History and History and Anthology of Anthology of

English LiteratureEnglish Literature

Mickey XuMickey Xu

The Victorian age: English Critical RealisThe Victorian age: English Critical Realismm

BackgroundBackground The Novels of Critical RealismThe Novels of Critical Realism The Poetry of the Victorian AgeThe Poetry of the Victorian Age

The Prose of the Victorian AgeThe Prose of the Victorian Age

Background:Background: Social and Cultural Background Social and Cultural Background 1. Victorian Literature: all the writings 1. Victorian Literature: all the writings produced during the period from 1837—produced during the period from 1837—1901 when Queen Victoria ruled over 1901 when Queen Victoria ruled over England. England. 2. The Early Victorian Period(1832--1848), a 2. The Early Victorian Period(1832--1848), a time of troubles.time of troubles. The Mid-Victorian Period(1841--1870), a time The Mid-Victorian Period(1841--1870), a time of economic prosperity and religious of economic prosperity and religious controversy. controversy. The Last Period (1870--1901), a time in which The Last Period (1870--1901), a time in which the Victorian values decay.the Victorian values decay. 3. Social background3. Social background

4. Cultural background4. Cultural background

5. The Women Question5. The Women Question

Literary Characteristics:Literary Characteristics:

1. 1. The Victorian novelists were The Victorian novelists were primarily concerned with people primarily concerned with people in society and with their relation in society and with their relation to other people.to other people.

2. 2. ProseProse was also was also an important an important literary formliterary form in this age in this age. Famous . Famous historians, critics and essayists abounded. historians, critics and essayists abounded. Thomas Carlyle, Matthew Arnold, John Thomas Carlyle, Matthew Arnold, John Ruskin.Ruskin.

► 3. 3. Great Poetry were also Great Poetry were also produced. Lord Alfred Tennyson produced. Lord Alfred Tennyson and Robert Browning. and Robert Browning.

Critical RealismCritical Realism Term: In Victorian period appeared a new Term: In Victorian period appeared a new

literary trend-critical realism. English critical literary trend-critical realism. English critical realism of the 19th century realism of the 19th century flourished in the flourished in the forties and in the early fiftiesforties and in the early fifties. It found its . It found its expression expression in the form of novelin the form of novel. The critical . The critical realists, most of whom were novelists, realists, most of whom were novelists, described with much vividness and artistic skill described with much vividness and artistic skill the chief traits of the English society and the chief traits of the English society and criticized the capitalist system from a criticized the capitalist system from a democratic viewpointdemocratic viewpoint. The greatest realist . The greatest realist of the time was of the time was Charles DickensCharles Dickens. Other . Other novelists who adhered to critical realism were novelists who adhered to critical realism were Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell, Charlotte and Emily Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot and Thomas Hardy. George Eliot and Thomas Hardy.

Charles Dickens

Charles DickensCharles Dickens► Life: ﹡Dickens was bron in 1812 at Portsmouth, where his fatLife: ﹡Dickens was bron in 1812 at Portsmouth, where his fat

her was a clerk in the Navy Pay Office. At four, his family moveher was a clerk in the Navy Pay Office. At four, his family moved to Chatham, where he studied in a day-school.d to Chatham, where he studied in a day-school.

► ﹡﹡In 1821, the family bankrupted and they moved into the MaIn 1821, the family bankrupted and they moved into the Marshalsea Prison, London. At 12, Dickens had to work twelve hrshalsea Prison, London. At 12, Dickens had to work twelve hours a day in an underground cellar at a blacking factory in Loours a day in an underground cellar at a blacking factory in London. The miserable life there left an everlasting, painful brandon. The miserable life there left an everlasting, painful brand on the boy’s mind.nd on the boy’s mind.

