Introduction to the Victorian Age.pptxVIP

Introduction to the Victorian Age The background of Victorian Age The Victorian Period revolves around the political career of Queen Victoria. She was crowned in 1837 and died in 1901. A great deal of change took place during this period--brought about because of the Industrial Revolution; so its not surprising that the literature of the period is often concerned with social reform. The Development of Victorian Literature (1)Victorian Literature, as a product of its age, naturally had its quality of magnitude and diversity. It was many-sided and complex, and reflected both romantically and realistically the great changes that were going on in people’s life and thought. (2) It represents the reality and spirit of the age. The high-spirited vitality, the down-to-earth earnestness, the good-natured humor and unbounded imagination are all unprecedented. The Genres of Victorian Literature 1)The novel became the most widely read and the most vital and challenging expression of progressive thought. Charles Dickens, William Makepeace Thackeray, Charlotte Bronte, Emily Bronte 2) The great prose writers in the Victorian age brought English prose to a very high point in both prose art and literary criticism. Carlyle, Huxley 3) The famous poets in the Victorian period were: Alfred Tennyson, Robert Browning The early Victorian period (A Time of Troubles）(1830~1848) BACKGROUND The Industrial RevolutionIt 工业革命 The first Reform Parliament 首次议会改革 The economic recovery 经济复苏 Features the literature of the period is often concerned with social reform. Resistance to oppression， fighting for democracy The representative Dickenss (1812—1870)early works : 《匹克威克外传》（The Pickwick Papers, 1836） 《雾都孤儿》（Oliver Twist, 1837—1839） Reflect the UK private ownershipsocietys dark side The representative Ernest Jones(1819~1869): Charter school of poets 《民主之歌》(The Songs of Democracy) Resistance to oppression, fighting for democracy Prose Thomas