第七讲 The Victorian Age.ppt

Chapter I A Survey of the Age Development of Capitalist Industry Its Repercussions Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Its Influence The Women Question I. Development of Capitalist Industry Its Repercussions 1.Industrial revolution: * beginning in the mid-18th C.; * (by 1837) a rural, agricultural nation —— an urban, industrial nation; * increase of urban population– 2 million people in London when Queen Victoria began her reign, 6 million at her death; * workers as a powerful class: poor and miserable worker movements+ workers’ unions: Chartism (“People’s Charter”); 2.Reform Bill Many issues have been put forward in the People’s Charter. II. Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Its Influence 1. Charles Darwin (1809- 82): The Origin of Species in 1859 The Descent of Man in 1871 – loss of faith in religion; 2. Thomas Henry Huxley (1825- 95): Social Darwinism – free competition rich over the poor colonial expansion III. The Women Question * Second-class citizens: no right to vote, to hold office or to handle their own property after marriage; * Prominent females: George Eliot, Mrs. Gaskell, the Bronte sisters, etc. * The Married Women’s Property Act in 1908. Chapter II. Literature of the Age 1. The Diversity in Victorian Literature * No dominant literary theory; * Diversity of literature: Chartist literature Realistic novels Poetry Pre- Raphaelite Brotherhood Aesthetic movement 2. Chief Literary Characteristics of the Age * An age of realistic prose; * Moral purpose * Optimism vs. pessimism optimism in social development pessimism in the sense of loss meaninglessness Chapter III Victorian Poetry 1. Influences from the Romantics: a. Tennyson Browning are called by some “the Third Generation of Romantics”; b. Difference: Victorian poetry is no longer regular in form meter, its allusions to nature become more scientific than romantic; 2. The Big Th