What is Contemporary Literature?

The word contemporary means living, belonging to or occurring in the present. So when we talk
literature is defined as literature written after World War II through the current day. While this is
about contemporary literature, we are talking about literature that is being written in the now about
the now. But what does the now encompass?
Contemporary a vague definition, there is not a clear-cut explanation of this concept -- only
interpretation by scholars and academics. While there is some disagreement, most agree that
contemporary literature is writing completed after 1940.
Works of contemporary literature reflect a society's social and/or political viewpoints, shown through
realistic characters, connections to current events and socioeconomic messages. The writers are
looking for trends that illuminate societal strengths and weaknesses to remind society of lessons
they should learn and questions they should ask. So when we think of contemporary literature, we
cannot simply look at a few themes or settings. Since society changes over time, so do the content
and messages of this writing.
When we talk about contemporary literature and the start date of this label, we have to acknowledge
World War II and the surrounding events. The horrors of the war, including bombs, ground wars,
genocide and corruption, are the pathways to this type of literature. It is from these real-life themes
that we find the beginning of a new period of writing.
While there is not one type of contemporary work, each piece sends a message from a person living
through and after World War II. However, this does not mean all works will center around the
Holocaust or war narratives. These works aim to speak to the injustices in the world and the search
for civil rights, the topics and questions that were raised during this traumatic time in world history.
The war serves as a catalyst for this shift in mindset, and the authors writing in this period
consciously and unconsciously illuminate this shift in thinking through their writing.
For example, Beloved by Toni Morrison, is a classic piece of contemporary literature. The novel
follows an ex-slave named Sethe on her journey to fight her traumatic past while raising her
daughter Denver. The book serves as a powerful message about the trauma slaves face and cultural
injustices slavery brought upon the citizens of the US.
But to the point, this slave narrative does not define contemporary literature. There are many other
works that are vastly different, all of which fulfill the definition of the contemporary period. To provide
contrast, the novel, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, is another example of
contemporary literature. This narrative follows a minister and his family from the US on a mission to
Africa where their lives are drastically changed, and their Christian values are tested. It speaks to the
idea of forcing one's religion and culture on another and the pitfalls and realizations that come with
the task. Completely different from Morrison's Beloved, both are considered works of contemporary
fiction.
The key difference between modern and contemporary literature is their time period.
Modern literature refers to the literature dating from late nineteenth century to
nineteen sixties while the contemporary literature refers to the literature dating from
the Second World War to the present.

Modern literature and contemporary literature are two overlapping taps and many people
don’t know the exact difference between them. Although both modern and contemporary refer
to new or current work, in literature, contemporary literature is the literary period that follows
modernist period.

What is Contemporary Literature?

The term contemporary literature is a very broad one. In a general sense, contemporary
literature refers to literary work published in the modern world. However, in literature,
contemporary literature refers to literature dating from the Second World War to the present.
However, this is only a vague definition; it is important to notice that there is no clear-cut
explanation for this period. Furthermore, most scholars consider contemporary literature as
the literary period that follows modernist period.

Work in contemporary literature mainly includes believable stories with a base in reality. The
characters are strong and believable while the setting is modern era. Moreover, stories in
contemporary literature are considered to be more character driven than plot driven. Some
genres of this period include flash fiction, slam poetry, memoirs, autobiographies, novels, and
poetry.

Moreover, studies in contemporary literature typically also include a variety of topics such as
African American literature, post-colonial literature, and Latin literature. In other words, one
can study contemporary works written by many literary figures in Asia, Middle East, and Africa
when learning contemporary literature.
What is the Difference Between Modern and
Contemporary Literature?
Modern literature or modernist literature refers to a late 19th century and early 20 th century
style/movement that broke away from the traditional styles. Contemporary literature is the
period that followed modernist literature. Modern literature refers to the literature dating from
late nineteenth century to nineteen sixties while the contemporary literature refers to the
literature dating from the Second World War to the present. Thus, the main difference
between modern and contemporary literature is their time period. Moreover, modernist
literature mainly included North American and European literature whereas contemporary
literature includes literature all over the world.

Many people confuse the two terms modern literature and contemporary literature. Although
both may refer to the same in a general sense, there is a difference between modern and
contemporary literature according to their time periods. Modern literature refers to the
literature dating from late nineteenth century to nineteen sixties while the contemporary
literature refers to the literature dating from the Second World War to the present.