1. The Victorian Period 1830-1901

2. A Time of Change Age of Industry – prosperity and change Science is on the rise World’s foremost imperial power Changes occurred in political and social life Literature becomes a prominent culture

3. Queen Victoria and the Victorian Temper Ruled England at age 18 from 1837-1901 Exemplifies Victorian qualities: earnestness, moral responsibility, domestic propriety Role modeled a high moral purpose

4. An Age of Reform Transformed English class structure Abolished slavery Working class begin to stand up for their rights as citizens Injustices continued to exist, but Victorians made efforts to improve their society

5. The Time of Troubles 1830’s and 1840’s UnemploymentPovertyRioting Slums in large cities Working conditions for women and children were terrible

6. British Imperialism and Progress Britain begins to expand all over the world Scientific progress was at an all time high Mass production, engineering, and the development of more effective tools Materialism as a byproduct of expansion and progress

7. Science, Philosophy and Religion Science affects the physical world as well as Victorian thought Science clashes with religion – Darwinism Naturalism – scientific principles detached from human beings

8. Popular Culture Centered around the ideals of the middle class Middle class Victorian was preoccupied with the comforts of home Public entertainment: music halls, seaside resorts, golf courses, and bicycle paths Home and family are a priority for the middle class

9. Victorian Women and the Home Queen was a role model for women The role of women was to create a home Expectations of women were to take care of their husbands

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

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

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

13. Sources The Victorian Period - english2.mnsu.edu/johnston/The20Victori an20Period.ppt