The Victorian PeriodThe Victorian Period

1830-19011830-1901

A Time of ChangeA Time of Change

London becomes most important city in Europe: London becomes most important city in Europe: Population of London expands from 2 to 6 millionPopulation of London expands from 2 to 6 millionImpact of modern urban economy & industrialismImpact of modern urban economy & industrialismWorld’s foremost World’s foremost imperialimperial power powerIt was a time of relative It was a time of relative peacepeaceMany Victorian people suffered from Many Victorian people suffered from anxietyanxiety, a , a sense of being sense of being displaceddisplaced persons in an age of persons in an age of technological advances.technological advances.

Queen Victoria and the Victorian Queen Victoria and the Victorian TemperTemper

Ruled England for Ruled England for 63 63 yearsyears (from 1837- (from 1837-1901) – the longest 1901) – the longest reign of any British reign of any British monarchmonarch

She exemplifies She exemplifies Victorian qualitiesVictorian qualities: : virtue, modesty, and virtue, modesty, and respectability respectability

The Early Victorian PeriodThe Early Victorian Period1830-18481830-1848

A troubled time in A troubled time in historyhistory

UnemploymentUnemployment

PovertyPoverty

RiotingRioting

Slums in large citiesSlums in large cities

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

The Mid-Victorian PeriodThe Mid-Victorian Period1848-18701848-1870

A time of prosperityA time of prosperity

A time of improvementA time of improvement

A time of stabilityA time of stability

A time of optimismA time of optimism

The Right to VoteThe Right to Vote

The Reform Bill of 1832: The Reform Bill of 1832: Extended the right to vote Extended the right to vote to to all males owning all males owning propertyproperty

The Reform Bill of 1867: The Reform Bill of 1867: Extended right to vote to Extended right to vote to working classworking class

Note: Neither extended Note: Neither extended the vote to womenthe vote to women

The British Empire ExpandsThe British Empire Expands

Between 1853 and 1880, Between 1853 and 1880, large scale emigration to large scale emigration to British coloniesBritish coloniesIn 1857, In 1857, Parliament took Parliament took over the government of over the government of India and Queen Victoria India and Queen Victoria became empress of Indiabecame empress of India. . Many British people saw Many British people saw the expansion of empire as the expansion of empire as a a moral responsibilitymoral responsibility..Missionaries spread Missionaries spread Christianity in India, Asia, Christianity in India, Asia, and Africa.and Africa.

Challenges to Religious Belief Challenges to Religious Belief

ScienceScience Darwin- the Origin of Species and The Descent of Darwin- the Origin of Species and The Descent of

Man (evolution and natural selection)Man (evolution and natural selection)

Higher CriticismHigher Criticism Examination of the Bible as a mere text of historyExamination of the Bible as a mere text of history Advances in AstronomyAdvances in Astronomy

The Late Victorian PeriodThe Late Victorian Period1870-19011870-1901

Decay of Victorian valuesDecay of Victorian valuesBritish imperialism questionedBritish imperialism questionedBoer War (anti-British sentiments)Boer War (anti-British sentiments)Irish question (Britain’s rule over Ireland. Yes, Irish question (Britain’s rule over Ireland. Yes, this is the same issue Swift grappled with in this is the same issue Swift grappled with in 1729)1729)Germany & the U.S. became rival powersGermany & the U.S. became rival powersEconomic depression led to mass immigrationEconomic depression led to mass immigrationSocialismSocialism

Impact on Victorian LiteratureImpact on Victorian Literature

Early to mid Victorian eraEarly to mid Victorian era – including authors – including authors such as Dickens, Browning, Bronte, and Arnold such as Dickens, Browning, Bronte, and Arnold – were more – were more optimisticoptimistic. Characters may have . Characters may have struggled but they found happiness with friends struggled but they found happiness with friends and familiesand families

Late Victorian eraLate Victorian era – including authors such as – including authors such as Hardy and Housman – were more pessimistic Hardy and Housman – were more pessimistic and wrote of betrayals, wars, etc.and wrote of betrayals, wars, etc.

Literacy, Publication, and ReadingLiteracy, Publication, and Reading

By the end of the century, By the end of the century, literacy was almost literacy was almost universal.universal.Compulsory national Compulsory national education required to the education required to the age of ten.age of ten.Growth of the periodical, Growth of the periodical, novels, and short fictionnovels, and short fictionThe reading public The reading public expected literature to expected literature to illuminate social illuminate social problems.problems.

The Victorian NovelThe Victorian NovelThe The novelnovel was the was the dominant form in Victorian dominant form in Victorian literature.literature.Victorian novels are realistic Victorian novels are realistic with themes including the with themes including the role of the individual in role of the individual in society.society.For the first time, women For the first time, women were major writers: the were major writers: the Brontes. Elizabeth Gaskell, Brontes. Elizabeth Gaskell, George Eliot.George Eliot.The Victorian novel was a The Victorian novel was a principal form of principal form of entertainment.entertainment.

Victorian PoetryVictorian PoetryStrong influence of the Strong influence of the Romantics, but not as Romantics, but not as confident as the Romantics confident as the Romantics in the power of the in the power of the imagination.imagination.Dramatic monologue – the Dramatic monologue – the idea of creating a lyric poem idea of creating a lyric poem in the voice of a speaker in the voice of a speaker distinct from the poet – is distinct from the poet – is the great achievement of the great achievement of Victorian poetry.Victorian poetry.Heavy use of imageryHeavy use of imagery