Literature, in many ways, acts as a chronicle of human society at a specific place, at a specific point in time. More than being a mode of human expression, literature also acts as a "mirror" to the kind of society and culture that existed in a particular period in history. Take, as an example, the emergence of the Harlem Renaissance culture in the 1960s, a literary genre that emerged out of the prevalent issue of civil rights movement. This genre was characterized by illustrations of oppression, protest against discrimination of black Americans, and glorification of the black Americans' unique African-American heritage. Through this example, it becomes evident that literature is effective in reflecting the "mood" and "feelings" of specific society and culture at a specific point in time (e.g., the black American community and culture during the 1960s).

             In this paper, an analysis of examples of American literature in the late-20th century is conducted. Looking into the works of Denise Levertov, Rita Dove, and Adrienne Rich, one of the common and major themes depicted in their works is the illustration of the destroyed life-caused by war and social injustice, among others. The paper posits that late 20th century American literature demonstrated suffering and disorder in human society, primarily because war (in any forms) and social injustice continued to prevail and haunt society, even as it progressed economically and socially in the modern period. Thus, 20th century American literature is characterized as a period of restlessness and uncertainty, as each author contemplated what is right and just, and what is wrong and unjust, in the modern human society wherein new ideas, thoughts, and ideologies are rampant and prevalent.

             In Denise Levertov's poem, "What were they like?," the theme of destruction of life was caused by a greater form of human conflict-in the poem's case, the Vietnam War.