Lost Generation
Definition
The Lost Generation refers to the generation of people born between 1883 and 1900 who came of age during World War I and the Roaring Twenties. The term is often associated with disillusionment, cynicism, and cultural innovation.
Analogy
Think of the Lost Generation as a group of friends who graduate high school just in time for a major crisis - like graduating in 2020 right into COVID-19 pandemic. They're forced to adapt quickly, their experiences are unique, and they see the world differently than those before them.
Related terms
Roaring Twenties: A period of economic growth and widespread prosperity, accompanied by cultural developments particularly in urban areas following World War I.
F. Scott Fitzgerald: An American author known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age—a term he coined—and is widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20th century. He was part of Lost Generation.
Ernest Hemingway: An influential American novelist and short story writer who won Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. His works reflect his experiences as an expatriate from 'Lost Generation' living in Europe post-World War I.
"Lost Generation" appears in:
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Practice Questions (1)
- What was a key difference between the Harlem Renaissance and the Lost Generation in terms of their outlook towards American society in the 1920s?
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