The Victorian Novel V^A Nicolò Zentilin Claudia Tomasello

The Victorian Age The Industrial Revolution: Industrialization The reign of Queen Victoria ( 1837 – 1901 ) Urbanization Conflicts between classes: birth of a working class Working class’s rights: birth of Trade Unions More education Development of communication: trades, Colonialism and Imperialism The doctrine of “laissez-faire” Utilitarian philosophy, Darwinism, Puritan ethic Scientific investigation: improvement of life’s conditions The age of the novels: Richardson, Dickens, Fielding and Defoe

The Main Themes of the Victorian Novel The struggle of democracy The growth of towns Poverty Education and children The clash between classes The industrial system of production

The Main Aspects The reader feels partly identified thanks to The setting is generally the city ALIENATION Human beings are described like masses the lass of identity PATHOS: Reader’s pity and sadness for characters creates an educative function. GROTTESQUE: Exaggeration deforms the reality and entertains the reader.

Oliver Twist Author: Charles Dickens wrote it from 1837 to Extract: it is taken from Chapter 2, at the beginning of the book. Story-line: the Victorian Novel describes the ill-treatment of children in the workhouses. The plot has lots of adventures and surprises. Setting: it is the dinning hall of the workhouse. Characters: Oliver, an orphan brought up in the workhouse, and his master. They express the relationship between poor and rich. Narrator: there is a third person omniscient narrator. Techniques used: the Pathos, the Grottesque and irony. Aim: Dickens wants to criticize the Victorian society.

Nicholas Nickelby Author: Charles Dickens wrote it from 1838 to Extract: it is taken from one of the early chapters in the novel. Story-line: the realistic novel discloses the living condition and teaching methods in the appalling educational institutions of the Victorian Age for the poor. Setting: it is the classroom where Nicholas is going to work. Characters: Nicholas who has employed as a teacher by Mr. Squeers (the teacher of the school). The last one feels superior to the children. Narrator: there is a third person omniscient intrusive narrator. Techniques used: the Pathos and exaggeration in order to ridicule Mr. Squeers.

Hard Time Author: Charles Dickens wrote it in Extract: “Mr Bounderby” is taken from Chapter 4 of the first book. Story-line: the realistic novel criticizes the social and economical conditions of the Victorian Age. Dickens attacks industrialization and its ills. Setting: it is the fictional industrial city of Coketown. Characters: Mr Bounderby, a man born in the dehumanizing industrial system of the period, and Mrs Gradgrind who got married with him (he is more than twice her age). Narrator: there is a third person omniscient intrusive narrator.

Jude the Obscure  Author: Thomas Hardy wrote it some years before  Extract: it is taken from "Part Sixth Chapter II" of Jude the Obscure. The novel is organised into scenes like modernist works.  Story-line: the extract deals with Jude’s actions at home and the death of Jude and Sue's son.  Setting: events are sat in Jude and Sue’s home on an early morning.  Characters: Jude Fawley who had some children with Sue in an extramarital relationship; a doctor and two helpless women who came to try to restore the children; the dead son who wrote a piece of paper.  Narrator: there is an omniscient external narrator that is impersonal (no judgements, no comments).  Aim: it is an Anti-Victorian novel that wants to show the extramarital relationships of the Victorian society: in this case it has generated too many children.