1. Modernism: This movement, which had emerged in the early 20th century, was still going strong. It emphasized experimentation with form, style, and content, often reflecting the anxieties and uncertainties of the modern world.
* Key figures: T.S. Eliot, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Ezra Pound.
* Characteristics: Stream of consciousness, fragmented narratives, non-linear storytelling, alienation, psychological realism, exploration of subjective experience.
* Examples in 1939: *The Sound and the Fury* (Faulkner, 1939), *Finnegans Wake* (Joyce, 1939), *The Family Moskat* (Singer, 1939), *The Grapes of Wrath* (Steinbeck, 1939).
2. Social Realism: This movement, which emerged in the 1920s and 30s, focused on depicting the lives and struggles of ordinary people, often with a political or social message. It was strongly influenced by the Depression and the rise of fascism.
* Key figures: John Steinbeck, Richard Wright, James T. Farrell, Erskine Caldwell.
* Characteristics: Depiction of poverty, injustice, and social inequality, often with a focus on working-class characters, realistic and gritty portrayal of everyday life, political engagement.
* Examples in 1939: *The Grapes of Wrath* (Steinbeck, 1939), *Native Son* (Wright, 1940), *The Power of the Dog* (Thomas, 1939), *The Day of the Locust* (West, 1939).
3. Surrealism: While primarily an artistic movement, surrealism also influenced literary writing, emphasizing the exploration of the subconscious mind, dreams, and irrationality.
* Key figures: André Breton, Salvador Dalí, Luis Buñuel, Federico García Lorca.
* Characteristics: Bizarre imagery, illogical sequences, dreamlike narratives, exploration of the subconscious, challenge of traditional logic.
* Examples in 1939: *The Second Sex* (de Beauvoir, 1949) - while published later, its themes and style were influenced by surrealism.
4. Regionalism: This movement continued to be prominent, focusing on specific geographic regions and their unique cultures, dialects, and histories.
* Key figures: Eudora Welty, Flannery O'Connor, Katherine Anne Porter, William Faulkner.
* Characteristics: Emphasis on local color, distinctive dialects, exploration of regional traditions and values, portrayal of specific geographic settings.
* Examples in 1939: *The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter* (Carson McCullers, 1940) - though published a year later, it exemplifies Southern Gothic themes.
It's important to remember that these movements often overlapped and influenced each other, and writers frequently experimented with different styles and themes. 1939 was a year of transition in literature, with the world on the brink of World War II, and the social and political upheavals of the time were reflected in the literary works produced.