► ﹡﹡When he was 15, he became a lawyer’s clerk. He visited thWhen he was 15, he became a lawyer’s clerk. He visited the British Museum Library, filling up the gaps in his education e British Museum Library, filling up the gaps in his education by reading. The work at the lawyer’s office afforded him the by reading. The work at the lawyer’s office afforded him the basis of a confirmed opinion of the law of England. Then he bbasis of a confirmed opinion of the law of England. Then he became a Parliamentary reporter for newspapers. Thus Dickenecame a Parliamentary reporter for newspapers. Thus Dickens got a first-hand knowledge of the parliamentary governmens got a first-hand knowledge of the parliamentary government of it as an instrument for wielding and disguising the power t of it as an instrument for wielding and disguising the power of the upper classes.of the upper classes.

► ﹡﹡The rest of his life is a story of writing. In 1870, he died suddThe rest of his life is a story of writing. In 1870, he died suddenly. enly.

► Works:Works:Dicken’s Novels:Dicken’s Novels:---The First Period(1836--1841): fun, ---The First Period(1836--1841): fun, high spirit, and a tendency even to lhigh spirit, and a tendency even to literary boisterous play-----alternatiiterary boisterous play-----alternating sometimes with spells of sentimng sometimes with spells of sentimentality. Naïve optimism.entality. Naïve optimism.------The Second Period (1842--185The Second Period (1842--1850)-----a transitional period when his 0)-----a transitional period when his naïve optimism about capitalist socinaïve optimism about capitalist society was thus profoundly shaken. ety was thus profoundly shaken.

------The Third Period (1851---1870): The Third Period (1851---1870): novels in this period are much novels in this period are much darker in content which showed darker in content which showed the novelist’s loss for English the novelist’s loss for English bourgeois societybourgeois society. .

Distinct features of his Distinct features of his novels:novels: 1.1. Character sketches and Character sketches and exaggerationexaggeration2.2. Broad humor and Broad humor and penetrating satire.penetrating satire.

3. Complicated and 3. Complicated and Fascinating PlotFascinating Plot 4.4. The power of exposureThe power of exposure

Analysis of Major CharactersAnalysis of Major Characters Oliver TwistOliver Twist He is He is a saintlike figurea saintlike figure. As the child her. As the child her

o of a melodramatic novel of social proteso of a melodramatic novel of social protest, Oliver Twist is meant to appeal more to t, Oliver Twist is meant to appeal more to our sentiments than to our literary sensibiour sentiments than to our literary sensibilities. lities.

Nancy Nancy As a child of the streets, Nancy has As a child of the streets, Nancy has

been been a thief and drinks to excess.a thief and drinks to excess. The narrator’s reference to her The narrator’s reference to her “free “free and agreeable . . . manners”and agreeable . . . manners” indicates that she is a indicates that she is a prostituteprostitute. . Nancy’s moral complexity is uniqueNancy’s moral complexity is unique among the major characters in among the major characters in Oliver Oliver Twist.Twist.

In much of In much of Oliver Twist,Oliver Twist, morality and morality and nobility are black-and-white issues, but nobility are black-and-white issues, but Nancy’s character suggests that Nancy’s character suggests that the boundary between virtue and the boundary between virtue and vice is not always clearly drawn.vice is not always clearly drawn.

FaginFagin

He is He is ugly, simpering, ugly, simpering, miserly, and avariciousmiserly, and avaricious.. Constant references to him as “the Constant references to him as “the Jew” seem to indicate that his Jew” seem to indicate that his negative traits are intimately negative traits are intimately connected to his ethnic identity. connected to his ethnic identity. However, Fagin is more than a However, Fagin is more than a statement of ethnic prejudice. statement of ethnic prejudice.

Themes Themes The Failure of CharityThe Failure of Charity

Purity in a Corrupt CityPurity in a Corrupt City

Thackeray, William MakepeaceThackeray, William Makepeace(1811–6(1811–63)3)

﹡ ﹡ English novelist, b. Calcutta, India. He is impEnglish novelist, b. Calcutta, India. He is important not only as a great novelist but also as ortant not only as a great novelist but also as a brilliant satirist.a brilliant satirist.

