Here's why:
* Personal Experience: Both Hemingway and Fitzgerald served in the war. Hemingway was an ambulance driver in Italy, while Fitzgerald served in the US Army. Their experiences shaped their views on life, death, and masculinity, themes that are central to their writing.
* The "Lost Generation": Both writers became part of the "Lost Generation" - a group of American writers who came of age during the war and were disillusioned by the violence and loss they witnessed. Their works often reflected this disillusionment and the sense of displacement they felt.
* Themes in Literature: World War I had a profound impact on literary themes of the time. Hemingway's works, like "A Farewell to Arms," explored the disillusionment of war and the search for meaning in a world filled with senseless violence. Fitzgerald's writing, like "The Great Gatsby," touched upon the themes of the American Dream, the pursuit of happiness, and the cost of societal expectations, all of which were deeply impacted by the war.
While other events, like the Roaring Twenties, influenced their writing, World War I stands out as the most impactful event shaping both their personal lives and their literary creations.