.
* There's no rigid formula. The specific characteristics and boundaries of each movement can be debated and contested by literary scholars.
Overall, while there's always some variation, understanding the key characteristics of a literary movement can be helpful in analyzing and understanding the works produced during that time period.