In modernist literature, fragmentation is both thematic and formal. The plot, characters, topic, visuals, and narrative form are all shattered. When modernists work on poetry, for example, they break it up into broken stanzas and phrases to represent the cultural detritus and waste that the modern man travels through. This fragmenting of old forms is also true of prose. Modernists were interested in exploring how human beings make sense of a fragmented world. Therefore, fragmentation plays an important role in their writing. Modernism began in Europe around the start of the 20th century. Modernists such as Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, and D.W. Winnicott developed different styles and topics but they shared many concepts related to fragmentation. These include abrupt changes in direction, uncertainty about what will come next, and a focus on individual experience. Many books have been written about various aspects of modernism, but here we'll look at some major themes and examples. Abrupt Changes in Direction. Many scenes in modernist writing turn out not to lead anywhere definitive. The reader is expected to join the story where it leaves off without knowing how or if the characters will resolve their problems.