The cultural movement that characterized post-World War II literature was **Postmodernism**. This movement sought to challenge traditional narratives and structures, embracing fragmentation, paradox, and hyperreality. Writers like Thomas Pynchon and Don DeLillo showcased a complex world filled with **irony** and multiplicity of meanings. While often skeptical of grand narratives and ideologies, postmodern literature explored themes of identity, reality, and truth, reflecting the disillusionment of the era. It also questioned the nature of reality, often merging fiction with history, leading to a transformation in narrative styles and readers' engagement.