Victorian age literature general characteristics

Victorian age literature general characteristics

This is an assignment that focuses on the Victorian age literature general characteristics. There are four key characteristics that are in this discussion.

The Victorian age literature general characteristics

The Victorian age
‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍Below are the instructions from my professor, the text book we are using is The Norton Anthology of English Literature 10th Edition Volume D The Victorian Age. I am leaving the choice of item 1-4 (below) and the 3 writers from the text to prove the item up to the writer of my essay. The literature of this era expressed the fusion of pure romance with gross realism. Though the Victorian Age produced great poets, the age is also remarkable for the excellence of its prose. The discoveries of science have particular effects upon the literature of the age.

These are the four general characteristics:

1. Firstly, literature of this age tends to come closer to daily life and reflects its practical problems and interests. It becomes a powerful instrument for human progress. Socially & economically, industrialism was on the rise as well as various reform movements such as emancipation, child labor, women’s rights, and evolution.

2. Moral Purpose: Secondly, the Victorian literature seems to deviate from “art for art’s sake” and asserts its moral purpose. Tennyson, Browning, Carlyle, Ruskin – all were the teachers of England with the faith in their moral message‌‌‍‌‌‍‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‍‌‌‌‍ to instruct the world.

3. Idealism: Thirdly, it is often as an age of doubt and pessimism to consider. The influence of science is felt here. The whole age seems to be caught in the conception of man in relation to the universe with the idea of evolution.

4. Fourthly, though the age is characterize as practical and materialistic, most of the writers exalt a purely ideal life. It is an idealistic age in which the great ideals such as truth, justice, love, and brotherhood are emphasize by poets, essayists and novelists. Note: Items 3 and 4 are not necessarily contradictory. There is a paradox in action. You may wish to explore that paradox as an additional option and call it characteristic no.

5. Lastly, choose one of the above and write a three-page (3 page) essay using selections from the texts that demonstrate the characteristic. Remember it takes more than 2 data points to indicate a trend. You will also need to choose 3 different writers to show there was a prevailing tendency toward the characteristic you choose. Additionally, explain fully how the characteristic is shown by detail explication of the works you choose.