The Victorian Period1833-1901

◦Queen Victoria (1837-1901) Set out to restore monarchy’s reputation

(previous Kings during Romantic Period) George III—declared insane George IV—extravagant, obese, ugly

& public marital quarrel William—10 illegitimate children

Respectability became an important concept

Historical Background: Progress and Decline

Progress◦ Empire expanded to control 40% of Earth◦ Included Ireland, islands in Caribbean, New

Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, India

Decline◦ 1845 potato crop failed in Ireland

Britain did nothing to ease poverty

Historical Background: Progress and Decline

Key terms: Empire, conquest Issues surrounding the growth of the Empire Restless Spirit

◦ Vast empire means people seek adventure outside known areas

◦ Tennyson— “Ulysses” Captures the spirit of exploration and conquest that produces

a map of the empire to accept a limit was a grave sin

◦ Bronte– Jane Eyre Protagonist rejects a predictable man who lives in the British

Empire & falls for an adventurous man with secrets

What is the relationship between place and literature?

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way…”

How does literature shape or reflect society?

A Tale of Two Cities~~Charles Dickens

How does literature shape or reflect society?Key Terms: Paradox & Controversy

“Best of Times”“Worst of Times”

Many inventions made life easier

Optimistic spirit despite revolutions & war

2 million people starved in potato famine

Use of concentration camps

How does literature shape or reflect society?

Key Terms: Paradox & Controversy

“Age of wisdom” “Age of foolishness”

Experiments in electricity

Sterile surgery Encouragement to

enrich one’s mind

Creative ◦ “Jabberwocky”◦ Alice I Wonderland

Unhealthy◦ Use of Thames river for

sewage leading to typhoid breakout

How does literature shape or reflect society?

Key Terms: Paradox & Controversy

“spring of hope”“winter of despair”

Crystal Palace Children revered as

little angels Elizabeth Barrett

Browning◦ Sonnet 43

Hopkins◦ “God’s Grandeur”

slums & contaminated water

Matthew Arnold◦ Dover Beach

Emily Bronte◦ “Remembrance”

◦Repurpose traditional forms/subjects

Elegy—solemn formal lyric poem about death Mourns person or reflects tragic theme

Epic

Sonnet

What is the relationship of the writer to tradition?

Invent and perfect◦ Dramatic monologue

Speaker reveals more about him/herself than he/she realizes

◦ Novel Common theme: education-hero/heroine learning

how to secure proper place in society

◦ Note of melancholy Sought to remind people empires crumble,

individuals are fragile and vulnerable, death awaits us all

What is the relationship of the writer to tradition?