THE VICTORIAN AGE
Victorian Age is also one more significant period in the history of English Literature lasted from 1832–1900. In this era The Reform Bill of passed in 1832 which gave the middle class the political power to hold the economic position. It was the age of progressing materialism and industrialization. The rationalism and artistic soul flourished in the age of Queen Victoria, and importance given to the public righteousness and ethical decorum.
As this age is lasted from 1832 to 1900 but can be divided into two main sub ages:
The Early Victorian Age (1832-1870)
The Later Victorian Age (1870-1900)
Genres of the Early Victorian Age:
The genres in the age were poetry, novel and prose in which the renowned genre of the time was novel.
The Early Victorian Age (1832-1870)
Major Figures and Works of the Early Victorian Age in genre of Poetry:
Most noticeable name given follows;
Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892) was top poet of the Early Victorian age while romanticism flourished in subject matter, in its mixture of social conviction and religious uncertainty it reflected. He was most representative poet of this age as his famous writings were, ‘Locksley Hall’ written in 1842 a chronicle work. Moreover ‘Locksley Hall Sixty Years After’ in 1866, ‘The Princess’ in these poems talking about society. ‘The Maud’ a warrior poem and ‘Idylls of Kings’, ‘Crossing the Bar’ and ‘The Lotos Eaters’.
Robert Browning (1812-1889) is most excellent figure in writing wonderful dramatic monologues. ‘Pauline’ was his first poem a monologue and ‘Paracelsus’ written in 1835. Moreover ‘Sordello’ was written in 1840 was about soul and his generous optimism can be shown in the poem ‘Pippa Passes’ written in 1841. He was interested in study of soul and spirituality. Further he wrote volume of poetry such as ‘Dramatic Lyrics’ in 1842, ‘Dramatic Romances and Lyrics’ in 1845, ‘Men and Women’ in 1855, ‘Dramatic Personae’ in 1864 and ‘Dramatic Idylls’ written in 1879-1880. His later work in poetry was ‘Bishop Blougram’s Apology’, ‘Two in Gondola’, ‘Porphyria’s Lover’, ‘Fra Lippo Lippi’, ‘The Last Ride Together’, ‘Childe Ronald to a Dark Tower Came’, ‘A Grammarian’s Funeral’, ‘Rabi Bin Azra’, ‘Prospice’ and ‘My Last Duchess’ were famous work of Robert Browning. In the last he wrote ‘The Ring and The Book’ in 1868 to 1869 four volumes.
Mathew Arnold (1822-1888) was also one of the great poets of the Early Victorian Age who emphasized on correctness in poetry and giving standards to the writing of literature. His famous work was ‘Requiescat’ funeral song kind of poetical work and some long poems such as, ‘Strayed Reveller’, ‘Empedocles on Etna’, ‘Sohrab and Rustum’ and ‘The Scholar Gipsy’. He also wrote an elegy ‘Thyrsis’ of a high standard. A lyrical work was ‘The Forsaken Merman’, ‘Dover Beach’, ‘Summer Night’ and ‘Memorial Verses’.
Elizabeth Beret Browning (1806-1861) became the Mrs. Browning in 1846 and she was famous for writing poems about Middle Ages. Her famous work was ‘Cowper’s Grave’, ‘The Cry Children’ and her sonnets ‘Sonnets from the Portuguese’ and ‘Aurora Leigh’ written in 1857.
Similarly another poet Arthur Hugh Clough (1819-1861) was in the list of poets in the mentioned age. His well-known work was ‘Dipsychus’ and ‘The Bothie of Toberna Voulich’ about the student life.
Major Figures and Works of the Early Victorian Age in genre of Novel:
The Early Victorian Age was the big in the genre of the English novel which were written in different settings and kinds. Most noticeable name was Charles Dickens (1812-1870). He was considered to be the realistic novel writer who wrote the idyllic appearance to describe current life and to amuse the middle class. His novels were full of spilling over with the characteristics of dramatic, wit, and continual selection of glowing characters and plot settings while portraying urban life even for each class. He dominated the first part of Victoria's reign and most rightly can be called "The King of Victorian Literature" [Wikipedia]. ‘The Pickwick Papers’ was his first novel, was written in 1836, ‘Our Mutual Friend’ written in 1864-1865. ‘Oliver Twist’ written in 1837-39, ‘Nicholas Nickleby’ in 1838-1939, ‘A Christmas Carol’ in 1843, ‘Dombey and Son’ in 1846-1848, ‘David Copperfield’ in 1849-1850, ‘Bleak House’ 1852-1853, ‘Little Dorrit’ 1855-1857, ‘ A Tale of Two Cities’ 1859 and ‘Great Expectations’ written in 1860-61.
