* What is having the impact? This could be a specific event (e.g., the invention of the printing press, the Enlightenment, World War I), a movement (e.g., Romanticism, Modernism, Postmodernism), a technology (e.g., the internet, film), a specific author or work (e.g., Shakespeare, *The Odyssey*), or a social or political change (e.g., the rise of democracy, colonialism, feminism).
* What aspect of Western literature is being affected? This could be its themes, style, form, readership, language, accessibility, or its overall canon.
For example:
* The impact of the printing press: This dramatically increased the accessibility and spread of literature, leading to the standardization of language, wider literacy rates, and a boom in the production and consumption of books. It fundamentally altered the relationship between authors and readers.
* The impact of Romanticism: This movement emphasized emotion, individualism, and nature, leading to a shift away from the Enlightenment's focus on reason and order. It profoundly impacted poetry, novels, and even art.
* The impact of Shakespeare: His plays continue to influence playwrights, actors, and directors to this day. His language, characters, and themes are deeply embedded in Western culture and consciousness.
* The impact of World War I: The horrors of the war led to a disillusionment with traditional values and a questioning of societal structures, significantly influencing Modernist literature's experimentation with form and its exploration of trauma and alienation.
To get a meaningful answer, you need to specify what you want to know the impact *of*. For instance, you might ask:
* "What was the impact of the Enlightenment on 18th-century English novels?"
* "How did World War II affect the themes and styles of postwar American literature?"
* "What is the ongoing impact of feminist theory on contemporary Western fiction?"
Providing a more specific question will allow for a more focused and informative response.