Philosophy and Values of the Victorians

Philosophy and Values of the Victorians/ Characteristics of Victorian Literature  Values Major Ideas Literary Form/ Structure Literary Content/ Themes Literary Genres/ Styles Key Authors Earnestness Expansion of Empire Narrative over Lyric Isolation/ Alienation Dramatic Monologue Lord Tennyson Respectability Glorification of War Meter and Rhythm over Imagery Lack of communication Novel Elegy magazines The Brontes Oscar Wilde Evangelism Industrialism Objective; reflective Pessimism and despair Drama: Comedy of Manners Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning Evolution and Progress Economic Prosperity Melancholy or meditative, even in love poems Loss of faith Rigid standards of personal behavior Charles Dickens Hypocrisy? Reform Moral issues, didactic Didactic High moral tone Thomas Carlyle Protestant work ethic   Contemporary subjects     Charles Darwin Restraint   Longer over shorter forms     Matthew Arnold Utilitarianism Strong emphasis on duty   More common expressions     Dante Gabriel and Christina Rosetti     Medieval subjects and forms      Rudyard Kipling   Romantic/Victorian Contrasts   Romantic Era Victorian Era Idealism Visionary/Utopian Sober/Utilitarian View of Nature Kind/Harmonious Harsh/Cruel Focus Inward/Individual Common man Imagination Introspection Outward/Nation Middle class Reality Work Philosophy Transcendentalism Utilitarianism More Victoriana Key Metaphor Struggle or strife Key Theme Theory of evolution leads to crisis of faith Intellectual and spiritual doubt – antidote is work Growing social consciousness Reform movements – child labour, safety, hours Women – demand emancipation, enfranchisement, evolution Victorian Trinity Religion, science, morality Nationalism Britain – first great modern industrial nation Poets Feel alienated, betrayed – estranged from life and love – so isolate themselves no groups or friends