10 Questions
What major historical event contributed to the shift from an agriculture-based economy to a manufacturing-based one during the Victorian era?
The Industrial Revolution
Name one technological advancement that connected people during the Victorian era, enabling the spread of modern culture.
The telegraph
Which Victorian novels are often considered among the best English novels of all time?
Middlemarch, Bleak House, and Tess of the D’Urbervilles
What are some of the new fictional genres that emerged in the last third of the 19th century during the Victorian era?
Sensation fiction, science fiction, supernatural fiction, detective fiction, adventure 'lost world' fiction
Name a famous Victorian poet and one of their notable works that is still included in poetry anthologies.
Alfred Lord Tennyson, 'The Lady of Shalott'
What were some common themes in English Victorian literature?
Nature, the Middle Ages, Italian Renaissance, social problems, craftsmanship, and art for art's sake.
Who were some of the major Victorian authors known for writing realistic novels?
Dickens, Trollope, Thackeray, Eliot, the Brontës, and later, Hardy.
What was the prevailing mode of the English novel in the Victorian era?
Realism.
What did realistic novels of the Victorian era typically focus on?
Conflicts between characters' goals and dreams with social expectations, social ills, and realistic settings.
How did many Victorian novels attempt to influence readers?
By educating them about social problems and inspiring them to take action to improve society.
Study Notes
The English Victorian Era (1832-1901)
- Lasted from approximately 1832 to 1901
- Marked the beginning of the modern age
- Characterized by the Industrial Revolution, which brought significant changes to the economy and society
Literature of the Victorian Era
- Produced many classic works of literature still widely read today
- Notable novels: Middlemarch, Bleak House, and Tess of the D'Urbervilles
- Emergence of new fictional genres: sensation fiction, science fiction, supernatural fiction, detective fiction, and adventure “lost world” fiction
Poetry of the Victorian Era
- Famous works include Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott" and Browning's "My Last Duchess"
- Poets continued the Romantic era focus on Nature and the Middle Ages
- Some poets focused on social problems, while others celebrated hand craftsmanship and "art for art's sake"
Drama of the Victorian Era
- Notable dramatists and playwrights: Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw
- Used humor and irony to challenge Victorian values and hypocrisy
Key Trends in Victorian Literature
- Fiction evolved from romance to realism
- Authors: Dickens, Trollope, Thackeray, Eliot, the Brontës, and Hardy
- Realistic novels depicted people and the world accurately, with complex characters and probable plot events
- Novels often addressed social ills, aiming to educate readers and inspire them to take action
- Typical novels were long, with at least 40 chapters, and were often published in three-volume sets
Explore the timeless works of the English Victorian era (1832-1901) with this brief guide. Learn about the literary masterpieces that emerged during this period which laid foundation for modern literature.
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