Abstract：In the 1920s and 1930s of America, with the end of the World War I, a group of young people with idealistic feelings were filled with profoundly pessimistic and lost mood under the deep impact of the post-war trauma and reality. They are called as “lost generation”. The birth of “lost generation” has historical, social and other reasons. Malcolm Cowley observed this epoch in the perspective of “exile”, and he was also the participant of this epoch at the same time. He showed us the American “lost generation” with his double identities. “Lost generation” felt perplexed at the society and tried to escape from this epoch. But finally they still came back to their hometown with the exile identity and created an epoch that belonged to them. This thesis which is based on Exile’s Return written by Malcolm Cowley tries to explore deeply into “lost generation”, and understand its features and reasons behind it.

Key words: lost generation; Malcolm Cowley; exile; the World War I

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction-..1

  1.1 The Author and His Work-.1

  1.2 “Lost Generation” and Its Social Background-3

2. Features of “Lost Generation”-4

  2.1 Tired of Wars-4

  2.2 Confused with Their Own Life-6

  2.3 Disappointed about the Reality-7

3. Reasons of American “Lost Generation”-9

  3.1 The Disillusionment toward the War and the Collapse of Heroism-.....9

  3.2 Disappointted with the Domestic Culture and Desirable for the Foreign

     Culture-.11

  3.3 The Dramatic Change of the Reality and Their Own Maladjustment-13

4. Influence from Different Perspectives and Consequences of “Lost Generation”-14

  4.1 Influence of “Lost Generation” on American Literature-14

  4.2 “Lost Generation” Impact on American Culture-15

  4.3 Social Consequences of “Lost Generation”-17

4. Conclusion-18

References ...20