The Victorian Age and Victorianism

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The Victorian Age and Victorianism

• It was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from
  June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901

Long period of prosperity
Victorianism is the name given to the attitudes,
art, and culture of the later two-thirds of the
19th century.
link and transition between the writers of the
romantic period and the literature of the 20th
century
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Victorian literature
Tends to be idealized portraits of difficult
lives in which hard work, perseverance, love and
luck win out in the end

• Linear concept of time
• Third Person Omniscient intrusive narrator

Significant Victorian novelists and poets

• Matthew Arnold
• The Brontë sisters (Emily, Anne and Charlotte
  Brontë)
• Christina Rossetti
• Joseph Conrad
• Robert Browning
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
• Charles Dickens

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the victorian literature in Charles Dickens

• Oliver Twist
• Nicholas Nickleby
• Hard Times

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Oliver Twist

• Oliver Twist is the second novel by English
  author Charles Dickens
• Show the cruel treatment of many waif-child in
  London
• One of the first example of Social Novel

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• For instance
• we are going to consider an extract from the
  beginning of the book.
• (Oliver Twist asks for food a second time)
• Setting dining hall of the workhouse (where
  Oliver Twist spent his childhood)
• Character Oliver Twist and his companions, the
  master, Mr Bumble and Mr Limbkins)
• Narrator Third person omniscient narrator, free
  indirect speech (The evening arrived the boys
  took their places.) First person narrator,
  direct speech (Please, sir replied Oliver, I
  want some more

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Nicholas Nickleby

• It was Dickens' third novel
• Originally published as a serial from 1838 to
  1839
• The novel centers around the life and adventures
  of Nicholas Nickleby, a young man who must
  support his mother and sister after his father
  dies. His Uncle Ralph, who thinks Nicholas will
  never amount to anything, plays the role of an
  antagonist

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For instance we are going to consider an extract
from the beginning of the novel. ( Nicholas is
ready for his first teaching day)

• Setting School for Boys in Yorkshire, classroom
• Character Mrs Squeers, the hungry servant,
  Nicholas and students
• Narrator Third person omniscient narrator, free
  indirect speech (He could not but observe how
  silent and sad the boys all seemed to be.) First
  person narrator, direct speech (So he is, to be
  sure, rejoined Squeers. We go upon the
  practical mode of teaching

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Hard Times

• It is the tenth novel by Charles Dickens
• It appraises English society and is aimed at
  highlighting the social and economic pressures of
  the times
• Strong criticism
• The Utilitarians were one of the targets of this
  novel

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For instance we are going to consider an extract
from the first book chapter 4. ( Introduction of
Mr Bounderby)

• Setting Description of a character without
  reference to places Drawing room of Stone Lodge
• Character Mrs Grundy, Mr Bounderby, Mr and Mrs
  Gradgrind, the hungry servant, Nicholas and
  students
• Narrator Third person omniscient narrator, free
  indirect speech (A year or two younger than his
  eminently practical friend, Mr Bounderby looked
  older) First person narrator, direct speech
  (No! As wet as a sop. A foot of water in it,
  said Mr Bounderby. His way of talking is pompous
  and arrogant.