Victorian and Modern Literature PDF

VICTORIA N PERIOD Victorian Era The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 until her death in 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined culture, great advancements in technology, and national self-confidence for Britain. During the Victor...

VICTORIA N PERIOD Victorian Era The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 until her death in 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined culture, great advancements in technology, and national self-confidence for Britain. During the Victorian age, Britain was the world's most powerful nation. QUEEN VICTORIA  THE BRITISH EMPIRE Queen Victoria ruled over a vast and expanding empire, over which, it was said, the sun never set. The British considered the empire as a means of fulfilling the white man's mission of civilizing the nations under their control and spreading Western values throughout the whole world. THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION In the late eighteenth century, new ideas and technology sparked the Industrial Revolution, changing England from an agricultural society to an uban one. This rapid growth created many poor workers living in terrible conditions. Urban poverty became a clear sign of the big changes happening in English society.  LITERATURE OF SOCIAL PROTEST The social and cultural background of the period has had a deep impact on literature of the Victorian period. Some works of literature protested the grim reality of the industrial age. Depicting the deplorable conditions in factories and mines, the plight of child labor, the discrimination against women, and other social issues, such literary works were a means of social reform. Elizabeth Gaskell's Mary Barton was one of the first novels to warn against the problems of industrialization. Charles Dickens' works Oliver Twist and Hard Times treated the themes of child abuse, poverty, urban squalor, crime, and corrupt educational systems. Novelist in Victorian Era Charles Dickens  prominent english novelist, journalist, short story writer and social critic  created some of literature’s best-known fictional characters, and regarded by many as the greatest novelist of Victorian era.  his work highlighted the struggles of the poor critiqued societal issues  one of his best-known works is “A Christmas Carol” “A Christmas Carol”(Summary) A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a greedy and cold-hearted businessman who despises Christmas. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his former partner, Jacob Marley, and three spirits representing Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Through these encounters, Scrooge confronts the consequences of his actions and learns the value of kindness and generosity. Ultimately, he awakens on Christmas Day with a renewed spirit, embracing the joy of the holiday and transforming his life. Novelist in Victorian Era William Thackeray  a significant English Novelist and Illustrators of Victor era  renowned for his sharp social satire and observations o human behavior  his most famous work is the 1847-1848 novel “Vanity Fair” a panoramic portrait of British society. Vanity Fair by William Thackeray Vanity Fair refers to both a novel by William Makepeace Thackeray and a cultural concept. The novel, published in 1847-48, satirizes early 19th-century British society through the lives of two women: the ambitious Becky Sharp and the gentle Amelia Sedley. It critiques social ambition and moral ambiguity, portraying a world obsessed with wealth and status. The term "vanity fair" also symbolizes a scene of frivolity and ostentation, originating from John Bunyan's Pilgrim’s Progress, representing worldly folly and superficiality. Novelist in Victorian Era Mary Ann Evans  George Eliot is her pen name  She is a British writer who rose to prominence for her novels during the latter half of 19th Century  known for the psychological depth of her characters and her descriptions of English rural life.  “Middlemarch” is one of her famous works. MIDDLEMARCH (An Overview) Middlemarch, written by George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans), is a novel published in 1871-72, set in a fictional English town during the early 1830s. It explores the lives of various characters, primarily focusing on Dorothea Brooke and Tertius Lydgate, who grapple with their idealistic aspirations against societal constraints and personal disappointments. Themes include marriage, social reform, and the complexities of provincial life. The narrative intertwines multiple storylines, reflecting the intricate dynamics of small-town society and emphasizing the consequences of individual choices within a broader social context. MODERNISM IN LITERATURE Modernism is a cultural and literary movement that emerged in the early 20th century, characterized by a break from traditional forms and ideas. It arose during a time of cultural crisis, reflecting both excitement and uncertainty. Modernists experimented with new styles and questioned established norms, emphasizing that knowledge is not absolute. This movement sought to explore human potential while challenging previous beliefs about society, art, and reality. Modernism as a movement Modernism as a movement can be recognized not only in literature but also in:  Sciences  Philosophy  Psychology  Anthropology  Painting  Music  Sculpture  Architecture Formal Features of Poetry  Open Form  Use of the free verse  Juxtaposition of ideas rather than consequential exposition  Intertextuality  Use of allusions and multiple associations of words  Unconventional use of metaphor  Importance given to sound to convey “the music of ideas” Modernist Poets William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)  he was an Irish poet, dramatist, and prose writer, and consider as one of the greatest English-language poets of the 20th Century.  he received a Nobel Prize for Litertaure in 1923  Yeats began as a romatic poet but evolved into a modernist, reflecting the chaotic post-war world in his later works  His famous work, “The Second Coming”. Modernist Poets Ezra Pound (1885-1972)  he is an expatriate American poet and critic also a major figure in the early modernist poetry movement  he founded the imagist movement, focusing on clear, precise language and direct treatment of subjects.  he mentored other modernist poets like T.S. Eliot and William Carlos Williams, helping shape the movement.  His most famous piece, “The Cantos”, an epic poem that blends, history, politics and personal reflection. Modernist Poets Thomas Stearns Eliot (1888-1965)  he is an American English poet, playwright, literary critic, and editor  he is also a leader of Modernist movement in poetry  he was awarded both the Order of the Merit and the Nobel Prize for Literature.  Eliot’s essays and critical writings helped shape lieterary criticism  his famous poem is “The Waste Land” Modernist Poets Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)  regarded as one of the most important figure in American poetry, her work influenced 20th century literature  she is recognized for her unique use of punctuation, slant rhyme, and unconventional structure  most of her work published after her death  her one of notable work is “Success is counted sweetest”, it reflects on the nature of success and failures.