Overview
The Victorian era was marked by rapid industrialization, urban growth, and social reform. Literature during this time explored morality, gender roles, empire, and the struggles of a changing society. The novel became the dominant form, reflecting middle-class concerns, while poetry retained a strong moral and philosophical tone.
Key Themes and Characteristics
- Industrialization and Class: Writers responded to poverty, progress, and class conflict.
- Moral Responsibility: Literature emphasized social duty, virtue, and personal growth.
- Empire and Colonialism: Reflected both imperial pride and critiques of conquest.
- Gender and Family Roles: Domestic life and the “Angel in the House” ideal shaped female characters.
- Realism: Detail-oriented narratives and social commentary dominated fiction.
Major Authors and Works
- Charles Dickens – Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations
- Charlotte Brontë – Jane Eyre
- Emily Brontë – Wuthering Heights
- Alfred, Lord Tennyson – In Memoriam, The Lady of Shalott
- Robert Browning – My Last Duchess
- Elizabeth Barrett Browning – Sonnet 43
- Matthew Arnold – Dover Beach
- George Eliot – Middlemarch
- Thomas Hardy – Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Quick Tip
Victorian literature often balances optimism about progress with anxiety about moral and spiritual decay. Pay attention to detailed descriptions, social criticism, and how authors handle reform or resistance to change.