In 1830, Thackeray left Cambridge without a In 1830, Thackeray left Cambridge without a degree and later entered the Middle Temple tdegree and later entered the Middle Temple to study law. In 1833 he became editor of a peo study law. In 1833 he became editor of a periodical, the riodical, the National Standard,National Standard, but the follo but the following year he settled in Paris to study art. Thewing year he settled in Paris to study art. There he met Isabella Shawe, whom he married ire he met Isabella Shawe, whom he married in 1836. n 1836.

﹡ ﹡ ﹡ ﹡ Thackeray’s eldest daughter, Anne, LadThackeray’s eldest daughter, Anne, Lady y RitchieRitchie, was also an author; , was also an author;

﹡ ﹡ He died in 1863.He died in 1863.

WorksWorks ----Vanity Fair, a masterpieceVanity Fair, a masterpiece, published in 1847-, published in 1847-

48 in monthly parts. The 48 in monthly parts. The sub-titlesub-title of the book, of the book, “A “A Novel Without a Hero”,Novel Without a Hero”, emphasizes the fact th emphasizes the fact that the writer’s intention was not to portray individuat the writer’s intention was not to portray individuals, but the bourgeois and aristocratic society as a wals, but the bourgeois and aristocratic society as a whole.hole.

The titleThe title was taken was taken from Bunyan’s “Pilgrifrom Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress”.m’s Progress”. In this novel In this novel Thackeray desThackeray describes the life of the ruling classescribes the life of the ruling classes of Englan of England in the early decades of the 19d in the early decades of the 19thth century, and century, and attacattacks the social relationship of the bourgeois ks the social relationship of the bourgeois worldworld by satirizing the individuals in the different st by satirizing the individuals in the different strata of the upper society. rata of the upper society.

--Pendennis (1849-1850)--Pendennis (1849-1850) --Henry Esmond (1852) and The Virginians (1859), bo--Henry Esmond (1852) and The Virginians (1859), bo

th are historical novels.th are historical novels.

The comparison between The comparison between Dickens and Thackeray:Dickens and Thackeray:

►Thackeray portrayed the upper Thackeray portrayed the upper halfhalf, , whose parasites, whose parasites, snobbery, greed and cruelty snobbery, greed and cruelty formed his chief theme, and the formed his chief theme, and the pictures in his novels are pictures in his novels are accurate and true to life.accurate and true to life. Both of Both of them are moralists.them are moralists.

►Thackeray is also a satirist. Thackeray is also a satirist. ►Thackeray is inferior to Dickens Thackeray is inferior to Dickens

in imaginative and creative in imaginative and creative power.power.

Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855)

Charlotte BrontëCharlotte Brontë ► English novelist English novelist ► Birth April 21, 1816 Birth April 21, 1816 ► Death March 31, 1855 Death March 31, 1855 ► Place of Birth Thornton, Yorkshire, EPlace of Birth Thornton, Yorkshire, E

ngland ngland

► 1847 Published the novel 1847 Published the novel Jane EyreJane Eyre ► 1849 Published the novel1849 Published the novel Shirley Shirley, a , a

story set during anti-industrial riots thstory set during anti-industrial riots that took place in the final years of the at took place in the final years of the Napoleonic Wars Napoleonic Wars

► Brontë's first novel, Brontë's first novel, The ProfessorThe Professor, , was turned down by numerous publiswas turned down by numerous publishers, and she eventually withdrew the hers, and she eventually withdrew the book. It was finally published after her book. It was finally published after her death in 1857. death in 1857.

Analysis of Major Analysis of Major CharactersCharacters

Jane EyreJane Eyre The protagonist and narrator of The protagonist and narrator of

the novel, Jane is the novel, Jane is an an intelligent, honest, plain-intelligent, honest, plain-featured young girl forced featured young girl forced to contend with oppression, to contend with oppression, inequality, and hardship.inequality, and hardship.

