The Victorian Age is also one more significant period in the history of English Literature lasting from 1832–1900. In this era, The Reform Bill 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 was 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 which the renowned genre of the time was novel.
The Early Victorian Age (1832-1870)
Poetry in the Early Victorian Age:
The most noticeable name is given as follows;
Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892) was a 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 the 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, and ‘The Princess’ these poems talk about society. ‘The Maud’ is a warrior poem as ‘Idylls of Kings’, ‘Crossing the Bar’, and ‘The Lotos Eaters’.
Robert Browning (1812-1889) is a most excellent figure in writing wonderful dramatic monologues. ‘Pauline’ was his first poem a monologue and ‘Paracelsus’ was written in 1835. Moreover ‘Sordello’ was written in 1840 was about the soul and his generous optimism can be shown in the poem ‘Pippa Passes’ written in 1841. He was interested in the study of the soul and spirituality. Further, he wrote a 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’ from 1868 to 1869 four volumes.
Mathew Arnold (1822-1888) was also one of the great poets of the Early Victorian Age who emphasized correctness in poetry and gave 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 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 on the list of poets in the mentioned age. His well-known work was ‘Dipsychus’ and ‘The Bothie of Toberna Voulich’ about student life.
Novel in the Early Victorian Age:
The Early Victorian Age was big in the genre of the English novel which was written in different settings and kinds. Their most noticeable name was Charles Dickens (1812-1870). He was considered to be a 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 drama, wit, and a 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, written in 1836, ‘Our Mutual Friend’ was 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 by Thackery. Similarly, his later work was ‘Newcomes’ and ‘The Virginians’ also famous novels.
Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) was one of the minor novelists of the age. His ‘Vivian Grey’ in 1826-1827, ‘Coningsby’ in 1844, ‘Sybil’ in 1845, and ‘Tancred’ was 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 the 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 the working class. Moreover, in ‘Ruth’ written in 1853, and Cranford’ written in 1853, she wrote about societal issues.
Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) was another part of this group who 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 his later work ‘Hereward the Wake’ written in 1865 was 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’ mystical novels.
The last Anthony Trollope (1815-1888) was famed for a series of related novels that discover communal, religious, and political beings in England. His ‘The Warden’ written in 1855, ‘Barchester Towers’ in 1857, and ‘The Last Chronicles of Barset’ written in 1867 were famous works of Trollope.
Most noticeable name in
Thomas Carlyle (1795-1881) Among the Victorian masters of prose writers there was one great prose writer Carlyle who wrote the historical, and 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 interested in art and his famous work is ‘Modern Painters’ written in 1843-1860 comprise five volumes. He also wrote about architecture like ‘The seven Lamps of Architecture’ in 18490 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 his sentimental kind of writing. 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 were based on the education of people and the masses of lower classes. He was a naturalistic writer of the Early Victorian Age.
The Later Victorian Age (1870-1900)
The Later Victorian Age was the era that started in the reign of Victoria in the last part of the century and lasted from 1870 to 1900.
Genres of the Later Victorian Age:
The genres in the age were poetry, novel, and prose which the renowned genre of the time was poetry and novel.
Poetry in the Later Victorian Age:
In poetry there were two kinds of movement regarding poetry;
The Pre-Raphaelite Movement In the last of the later Victorian Age, the Pre-Raphaelites, started by Dante Gabriel Rossetti as a poet of paintings and initiated the writings in natural settings and artistic manners. Their mission for wealthy symbolic art takes them a little bit different part of the conventional movement. Other names in this movement were William Morris and Christina Rossetti, who were poets, designers, and societal philosophers.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828-1882) was the chief of the movement who wrote painting poetry himself and promoted spiritual and moral poetical work. His famous work was ‘House of Life’, ‘Dante at Verona’, ‘The Streams Secret’ and ‘The Portrait’ which consist of personal life interpretations. Moreover, he wrote ‘Rose Mary’, ‘The Blessed Damozel’, ‘The White Ship’, ‘The King’s Tragedy’, ‘The Bride’s Pleasure’ and ‘Sister Helen’ were a collection of romantic poems.
Christiana Rossetti (1830-1894) was the sister of Dante Gabriel Rossetti and wrote a little bit in the spell of her brother. Her famous work was ‘Goblin Market and Other Poems’ written in 1861, ‘And the Prince’s Progress’ in 1866 and later on wrote ‘A Pageant and Other Poems’ written in 1881, ‘Time Flies’ in 1885, and ‘The Face of the Deep’ which were well-known work of Christiana Rosette.
