The post-World War II period had a huge impact on American society and literature. Many important events occurred and directly influenced the American literature movement. During this period, American literature reflected the disillusionment movement and represented the lost generation. Many World War II writers adapted new approaches and philosophies in writing their novels. They portrayed the lost generation, the anti-war perspective and explored the true meaning of “war hero”. Among these, the pioneers are Bernard Malamud, Ken Kesey and Joseph Heller, who wrote The Natural, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and Catch 22. The Natural was Bernard Malamud's first novel. Borrowing from the mythological story of the Fisher King and the legend of the Waste Land, Malamud developed a compelling story about a baseball player named Roy Hobbs, whose natural talent had been discovered by a scout, Sam Simpson. On the train to Chicago, Roy met Max Mercy, Walter "Whammer", and the mysterious Harriet Bird. At the stopover, Roy eliminated Whammer. After this event, Harriet Bird was drawn to Roy's divine gift. However, in a Chicago hotel room, Harriet Bird mysteriously shot Roy after he failed to answer her question. Throughout the book, Malamud used the cycle of time to explain the continuous cycle of death and rebirth. Just as Roy defeated Whammer to become the fledgling star, he brought rain and new hope to the New York Knights when he replaced Bump Baily. We can also see this cycle at the end of the story, when Roy was later defeated by Youngberry. Malamud symbolized its main character Roy Hobbs as the knight Sir Perceval, who comes to the Waste Land to deliver the Holy Grail and save Pop Fisher, the Fisher King. of the novel. On the other hand, the team pennant is the r...... center of the paper......y themes and perspectives. Affected by World War II, they found a new direction and their works highlighted the inevitability of death and the circle of life. In the darkness there is always a hero who will save and give hope. The destruction of war also helped them understand the human conditions of weakness and fear of death. With changes in modern society, Kesey and Heller emphasized their work on the decline of humanity and the individualism of civilization's machines. Furthermore, the extreme power of institutions and bureaucracy limits people from their free will and from making their own independent decisions. Works Cited Malamud, Bernard. The Natural. New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1952. Print.Kesey, Ken. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, novel. New York: Viking, 1962. Print. Heller, Joseph and Brice Matthieussent. Capture 22. Paris: B. Grasset, 1985. Print.