► Edward RochesterEdward Rochester Jane’s employer and the master of Jane’s employer and the master of

Thornfield,Thornfield, Rochester is a Rochester is a wealthy, paswealthy, passionate man with a dark secretsionate man with a dark secret that p that provides much of the novel’s suspense. rovides much of the novel’s suspense.

St. John RiversSt. John Rivers

St. John Rivers is St. John Rivers is a foil to a foil to Edward RochesterEdward Rochester. Whereas . Whereas Rochester is passionate, St. John is Rochester is passionate, St. John is austere and ambitiousaustere and ambitious. .

Theme Theme

Love versus AutonomyLove versus Autonomy

Emily Bronte (1818-1848)Emily Bronte (1818-1848) Emily Brontë lived an eccentric, closely guarEmily Brontë lived an eccentric, closely guar

ded life. She was born in 1818, two years afteded life. She was born in 1818, two years after Charlotte and a year and a half before her sir Charlotte and a year and a half before her sister Anne, who also became an author. Her faster Anne, who also became an author. Her father worked as a church rector, and her aunt, ther worked as a church rector, and her aunt, who raised the Brontë children after their mowho raised the Brontë children after their mother died, was deeply religious. According to ther died, was deeply religious. According to Charlotte Bronte’s description, Emily was clCharlotte Bronte’s description, Emily was clever, benevolent, but very stubborn: “Stronever, benevolent, but very stubborn: “Stronger than a man, simpler than a child, her natger than a man, simpler than a child, her nature stood alone.”ure stood alone.”

Analysis of Major CharactersAnalysis of Major Characters HeathcliffHeathcliff - - An orphanAn orphan brought to brought to

live at Wuthering Heights by Mr. Earnslive at Wuthering Heights by Mr. Earnshaw, Heathcliff falls into an intense, uhaw, Heathcliff falls into an intense, unbreakable love with Mr. nbreakable love with Mr.

CatherineCatherine is is free-spirited, beautiffree-spirited, beautiful, spoiled, and often arrogant.ul, spoiled, and often arrogant.

EdgarEdgar----Edgar is Edgar is born and raised a gborn and raised a gentleman. He is graceful, well-mentleman. He is graceful, well-mannered, and instilled with civilizannered, and instilled with civilized virtues. ed virtues.

ThemesThemes

The Destructiveness of a The Destructiveness of a Love that Never Changes Love that Never Changes

Goerge EliotGoerge Eliot ► Scenes of Clerical LifeScenes of Clerical Life: her first three stories.: her first three stories.► Adam Bede:Adam Bede: her first full length novel, Elio her first full length novel, Elio

t's first experiment with the type of new fictt's first experiment with the type of new fiction that she pioneered ion that she pioneered

► The Mill on the FlossThe Mill on the Floss: rural life: rural life► Silas MarnerSilas Marner: rural life: rural life► RomalaRomala: a historical novel: a historical novel► Felix HoltFelix Holt: English politics: English politics► MiddlemarchMiddlemarch: her masterpiece: her masterpiece► Daniel DerondaDaniel Deronda: the best work in Eliot’s o: the best work in Eliot’s o

pinion.pinion. Major ThemesMajor Themes► HonorHonor► LoveLove

Eliot's realism stems from Eliot's realism stems from her tendency ther tendency to avoid caricature and stereotype, io avoid caricature and stereotype, instead creating complex and ambignstead creating complex and ambiguous characters whose faithful repruous characters whose faithful representation makes them not only belesentation makes them not only believable, but difficult to pigeonholeievable, but difficult to pigeonhole. . Her novels are Her novels are attempts to analyze the attempts to analyze the subtleties of the human mind, rathesubtleties of the human mind, rather than just plot structuresr than just plot structures (like many o (like many of her contemporaries). This allows Eliot to pf her contemporaries). This allows Eliot to present human situations as they really occuresent human situations as they really occur, reproducing the mental and physical aspr, reproducing the mental and physical aspects of people's actions. ects of people's actions.

