This monograph, part of a series for language arts teachers, discusses the essential components for teaching modern poetry and modern fiction. The section on modern poetry considers traditional versus modern poetry, modernism in poetry, imagism, the function of poetry in modern times, social change in poetry, and offers a brief list of recommended poems. The section concerned with the teaching of modern fiction includes discussions of modernism and modern fiction, the poetics of modern fiction, and how to teach novels. It also offers analyses of specific works, and brief discussions of other recommended works of fiction. A selected bibliography on theories, modernism, modern poetry, and modern fiction and a list of professional organizations are attached. (RL)