The Victorian Era 1837 - 1901 M. Boudreau IB English A: L & L.
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Transcript of The Victorian Era 1837 - 1901 M. Boudreau IB English A: L & L.
The Victorian EraThe Victorian Era1837 - 19011837 - 1901
M. BoudreauM. BoudreauIB English A: L & LIB English A: L & L
The Victorian EraThe Victorian Era
1.1. Queen VictoriaQueen Victoria2.2. Great Britain – The World’s Greatest EmpireGreat Britain – The World’s Greatest Empire3.3. Economy, Class and IndustryEconomy, Class and Industry4.4. Societal ValuesSocietal Values5.5. Literary MovementsLiterary Movements6.6. Oscar WildeOscar Wilde
Early Victorian PeriodEarly Victorian Period
1830’s - A “Decade of New Beginnings”
1837: Victoria is shown as a fairytale, teenaged queen
Radiated youthful enthusiasm to match the decade’s early years
Mid-Victorian PeriodMid-Victorian Period
1850’s – “The Matron-Monarch” Now married to Prince Albert Settled into a stable, productive
domestic image Royal family symbolizes the
productivity boom of 1850’s industry
Culminates in the Great Exhibition of 1851
Late Victorian PeriodLate Victorian Period
1870’s - “The Widow of Windsor”Reclusive after Albert’s early death in 1861Projected a world-weary gloominessHer aging was reflected in Britain’s own sense of maturation as an Empire
By the end of Victoria’s reign (1901), she came to embody:
Empire Stability & Continuity Duty, Family, & Propriety Stern conservatism
The British EmpireThe British Empire
A Society of firsts (1800 to 1899):
population goes from 8.3 to 30.6 million Great Britain becomes the richest country on earthFirst urban society in historyFirst industrial society in historyLondon’s population grows from 1 million in 1801 to 6.5 million by the end of the Victorian EraBy 1890, 500 million people on the earth were under British rule (roughly ¼ of the world’s population)
Period of IndustrializationPeriod of Industrialization
Land owning aristocracy loses power The insecure, “ever expanding” urban middle
class gains power Businessmen Professionals Bourgeoisie Formal Education
Millions of rural workers are forced into poverty in cities
The Upper classesThe Upper classes
Generally defined as aristocrats whose income is based solely upon inheritance and property values.
Forms exclusive societies / clubs dedicated to pleasure, art and insight.
The Middle classesThe Middle classes Men who perform mental or "clean" work. Generally paid monthly or annually. Work could take the form of doctors, lawyers and clerks. The Middle classes expanded rapidly in towns and cities
and contributed to burgeoning consumerism and technological developments.
The Lower classesThe Lower classes
Men and women who performed labour-intensive and menial tasks.
Social class created by the Industrial Revolution.
Paid daily or weekly wages. Lives were impacted by
disease and lack of sanitary conditions.
Typical Annual Incomes (1856)Typical Annual Incomes (1856)Upper classUpper class
Aristocrats £30,000 Merchants, bankers £10,000
Middle-class Middle-class
Doctors, Lawyers, Clerks £300-800Teachers, journalists, shopkeepers £150-300Skilled workers £75-100
Lower-classLower-classSailors and domestic staff £40-75Laborers, soldiers £25
Social IssuesSocial Issues
The rapid developments created: Enormous prosperity but also unthinkable poverty Humane reforms but also flagrant exploitation Immense ambitions but also devastating doubts
In sum, it was an age of great achievement, deep faith, indisputable progress but also an era of destruction, religious collapse, malicious profiteering.
Other social consequencesOther social consequences
Extension of voting rights Rise of trade unions Changing roles for women Development of socialism Separation of church and state Questioning of tradition
What is a Victorian?What is a Victorian?
The adjective "Victorian" was first used in 1851 to celebrate the nation's mounting pride in its institutions and commercial success.
This historical/literary period is defined by the duration of a monarch’s rule, rather than any one unifying idea.
Victorian ValuesVictorian Values
Victorian social conduct is governed by:Victorian social conduct is governed by:
1.1. Strict rulesStrict rules2.2. Formal mannersFormal manners3.3. Rigidly defined gender rolesRigidly defined gender roles
a)a) Relations hampered by sexual pruderyRelations hampered by sexual pruderyb)b) Intense obsession with a public appearance of Intense obsession with a public appearance of
decorum and modestydecorum and modesty
Manifestations of ValuesManifestations of Values
Preened imagePreened image EnergeticEnergetic Phenomenal work ethicPhenomenal work ethic Sense of duty towards the “Public Good”Sense of duty towards the “Public Good” Self-confidentSelf-confident A Society of “over-achievers”A Society of “over-achievers”
Key Features of Early Victorian LiteratureKey Features of Early Victorian Literature
The novel makes its first appearance on the pages of The novel makes its first appearance on the pages of periodicalsperiodicals..
The voice of the The voice of the omniscient narrator omniscient narrator provides a moralizing provides a moralizing barrier between what is right and wrong.barrier between what is right and wrong.
Most stories were set in the Most stories were set in the towntown, , specifically London.specifically London. Literature was generally Literature was generally realisticrealistic and focused on the and focused on the
private lives (secrets) private lives (secrets) of characters.of characters. Literature often focused on Literature often focused on social issuessocial issues.. Generally, literature transcended class.Generally, literature transcended class.
Key Features of Late Victorian LiteratureKey Features of Late Victorian Literature
1870’s onward A new realismrealism prevailed which rejected any sentimental
and romantic attitude. Literature focused on the clash between man and
environment, his dreams and their fulfilment, and illusion illusion and realityand reality.
the writers were criticalcritical and attacked the superficial optimism and self confidence of the age.
Main characters became alienatedalienated from society.
4 Main Literary Movements4 Main Literary Movements
Realism:Realism: reproduction of the reality without idealizing it
Naturalism:Naturalism: total objectivity and scientific approach to Literature
Aestheticism:Aestheticism: Art for Art’s sake (O. Wilde)
Decadentism:Decadentism: Art is superior to nature, the finest beauty is that of dying and decaying things