Lord Alfred TennysonLord Alfred Tennyson Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892)Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892), English po, English po

et often regarded as et often regarded as the chief representatthe chief representative of the Victorian age in poetryive of the Victorian age in poetry. Tennys. Tennyson succeeded Wordsworth as on succeeded Wordsworth as Poet LaureaPoet Laureatete in 1850. in 1850.

Among Tennyson's Among Tennyson's major poetic achievemajor poetic achievements is the elegy mourning the death oments is the elegy mourning the death of his friend Arthur Hallam, "In Memoriaf his friend Arthur Hallam, "In Memoriam" (1850). m" (1850).

The patriotic poem The patriotic poem "Charge of the L"Charge of the Light Brigade",ight Brigade", published in Maud (1855), published in Maud (1855), is is one of Tennyson's best known woone of Tennyson's best known worksrksIn the 1870s Tennyson wrote several plays, In the 1870s Tennyson wrote several plays, among them the among them the poetic dramas poetic dramas Queen MQueen Maryary (1875) and (1875) and HaroldHarold (1876). (1876). In 1884 In 1884 he was created a baron. he was created a baron.

Tennyson died at Aldwort on October 6, 189Tennyson died at Aldwort on October 6, 1892 and 2 and was buried in the Poets' Cornewas buried in the Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey.r in Westminster Abbey.

Robert Browning (1812-1889)

Robert Browning (1812-1889)Robert Browning (1812-1889)► Robert Browning was born in CamberRobert Browning was born in Camber

well, a suburb of London. Young Robewell, a suburb of London. Young Robert spent much of his time in his fathert spent much of his time in his father's private library of 6000 volumes in sr's private library of 6000 volumes in several languages. The chief source of everal languages. The chief source of his educationhis education

► Robert did not become recognized as Robert did not become recognized as a poet, until after Elizabeth's death in a poet, until after Elizabeth's death in 1861. After which, he was honored for 1861. After which, he was honored for the rest of his life as a literary figure.the rest of his life as a literary figure.

► Below is a picture of Robert BrowninBelow is a picture of Robert Browning's grave. He is buried in Westminster g's grave. He is buried in Westminster Abbey, in Poet's Corner.Abbey, in Poet's Corner.

Works and AchievementWorks and Achievement ----The Ring and the Book,The Ring and the Book, the longest an the longest an

d perhaps the greatest work of Browning.d perhaps the greatest work of Browning. ----He and Tennyson were the two mosHe and Tennyson were the two mos

t important poets of the Victorian Pet important poets of the Victorian Period.riod.

-- He introduced -- He introduced a new forma new form to English poe to English poetry, the try, the dramatic monologuedramatic monologue. .

----praised as a “gallant, courageous apraised as a “gallant, courageous and high-hearted figure”, well-knownd high-hearted figure”, well-known for buoyant optimism.n for buoyant optimism.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (18Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-186106-1861))

► Elizabeth Barrett was born at Coxhoe Hall, Elizabeth Barrett was born at Coxhoe Hall, Durham, England. Elizabeth's father disappDurham, England. Elizabeth's father disapproved of the courtship and engagement. In roved of the courtship and engagement. In 1846, Elizabeth and Robert were secretly w1846, Elizabeth and Robert were secretly wed. Soon the couple ran off to Italy where Eled. Soon the couple ran off to Italy where Elizabeth's health improved. She continued tizabeth's health improved. She continued to live in the villa of Casa Guidi for the remaio live in the villa of Casa Guidi for the remainder of her life. nder of her life.

► In 1861, Elizabeth Barrett Browning died at In 1861, Elizabeth Barrett Browning died at the age of 55. Her son, born 1849, and husbthe age of 55. Her son, born 1849, and husband returned to England after her death.and returned to England after her death.

Works:Works: The Battle of MarathonThe Battle of Marathon translation of the Greek tragedy “Protranslation of the Greek tragedy “Pro

metheus Unbound”metheus Unbound” The Cry of the ChildrenThe Cry of the Children Sonnet from the PortugueseSonnet from the Portuguese