The Victorian Period

The Victorian PeriodThe Victorian Period

1830-19011830-1901

A Time of ChangeA Time of Change

Age of Industry – prosperity and changeAge of Industry – prosperity and change

Science is on the riseScience is on the rise

World’s foremost imperial powerWorld’s foremost imperial power

Changes occurred in political and social Changes occurred in political and social lifelife

Literature becomes a prominent cultureLiterature becomes a prominent culture

Queen Victoria and the Victorian Queen Victoria and the Victorian TemperTemper

Ruled England at age Ruled England at age 18 from 1837-1901 18 from 1837-1901

Exemplifies Victorian Exemplifies Victorian qualities: qualities: earnestness, moral earnestness, moral responsibility, responsibility, domestic proprietydomestic propriety

Role modeled a high Role modeled a high moral purposemoral purpose

An Age of ReformAn Age of Reform

Transformed English Transformed English class structureclass structureAbolished slaveryAbolished slaveryWorking class begin Working class begin to stand up for their to stand up for their rights as citizensrights as citizensInjustices continued Injustices continued to exist, but Victorians to exist, but Victorians made efforts to made efforts to improve their societyimprove their society

The Time of TroublesThe Time of Troubles1830’s and 1840’s1830’s and 1840’s

UnemploymentUnemployment

PovertyPoverty

RiotingRioting

Slums in large citiesSlums in large cities

Working conditions Working conditions for women and for women and children were terriblechildren were terrible

British Imperialism and British Imperialism and ProgressProgress

Britain begins to expand all over the worldBritain begins to expand all over the world

Scientific progress was at an all time highScientific progress was at an all time high

Mass production, engineering, and the Mass production, engineering, and the development of more effective toolsdevelopment of more effective tools

Materialism as a byproduct of expansion Materialism as a byproduct of expansion and progressand progress

Science, Philosophy and ReligionScience, Philosophy and Religion

Science affects the Science affects the physical world as well physical world as well as Victorian thoughtas Victorian thought

Science clashes with Science clashes with religion – Darwinismreligion – Darwinism

Naturalism – scientific Naturalism – scientific principles detached principles detached from human beingsfrom human beings

Popular CulturePopular Culture

Centered around the ideals of the middle Centered around the ideals of the middle classclass

Middle class Victorian was preoccupied Middle class Victorian was preoccupied with the comforts of homewith the comforts of home

Public entertainment: music halls, seaside Public entertainment: music halls, seaside resorts, golf courses, and bicycle pathsresorts, golf courses, and bicycle paths

Home and family are a priority for the Home and family are a priority for the middle classmiddle class

Victorian Women and the HomeVictorian Women and the Home

Queen was a role Queen was a role model for womenmodel for women

The role of women The role of women was to create a homewas to create a home

Expectations of Expectations of women were to take women were to take care of their care of their husbandshusbands

Literacy, Publication, and ReadingLiteracy, Publication, and Reading

By the end of the century, By the end of the century, literacy was almost universal.literacy was almost universal.Compulsory national education Compulsory national education required to the age of ten. required to the age of ten.Explosion of things to readExplosion of things to readNewspapers, periodicals, and Newspapers, periodicals, and books.books.Novels and short fiction were Novels and short fiction were published in serial form.published in serial form.Literature illuminated social Literature illuminated social problems.problems.

The Victorian NovelThe Victorian Novel

The novel was the dominant The novel was the dominant form in Victorian literature.form in Victorian literature.Victorian novels recognized a Victorian novels recognized a variety of social classes.variety of social classes.Victorian novels are realistic – Victorian novels are realistic – they portray real lifethey portray real lifeFor the first time, women were For the first time, women were major writers: the Brontes. major writers: the Brontes. Elizabeth Gaskell, George Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot.Eliot.The Victorian novel was a The Victorian novel was a principal form of entertainment.principal form of entertainment.

Victorian PoetryVictorian Poetry

Victorian poetry Victorian poetry developed in the context developed in the context of the novel. of the novel. Poets sought new ways Poets sought new ways of telling stories in verseof telling stories in verseDramatic monologue – Dramatic monologue – the idea of creating a lyric the idea of creating a lyric poem in the voice of a poem in the voice of a speaker.speaker.Poets use detail to Poets use detail to construct visual imagesconstruct visual imagesRepresent the emotion or Represent the emotion or situation the poem situation the poem concerns.concerns.

SourcesSources

The Victorian Period The Victorian Period - - english2.mnsu.edu/johnston/The20english2.mnsu.edu/johnston/The20VictoriVictorianan20Period.20Period.pptppt