Characteristics of Literature
Fill in the blanks: One of the main themes in the literature during this era is science vs. _____.
Science vs. Religion
Which era came before the Victorian era?
The Georgian era.
What is the name of the famous poem written in this time period by Robert Browning?
My Last Duchess.
What was the length of Queen Victoria's reign? Include the years and the number of years.
1837 - 1901, 64 years.
What was the name of the main event in the year 1848?
Revolutions of 1848.
Name 3 of the characteristics of literature in this time:
Serialization
Industrialization
Class
Science vs. Religion
Progress
Nostalgia
The Woman Question
Utilitarianism
Following the Georgian era, the Victorian era had an increased emphasis on what?
There was an increased emphasis on the production of art and literature.
Name 2 of the 4 famous novels mentioned.
Wuthering Heights, Dracula, Jane Eyre, or Great Expectations.
What was the architecture of the era like?
The Victorian era saw the emergence of large grand buildings. They were elaborate with large decorations but generally inconvenient. Towards the end of the era, the emphasis was on simpler structures affordable by the common man. The use of new building materials like iron and glass was introduced at this time.
The British Empire grew to become the first global industrial power, producing much of the world's.... (you may name 2)
The British Empire grew to become the first global industrial power, producing much of the world's coal, iron, steel, and textiles.
The Victorian era started a trend with books (and current tv shows), what is it? Hint: It has to do with serialization.
Cliffhangers
What was Victorian literature compared to?
Romantic literature.
Who are 2 of the romantic poets of the time?
Some Romantics include Coleridge, Blake, Keats, and Shelley in Britain.
What was the breakthrough of medicine in the Victorian era?
The base for modern medicine was laid when Joseph Lister introduced the thorough cleanliness of medical instruments and personnel before carrying out any medical procedure to reduce the risk of infection.
What major global event happened between the years 1861 - 1865?
The American Civil War
What did romantic poets write about at the time?
Romantic poets wrote about nature, imagination, and individuality in England.
What is the major issue from the Georgian era that was fixed in the Victorian era?
The crime rate issue.
Talk about the main focus of Jane Eyre.
‘Jane Eyre’ is an authentic captivation of the Victorian era and the social standings of its time. The novel has an undeniable appreciation for the role of women and recognizes the importance of a woman’s quest to find her true identity. The plot of the novel is based upon the form of a Bildungsroman, in which the story reveals the narrative path of the protagonist’s life from child maturation to their development in adulthood. This chronological structure focuses on the emotions and experiences of the character which helps create and sculpt their personality in the novel. In the novel, there are five vital stages in the development of Jane’s maturity into a woman. It is from these experiences, that Jane is able to find her true identity and therefore retrospectively narrate the novel.
Name 3 scientific inventions from the era.
The telephone (Alexander Graham Bell), the light bulb and the phonograph (Edison), the modern theories of light and sound (Lord Rayleigh), the link between chemistry and electricity (Faraday), the electron (Thompson), etc are some of the groundbreaking inventions which were made during this era. Darwin’s theory of evolution was also published in this period.
Name 2 big things happening globally during the Victorian Era.
Rebellions of 1837 in Canada.
1839 kingdom of Belgium declared war.
1839–1919: Anglo-Afghan Wars lead to stalemate and the establishment of the Durand line.
What does Victorian criticism represent?
Transition to modern literature / the aim of the present.
What are 2 influences the Victorian era has on the modern world?
The Victorian era has countless influences over the modern world. To begin with, the advancements made in the Industrial Revolution were built on and bettered to make all that we have today. The literature works and arts made in this time period is greatly appreciated and looked up to today (ex. Charles Dickens). All the scientific inventions started in these times were the starting points for the technology we see all around us in the modern world. One of the Victorian era’s biggest influences is of architecture. You can see the gothic architecture all around Europe, and a prime example is the westminster palace.
The end of the Victorian Period is marked by the intellectual movements of Aestheticism and "the Decadence" in the writings of...
Walter Pater and Oscar Wilde.
What was the Victorian era marked by?
The Victorian era was marked by sweeping progress and ingenuity, because of the world's first industrial revolution, political reform, social change, a railway boom, and the first telephone and telegraph.
What caused the revolutions of 1848? Include the countries.
A series of republican revolts against European monarchies, beginning in Sicily and spreading to France, Germany, Italy, and the Austrian Empire. They all ended in failure and repression and were followed by widespread disillusionment among liberals.