The modern period in English literature, spanning roughly from the early 20th century to the mid-20th century, is characterized by a departure from traditional forms and themes. This era saw the rise of experimental writing styles, including stream-of-consciousness narration, free verse poetry, and fragmented narratives. Authors like Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and T.S. Eliot pioneered these techniques. These reflected the cultural and psychological upheavals of the time, including World War I, industrialization, and rapid social change. The modernist movement emphasized individual experience, subjective reality, and the exploration of the human psyche, making it a pivotal and innovative phase in literary history.