the victorian period introduction
TRANSCRIPT
THE VICTORIAN PERIOD
1830-1901
QUEEN VICTORIA AND THE VICTORIAN TEMPER
R
uled England from 1837-1901
V
ictorian qualities: earnestness,
moral responsibility, domestic
propriety and gentility
A
n age characterized by energy and
high moral purpose
A young women of personality and charm, Queen
Victoria was influenced by the prudery of the time.
Some say the queen often used the expression “We
are not amused” whenever a conversation took an
inappropriate turn. Language in particular
reflected the uptight prudishness of the era. Since
it would be improper to refer to body parts, a
family at the dinner table would be embarrassed to
ask for a thigh or a breast from a plate of chicken,
so they used the euphemistic dark and white meat.
VICTORIAN GENTILITY
1. The word that best describes the typical
behavior of many Victorians is
a. immoral
b. genteel
c. defiant
d. lethargic
VICTORIAN WOMEN AND THE HOME
V
ictorian society was preoccupied
with the very nature of women.
P
rotected and enshrined within the
home, her role was to create a place
of peace where man could take
refuge from the difficulties of
modern life.
A TIME OF CHANGE
London becomes most important city in Europe and its population tripled during this time.
Britain became the world’s foremost imperial power.
According to authors like Thomas Babington Macaulay, progress was measured by material improvements.
A time of peace and prosperity in England.
The scientific and technological advances of the period gave the British a sense of confidence.
2. The Victorian era was characterized by
a. prolonged wars
b. economic recession
c. peace and prosperity
d. revolution
3. For writers such as Thomas Babington
Macaulay, progress was measured in
a. spiritual well-being
b. far-flung colonies
c. material improvements
d. population growth
4. The scientific and technological advances of
the period gave early Victorians a sense of
a. confidence
b. inferiority
c. pessimism
d. uncertainty
REFORM
N
umerous social problems in England at the beginning of Queen
Victoria’s reign led to numerous changes in government policy.• 1832-First Reform Act-extended the vote to most middle-class men.• 1833-Britain abolished slavery/Factory Act-regulated child labor in
factories.• 1834-Poor Law-Amendment applied a system of workhouses for poor
people.• 1871-Trade Union Act-made it legal for laborers to organize to
protect their rights.
5. The social problems during Queen Victoria’s
reign led to many different types of
a. battles
b. elections
c. political parties
d. reform
THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
The Industrial Revolution was at its peak at this time and had a major influence on the daily lives of everyone in Britain.
Smog was called “the storm cloud of the 19th century.” John Ruskin describes “. . .the sky is covered with greasy cloud; not raincloud, but a dry black veil, which not rain or sunshine can pierce.”
6. An important influence on the Victorian era
was the
a. Industrial Revolution
b. Age of Reason
c. Restoration of the Crown
d. High Renaissance
7. John Ruskin used the term “plague wind” to
refer to what we now call
a. hurricanes
b. smog
c. epidemics
d. economic depressions
THE CRYSTAL PALACEE
rected to display the exhibits of modern industry and science at the 1851 Great Exhibition
One of the first buildings constructed according to modern architectural principles
The building symbolized the triumphs of Victorian industry.
THE BRITISH EMPIREB
etween 1853 and 1880 there was large scale immigration to British colonies.
In 1857, Parliament took over the government of India and Queen Victoria became Empress of India.
Many British people saw the expansion of empire as a moral responsibility.
Missionaries spread Christianity in India, Asia, and Africa.
LITERACY, PUBLICATION, AND READINGB
y the end of the century, literacy was almost universal.
C
hildren now required to attend school until the age of 10.
D
ue to technological advances, there was an explosion of
things to read, including newspapers, periodicals, and
books.
N
ovels and short fiction were published in serial form.
THE VICTORIAN NOVELT
he novel was the dominant form in Victorian literature.
V
ictorian novels are realistic.
M
ajor theme is the place of the individual in society, the aspiration of the
hero or heroine for love or social position.
F
or the first time, women were major writers: the Brontes, Elizabeth
Gaskell, George Eliot.
T
he Victorian novel was a principal form of entertainment.
VICTORIAN POETRYV
ictorian poetry developed in the context of the novel;
poets sought new ways of telling stories in verse.
A
ll of the Victorian poets show the strong influence of
the Romantics, but they could not sustain the
confidence the Romantics felt in the power of the
imagination.
D
ramatic monologue – the idea of creating a lyric poem
in the voice of a speaker ironically distinct from the
poet is the great achievement of Victorian poetry.
SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS
I
n his novels, Charles Dickens
attacked the hollowness, glitter,
superficiality as well as the
poverty and cruel conditions of
those like Tiny Tim and the
orphan Oliver Twist.
“Many of
Dickens's most
memorable scenes
showed decent
people neglected,
abused, and
exploited.”
Victorian authors continued to reflect their social concerns in their writing.
Many wanted to point out the evils of materialism and greed.
8. In general, Victorian writers believed that
their work would
a. create new ideas about comedy
b. reestablish romantic ideals
c. eliminate ambition
d. raise doubts about materialism
D
ecay of Victorian values
R
eligious doubts, especially among writers and artists
L
iterature focused on human troubles in an indifferent world.
G
ermany and the United States became possible rivals of England.
E
conomic depression led to mass immigration.
T
he start of Socialism
The Late Victorian period 1870-1901
9. Late Victorian literature focused on
a. doubt and confusion
b. happiness and joy
c. admiration for literary devices and classical
allusions
d. human troubles in an indifferent world
10. By the end of the nineteenth century, many
writers, finding it difficult to believe in an infinite
power, became
a. optimistic
b. patriotic
c. skeptical
d. trusting
IMAGES OF THE
VICTORIAN PERIOD