The works of both modernist and postmodern writers were characterized for being highly personal and subjective, and many of their narrations were made through interior perception and self-consciousness. Likewise, Authors from these movements often claimed that there was not "right" way of doing things, or that there was not an only "truth" but several, and they encouraged people to experiment, to make mistakes, and to freely express, think and feel.
The main way in which literature of this period influenced future generation of the american literature is that it taught people to actively question authority