William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-1863) is also a prominent figure in this genre. He is famous for his novel ‘Vanity Fair’ written in 1848. He brutally satirized hypocrisy and greed in this novel. Moreover ‘David Copperfield’ and ‘Henry Esmond’ were famous novels of Thakery. Similarly his later work was ‘Newcomes’ and ‘The Virginians’ also famous novels.
Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) was one of minor novelist of the age. His ‘Vivian Grey’ in 1826-1827, ‘Coningsby’ in 1844, ‘Sybil’ in 1845 and ‘Tancred’ written in 1847.
Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) wrote fiction quite different from that ordinary at the occasion. Her famous novel was ‘Jane Eyre’ written in 1847 and ‘Villette’ written in 1853 were well-known novels in this era.
Emily Bronte (1818-1848) wrote the only novel ‘Wuthering Heights’ in 1847. It is sole masterpiece.
Mrs. Gaskell (1810-1865) was another novelist in this era. Her famous work was ‘Mary Barton’ written in 1848 and ‘North and South’ written in 1855 were all about working class. Moreover in ‘Ruth’ written in 1853and ‘Cranford’ written in 1853 she wrote about societal issues.
Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) was another part of this group wrote historical novels. His famous work was ‘Yeast’ written in 1848 and ‘Alton Locke’ written in 1850. Moreover he wrote ‘Hypatia’ in 1853 and ‘West Ho’ in 1855 and later work ‘Hereward the Wake’ written in 1865 were significant work of Kingsley.
Charles Reade (1814-1884) wrote societal novels such as ‘Never too late to Mend’ written in 1853, ‘Hard Cash’ in 1863, ‘A Terrible Temptation’ and ‘Cloister and the Hearth’ written in 1867 were famous.
Willkie Collins (1824-1889) was another writer of novels. His best known novels were ‘The Woman in White’ and ‘The Moonstone’ mystrical novels.
In the last Anthony Trollope (1815-1888) was famed for series of related novels that discover communal, religious, and political being in England. His ‘The Warden’ written in 1855, ‘Barchester Towers’ in 1857 and ‘The Last Chronicles of Barset’ written in 1867 were famous work of Trollope.
Major Figures and Works of the Early Victorian Age in genre of Prose:
Most noticeable name in
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Among the Victorian masters of prose writers there was one of great prose writer Carlyle who wrote the historical, social critical writings. He was famous for his best prose writings such as ‘The French Revolution’ written in 1837, ‘Past and Present’ in 1843, ‘The Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell’ written in 1845, ‘Latter Day Pamphlets’ in 1850, and ‘the Life of John Sterling’ in 1851, and ‘The History of Frederick the Great’ written in 1858-1865 were most famous prose of Carlyle.
John Ruskin (1819-1900) was actually interested in art and his famous work is ‘Modern Painters’ written in 1843-1860 comprise of five volumes. He also wrote on architecture like ‘The seven Lamps of Architecture’ in 1849 and ‘The Stones of the Venice’ in 1851-1853. Moreover he wrote ‘Unto this Last’ in 1860 artistic work all about art. Later work was ‘Sesame and Lilies’ written in 1865 and ‘The Crown of the Wilde Olive’ in 1866.
Thomas Babington Lord Macaulay (1800-1857) was also a prose writer of the age. He was famous for the sentimental kind of writings. He wrote ‘History of England’ in early 1828.
In the last Mathew Arnold (1822-1888) as being poet and prose writer was a great literary figure of the age. His famous work was ‘ On Translating Homer’ in 1861, ‘The Study of Celtic Literature’ in 1867, ‘Essays in Criticism’ in 1865-1888 and ‘Culture and Anarchy’ written in 1869. His writings based on education of people and the masses of lower classes. He was a naturalistic writer of the Early Victorian Age.
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