Another feature is the diversity in themes. There were novels dealing with war and its aftermath, such as 'All Quiet on the Western Front' which showed the horrors of World War I. Social and class issues were also common, like in George Orwell's 'Animal Farm' which was an allegory for the Russian Revolution and the rise of Stalinism.
Critique of society. Many novels were a response to the changing social and political landscapes. They were used as a means to comment on capitalism, imperialism, and totalitarian regimes. For example, Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' was a scathing critique of a dystopian future shaped by technology and consumerism.
One salient feature is the experimentation with form. Writers like James Joyce in 'Ulysses' broke traditional narrative structures. Another is the exploration of the human psyche, delving deep into characters' thoughts and emotions. Also, many twentieth - century novels tackled social and political issues, such as George Orwell's '1984' which critiqued totalitarianism.
Well, serialization was a significant feature. Many 19th - century novels were first published in installments in magazines or newspapers. This affected the writing style as authors had to end each installment with a cliffhanger to keep the readers interested. Characterization was very in - depth. Writers spent a great deal of time developing their characters' personalities, backstories, and relationships. And finally, there was a focus on class differences. Novels like 'Vanity Fair' by Thackeray explored the differences between the upper and lower classes, and how people navigated the social ladder.
You can start by examining the historical context. Since the twentieth century had major events like wars and social revolutions, novels of this time often reflect these. For example, anti - war sentiment in novels after World War I. Then, consider the way characters are developed. Are they more complex and less one - dimensional compared to earlier novels? This is often the case in twentieth - century literature. And the language use can be a giveaway too. It might be more fragmented and less formal in some cases.
Another feature was detailed social description. They depicted the social hierarchies, class differences, and cultural norms of the time. Take 'Oliver Twist' for instance. It showed the harsh life of the poor in Victorian England and the problems in the workhouse system.
One feature is the exploration of modernist themes like the fragmentation of self. Writers such as Virginia Woolf in 'Mrs. Dalloway' presented characters' inner thoughts in a stream - of - consciousness style, showing how identities were complex and often broken up in the modern world.
One feature is experimentation with form. Many 20th - century novelists broke away from traditional narrative structures. For example, James Joyce's 'Ulysses' uses stream - of - consciousness, which presents the continuous flow of thoughts in a character's mind. Another feature is the exploration of complex psychological states. Writers like Virginia Woolf delved deep into the inner lives of her characters, showing their insecurities, desires, and conflicts. Also, social and political commentary was prominent. Novels such as George Orwell's '1984' were a critique of totalitarian regimes.