The Victorian Period

Objectives: SWBAT Understand how the historical events of the time, both good and bad, changed the literature Understand how the historical events of the time, both good and bad, changed the literature Understand how the values of the period are portrayed in the literature and understand the effect these values had on the literature Understand how the values of the period are portrayed in the literature and understand the effect these values had on the literature Understand how the novel develops as a genre in this time period Understand how the novel develops as a genre in this time period

Greatest time of the Empire Queen Victoria ruled as queen of England/Ireland Queen Victoria ruled as queen of England/Ireland English colonies in Australia, Africa and Asia English colonies in Australia, Africa and Asia Time of reform Time of reform

The Hungry Forties Victoria’s reign began with a depression Victoria’s reign began with a depression Children working 12 hour days, falling asleep and being maimed or killed at machines Children working 12 hour days, falling asleep and being maimed or killed at machines Destruction of potato crop led to famine in Ireland which led to 25% of the population leaving the country Destruction of potato crop led to famine in Ireland which led to 25% of the population leaving the country Increased population in British cities led to overcrowding, poor work conditions and disease Increased population in British cities led to overcrowding, poor work conditions and disease

Reform and Improvement Time of peace in the empire Time of peace in the empire City planning led to safer, cleaner streets City planning led to safer, cleaner streets More colonies meant more imports improving diets, education and commerce More colonies meant more imports improving diets, education and commerce Factory acts limited child labor and reduced the work days to 10 hours Factory acts limited child labor and reduced the work days to 10 hours

Victorian values Sex, birth and death were spoken of in euphemisms Sex, birth and death were spoken of in euphemisms Women were subject to male authority Women were subject to male authority Women were expected to marry and make a home Women were expected to marry and make a home Few opportunities were available to unmarried women Few opportunities were available to unmarried women

Jane Austen Born in 1775 to a clergyman Born in 1775 to a clergyman Five older brothers and one sister Cassandra Five older brothers and one sister Cassandra Neither girl ever married Neither girl ever married Family enjoyed reading novels which wasn’t common practice Family enjoyed reading novels which wasn’t common practice Died 1817 Died 1817

Pride and Prejudice First written under the title First Impressions First written under the title First Impressions Austen wrote it at the age of 21 but was turned down for publication; published in 1813 Austen wrote it at the age of 21 but was turned down for publication; published in 1813 Four other novels published Four other novels published Sense and Sensibility 1811 Sense and Sensibility 1811 Mansfield Park 1814 Mansfield Park 1814 Emma 1816 Emma 1816 Persuasion & Northanger Abbey 1818 Persuasion & Northanger Abbey 1818

Emily Bronte Born 1818 and died 1848 Born 1818 and died 1848 One of six children born to a country family in England One of six children born to a country family in England Her mother died when she was three and the father left the children alone much of the time Her mother died when she was three and the father left the children alone much of the time Bronte and her sisters Charlotte and Anne were imaginative and began to write stories and eventually novels. Bronte and her sisters Charlotte and Anne were imaginative and began to write stories and eventually novels.

Wuthering Heights The novel deals with three social classes: gentry, peasants and new capitalist wealthy The role of women is also a major idea This is a romantic novel and also a gothic novel ghosts large houses decay

Novelist of the Day 1. Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice 2. Charlotte Bronte – Jane Eyre 3. Thomas Hardy – Tess of the D'Urbervilles 4. Emily Bronte – Wuthering Heights 5. Charles Dickens – Tale of Two Cities

Answer the following questions with your notes for the Victorian Period. What, in your opinion, was the worst part of the Victorian era? Try to think outside the box. What, in your opinion, was the worst part of the Victorian era? Try to think outside the box. Based on what you know of the Victorian Period, what can you infer the writing will be about? What will the overall tone of the writing be? DON’T use the words good or bad in your answer. Based on what you know of the Victorian Period, what can you infer the writing will be about? What will the overall tone of the writing be? DON’T use the words good or bad in your answer. What do you think would be the reaction of a Victorian lady or gentleman to your generation? Be specific What do you think would be the reaction of a Victorian lady or gentleman to your generation? Be specific Write down your novel. Go to the internet tonight and be able to tell the class 5 facts about your novel tomorrow. Write down your novel. Go to the internet tonight and be able to tell the class 5 facts about your novel tomorrow.