“英美文学选读”总复习概要.docVIP

“英美文学选读”总复习概要 Chapter4 Victorian Period1836-1901 　　2. background 　　（1）early years： rapid economic development as well as serious social problems 　　（2）the next twenty years： prosperity and relative stability. a national spirit of earnestness， respectability， modesty domesticity 　　（3）the last three decades： the decline of the British empire and the decay of the Victorian values 　　3. idea： 　　（1）Darwin‘s The Origin of Species； The Descent of Man shook the theoretical basis of the traditional faith 　　（2）Utilitarianism： whether it could promote the material happiness 　　（3）socially conscious writers