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