In the last William Morris (1834-1896) were a poet of the movement and a painter as well. His early work ‘The Defence of Guenevere’, and ‘The Life and Death of Jason’ were artistic and narrative poems. Moreover, he wrote ‘Earthly Paradise’ in 1868-1870. He also translated the series of poems Grettis and Volsunga’ and wrote poems ‘Sigurd the Volsung’.
Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837-1909) was another Victorian poet who wrote famous works such as ‘Atlanta in Calydon’ in 1865, ‘Poems and Ballades’ in 1886 consisted of poems, ‘Laus Veneris’, ‘The Garden of Proserpine’, ‘The Hymn to Proserpine’, ‘The Triumph of Time’ and Itylus and Dolores’ well-known work of Swinburne. In addition, he wrote another collection of poems such as, ‘Studies in Song’ in 1880 and ‘A Century of Roundels’ in 1883, and ‘Tristram of Lyonesse’ written in 1882 a lyrical work collection.
The Aesthetic Movement or the Decadent movement was the more significant in the later Victorian Age. Most important figures in the group were Oscar Wilde (1856-1900), Ernest Dowson (1867-1900), Lionel Pigot Johnson (1867-1902), and Arthur Symons (18?-19?) who wrote under the statement ‘Art for the Art’s Sake’. Their most famous work was, ‘New Helen’, ‘The Garden of Eros’ and ‘Panthea’ were consist of aesthetic dogma by Oscar Wilde. Similarly, Dowson wrote ‘Cynara’ and ‘Nuns of the Perpetual Adoration’ under the spell of French writers and for Art’s sake. This movement was especially followed by Pre-Raphaelites fully based on French models of poetry.
Novel in the Later Victorian Age:
The most noticeable name in this age is considered to be the modern novelist who adopted new trends while portraying the societal aspects in their stories. This group of novelists was followed by early novelists of the Victorian era.
George Eliot (1819-1880) wrote under the influence of modernism such as her famous work, ‘Scenes of Clerical Life’, in 1857, ‘Adam Bede’ in 1860, ‘The Mill on the Floss’ written in 1860, and ‘Middlemarch’ in1872 were the most popular work. Moreover, she wrote ‘Silas Marner’ in 1861, ‘Romola’ in 1863, and ‘Middle March’ written in 1871-1872.
George Meredith (1829-1900) was a woman of immense intellect and moral passion having apprehension with ethical conflicts and social problems. She also wrote comic novels renowned for their psychological insight. Her famous work was ‘The Ordeal of Richard Feverel’, ‘Evan Harrington’ written in 1861, ‘Rhoda Fleming’ in 1865, ‘Sandra Belloni’ in 1864, ‘Harry Richmond in 1871, and ‘Beauchamp’s Career’ written in 1876.
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) was one of the greatest novelists in the later period of the Victorian era. His famous work was, ‘The Woodlanders’, ‘The Return of the Native’, ‘Under the Greenwood Tree’ written in 1872, ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ in 1874, ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’ in 1886, ‘Tess of the d'Urbervilles’ in 1891, and ‘Jude the Obscure’ written in 1895. He also wrote a novel, ‘Desperate Remedies’. His profoundly pessimistic novels are all set in the harsh; punishing Midland County he called Wessex (Wikipedia).
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) was a novelist who wrote storytelling novels such as ‘Treasure Island’, ‘New Arabian Nights’, ‘Kidnapped’ and ‘The Black Arrow’ which were romances and stories whereas ‘Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’, ‘Master of Ballantre’ and an incomplete novel was ‘Weir of Hermiston’ were famous works of Steveson.
George Gissing (1857-1903) wrote also famous novels such as ‘Worker in the Dawn’, ‘The Unclassed’, ‘Domes’, ‘The Emancipated’, ‘New Grub Street’ and ‘Born in Exile’ were the title based work of Gissing.
Major Figures and Works of the Later Victorian Age in the genre of Prose:
The most noticeable name in the genre was John Henry Newman (1801-1890) and Walter Pater (1839-1894) who wrote under the Oxford Movement and Aesthetic Movement respectively. Oxford movement was the revival of lost traditions of England as was in Middle Ages. Newman wrote his great prose writings such as ‘Apologia’ in respect of getting an end to the Oxford movement. Similarly, Peter was also a well-known prose writer who wrote ‘Studies in the history of the Renaissance’ and ‘Greek Studies’ written in 1873. Later on, he wrote ‘Marius the Epicurean’ for the betterment of English history.
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