Answer: Europe's self-image underwent a significant transformation as a result of World War I. Prior to the war, there was a prevailing sense of optimism and confidence in Europe's cultural, political, and economic dominance. However, the devastating impact of the war shattered this self-assuredness and gave rise to a sense of disillusionment and loss. The destruction, loss of life, and social upheaval experienced during the war forced Europeans to confront the harsh realities of their own vulnerability and the limitations of their societies.
Modernists, who were artists and writers that emerged in the aftermath of World War I, reflected this change in Europe's self-image through their literature. They rejected traditional forms and conventions and instead embraced new literary techniques and styles that reflected the fragmented and chaotic nature of post-war Europe. The literature produced by Modernists often explored themes of alienation, despair, and the breakdown of traditional values and institutions.