English Lit 101: Major Periods and Movements - Victorian Literature PreRaphaelites Industrial Novel Social Critique Dramatic Monologue Aestheticism Decadence

Victorian Literature Study Guide

What It Is

Victorian literature refers to the body of work produced during the Victorian era (1837-1901) in the United Kingdom. Characterized by a focus on social reform, industrialization, and the rise of the middle class, Victorian literature often explored themes of morality, class, and identity. A canonical example of Victorian literature is Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist (1838), which critiques the social ills of poverty and child labor.

Key Terms & Concepts

• Industrial Novel: a novel that critiques the social and economic effects of industrialization. Example: Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
• Social Critique: a literary work that critiques societal norms and institutions. Example: Hard Times by Charles Dickens.
• Pre-Raphaelite Movement: a group of artists and writers who sought to revive medieval aesthetics and challenge traditional artistic conventions. Example: Dante Gabriel Rossetti's poetry.
• Aestheticism: a literary and artistic movement that emphasized the importance of beauty and individualism. Example: Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• Decadence: a literary and artistic movement that celebrated excess and moral decay. Example: Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• Dramatic Monologue: a poetic form in which a speaker expresses their thoughts and feelings to an audience, often with a hidden or ironic intention. Example: Tennyson's Ulysses.
• Realism: a literary movement that sought to accurately depict everyday life and social conditions. Example: Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
• Romanticism: a literary movement that emphasized emotion, imagination, and individualism. Example: John Keats' poetry.
• Gothic Novel: a novel that combines elements of horror, mystery, and romance. Example: Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights.
• Social Darwinism: a theory that applied Charles Darwin's ideas on evolution to human society, arguing that the strong would survive and the weak would perish. Example: Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles.
• Imperialism: a policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization and expansion. Example: Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.
• Symbolism: a literary device in which an object or color represents an abstract idea or concept. Example: the rose in Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.
• Irony: a literary device in which the opposite of what is expected occurs. Example: the irony of the wealthy Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
• Satire: a literary device in which a work critiques societal norms and institutions through humor and irony. Example: Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels.

Common Misunderstandings

• Misunderstanding: Victorian literature is only about social reform and morality.
• Correction: Victorian literature encompasses a wide range of themes and genres, including romance, horror, and science fiction.
• Misunderstanding: The Pre-Raphaelite Movement was only a group of artists.
• Correction: The Pre-Raphaelite Movement was a literary and artistic movement that included writers, artists, and musicians.
• Misunderstanding: Decadence is only about moral decay and excess.
• Correction: Decadence is a complex movement that celebrates individualism, beauty, and the rejection of traditional values.

Quick Application / Identification

1. Identify the literary device used in the following excerpt from Dickens' Oliver Twist: "The cold, grey fog crept in, and the gas lamps flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls."
2. Answer: Symbolism (the fog represents the bleakness of poverty and urban life).

3. Reason: The fog is used to create a sense of atmosphere and mood, highlighting the harsh conditions of the characters' lives.

4. Identify the genre of the following text: "The mysterious stranger arrived at the old mansion, where he encountered a family with a dark and troubled past."

5. Answer: Gothic Novel.

6. Reason: The text combines elements of horror, mystery, and romance, characteristic of the Gothic Novel genre.

7. Identify the literary movement that influenced the following text: "The sun was setting over the rolling hills, casting a golden glow over the landscape."

8. Answer: Romanticism.
9. Reason: The text emphasizes the beauty and emotion of nature, characteristic of the Romantic movement.

Last-Minute Revision

• The Victorian era lasted from 1837 to 1901.
• Charles Dickens wrote Oliver Twist in 1838.
• The Pre-Raphaelite Movement was founded in 1848.
• Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray was published in 1890.
• Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles was published in 1891.
• The Aesthetic Movement was a key influence on the Pre-Raphaelite Movement.
• Decadence was a key influence on the Aesthetic Movement.
• The Dramatic Monologue was a key poetic form of the Victorian era.
• Social Darwinism was a key theory of the Victorian era.
• Imperialism was a key policy of the Victorian era.
• Symbolism was a key literary device of the Victorian era.
• Irony was a key literary device of the Victorian era.
• Satire was a key literary device of the Victorian era.
• The Gothic Novel was a key genre of the Victorian era.
• The Realist movement was a key influence on the Victorian era.
• The Romantic movement was a key influence on the Victorian era.