The Victorian Age is marked by enormous changes. Mark Twain expressed it this way: “and yet in a good many ways the world has moved farther ahead since the Queen was born than it moved in all the rest of the two thousand put together.” (Abrams 61993 : 891). Besides industrial and social changes, the era also saw a growth in literature, and great authors like Charles Dickens or Oscar Wilde who are still read today.
Generally, the term ‘Victorian’ marks the time of Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 till 1901, but it is often extended and for many historians it started with the passage of the first Reform Bill in 1832. Since the era comprises about seventy years, many drastic changes occurred during this time, and the distinguishing characteristics of the individual authors cannot be combined into a general mood. Consequently one cannot call it a homogenous period, and it is necessary to distinguish it into three different parts. Since the transitions were smooth, the exact division may differ between historians.
The early phase is a period of changes and growth, but it also saw a depression and demonstrations of workmen. In the 1850s the Great Exhibition in 1851 and Darwin’s “On the Origin of the Species” in 1859 can be seen as the beginning of the middle period, a time of national prosperity. England was the leading industrial power, and English confidence was at its high point. The late Victorian period covers the last two decades of the century. It can be characterized by a general change of the Victorian mood: doubts and fear of decay dominated, and literature started to shatter into various very different forms.
This term paper will give a brief overview over the conditions and the literature of the Victorian era. The diversity of the age will be shown and explained. Therefore each genre will be described separately. Furthermore I will summarize the works of major authors and while doing so show the contrasts between them.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background information
2.1. Social and economic conditions
2.2. Age of Contradictions
2.3. The literary scene
2.3.1. The readership
2.3.2. Topics, taboos and the temper of Victorian literature
2.3.3. Victorian thoughts
3. The Victorian novel
3.1. Major novelists: Early and High Victorianism
3.1.1. Charles Dickens: the central figure of Victorian literature
3.1.2. Female Voices: The Brontës and Eliot
3.1.3. Thackeray and Trollope
3.1.4. Meredith
3.2. Popular Genres
3.2.1. The Historical Novel
3.2.2. Social Fiction
3.2.3. Adventure and Sensation Novels, Utopia, Nonsense Prose
3.3. Late Victorian novels
3.3.1. The general mood
3.3.2. Hardy: the negative Bildungsroman
3.3.3. Others
4. Victorian poetry
4.1. Early and High Victorianism
4.1.1. General Facts
4.1.2. Tennyson
4.1.3. The Brownings
4.1.4. Pre-Raphaelites
4.1.5. Others
4.2. Late Victorian poetry
4.2.1. General Facts
4.2.2. Aestheticism
4.2.3. Others
5. The Victorian drama
5.1. The special position of the drama
5.2. The beginning of the realistic drama
5.3. The revival of the drama
5.3.1. The influence of Ibsen
5.3.2. Witty comedies and social criticism: Shaw and Wilde
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to provide a concise overview of the social conditions and the literature characterizing the Victorian era. It explores the inherent diversity of this period by analyzing its multifaceted literary genres and contrasting the works of major authors within their respective contexts.
- Historical and social context of the Victorian age
- Evolution and diversification of Victorian literary genres
- Major Victorian novelists and their thematic contributions
- Development of Victorian poetry and dramatic works
- The influence of societal changes on literary output and style
Excerpt from the Book
3.1.1. Charles Dickens: the central figure of Victorian literature
The Victorian novel owed much of its immense popularity to Charles Dickens, who is still one of the most read English authors. His novels “reflect the nature of Victorian urban society “ (Sanders ²2000: 406). As much as his genius is praised, his sentimental and melodramatic style is criticised. Nevertheless, he is the central figure of Victorian literature.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club (1836 -1837) was his first great success. “The vein of good-natured comedy, well-observed character, humorous use of class and dialect, and ‚traditional’ values will be found repeatedly in Dickens’s work after.” (Carter, McRae 1997: 274). His next novel Oliver Twist is more serious and subtle social criticism can be found: it demonstrates the contemporary problem of children ending up in the workhouse. Nicholas Nickleby was also about suffering children whereas The Old Curiosity Shop dealt with “helpless female Victorian victim” (Carter, McRae 1997: 274). It is considered to be his most sentimental novel. Returning themes in his works are the Thames and fabrics, which go back to a traumatic experience in his childhood. The last novel of his early work and also his best comic novel was Martin Chuzzlewit, a study of selfishness and hypocrisy.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the Victorian era as a period of immense change, marking the reign of Queen Victoria and highlighting the need to divide the era into three distinct phases.
2. Background information: This section covers the economic expansion, the age of reform, and the contradictory nature of Victorian society alongside the changing landscape of the reading public.
3. The Victorian novel: This chapter explores the most popular genre of the age, examining key figures like Dickens, the Brontës, and Eliot, while categorizing various genres and late Victorian developments.
4. Victorian poetry: This part details the diversity of Victorian poetry, tracking its transition from Romantic traditions to Aestheticism and individual styles like those of Tennyson and Browning.
5. The Victorian drama: This section analyzes the marginalized position of drama in the early Victorian age and its subsequent revival through social criticism and the influence of Ibsen, Shaw, and Wilde.
6. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, suggesting that the diversity of Victorian literature is a result of both diachronic historical progress and synchronic individual author characteristics.
Keywords
Victorian Age, Literature, Victorian Novel, Victorian Poetry, Victorian Drama, Industrialization, Social Reform, Realism, Aestheticism, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Thomas Hardy, Oscar Wilde, Social Criticism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this paper?
The paper provides a comprehensive overview of the Victorian era, specifically examining how industrial, social, and cultural changes shaped its diverse literary output.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The main themes include the history of the Victorian era, the rise and evolution of the novel, the development of poetry, and the revitalization of drama towards the end of the century.
What is the research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate and explain the diversity of the Victorian age by analyzing distinct genres and comparing the literary approaches of influential authors.
Which methodology is utilized in this paper?
The paper uses a descriptive and analytical approach, categorizing literature by genre and timeframe to contrast the works of major authors within their socio-historical context.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body treats background information, the evolution of the novel, poetry, and drama, providing specific sub-sections for major novelists, poets, and playwrights.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Victorian Age, realism, industrialization, social reform, Aestheticism, and major authors such as Dickens, Eliot, and Wilde.
How does the author categorize the Victorian era?
The author argues that the era cannot be viewed as a homogenous period and suggests distinguishing it into three parts to better understand its transition and internal shifts.
What role does the 'Angel of the House' play in the analysis?
The term is used to symbolize the stereotypical Victorian view of women, who were expected to maintain the home as a secure place for moral values amidst rapid social change.
- Quote paper
- Kristin Simon (Author), 2005, The Diversity of Victorian Literature, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/41407
