The Victorian Era.The 19th century

The beginning Victoria becomes Queen of Great Britain and Ireland in 1837. The era ends with her

death in 1901.

❖ Defined by “refined” sensibilities and political concerns at the time.

❖ Followed the Georgian period (1714 - 1830) and went against rationalism, which defined the Georgian period.

❖ Turned towards Romanticism and mysticism with regards to religion, social values, and the arts.

Progress during the Victorian eraConsidered to be a time of relative peace amongst the great powers, due to Britain's Royal Navy.

Britain would become the largest empire in the world, spanning one fifth of the earth's surface

Increase in industrialisation during the “golden years”(1850 -1870), raised the national income per person by half.

The victorian era continued...

There was a spirit of libertarianism due to minimal government restrictions and very low taxes.

Society was still ruled by the aristocracy and gentry, who controlled high governing offices (houses of parliament, the church and the military)

Effects on literature❖ Prose

Where poetry had been the most dominant form of literature in the Georgian period, the novel would take its place in the victorian era.

❖ Prominent themes The 1830’s and 40’s saw the rise of the social Novel

A drive for social advancement

The rise of the highly idealized notion of what it meant to be a true “englishmen”.

Some things change...Considering the fact that Queen Victoria’s reign lasted 63 years, longer than any other monarch at the time, change in cultural outlook was a given.

Late Victorian writing rebelled against such idealized notions and stereotypical codes of conduct.

“Proper” behavior would often serve as subjects of satire.

The later years also saw the rise of aestheticism, the “art for art's sake” movement, directly contradicting the social and political goals of earlier victorian literature.

Some notable authors of the time

Oscar wilde Charles Dickens

Bronte sistersLewis Carroll Sir Arthur Conan

Doyle

Charles Darwin

End.