The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Volume E The Victorian Age

Synopsis

The most trusted anthology for complete works and helpful editorial apparatus. The Tenth Edition supports survey and period courses with NEW complete major works, NEW contemporary writers, and dynamic and easy-to-access digital resources. NEW video modules help introduce students to literature in multiple exciting ways. These innovations make the Norton Anthology an even better teaching tool for instructors and, as ever, unmatched value for students.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Age of Tennyson and Browning

This chapter introduces the Victorian Age, a period of great literary and intellectual ferment in England. Two towering figures dominate this era: Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning. Tennyson is known for his lyrical poetry and epic works like "In Memoriam," while Browning's work is characterized by its dramatic monologues and psychological depth.

* Real Example: Tennyson's poem "The Lady of Shalott" tells the tragic tale of a cursed maiden who longs for a life beyond her tower. The poem explores themes of beauty, art, and the isolation of women.

Chapter 2: The Pre-Raphaelites and the Aesthetic Movement

The Pre-Raphaelites were a group of artists and writers who rejected the academic conventions of their time. They sought to revive the simplicity and naturalism of early Italian art. This chapter also discusses the Aesthetic Movement, which emphasized art for art's sake, without any moral or utilitarian purpose.

* Real Example: Dante Gabriel Rossetti's painting "Ophelia" depicts the tragic heroine from Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Rossetti's use of rich colors and intricate detail reflects the Pre-Raphaelite fascination with the natural world.

Chapter 3: Carlyle, Ruskin, and Arnold

This chapter examines the writings of three influential Victorian thinkers: Thomas Carlyle, John Ruskin, and Matthew Arnold. Carlyle emphasized the importance of heroism and individual genius, while Ruskin advocated for social and environmental reform. Arnold sought to promote culture and education as a means of improving society.

* Real Example: Ruskin's book "The Stones of Venice" argues that Gothic architecture embodies the spiritual and moral values of the Middle Ages. Ruskin's writings greatly influenced the Victorian revival of Gothic architecture.

Chapter 4: The Brontës and George Eliot

This chapter focuses on three female writers of the Victorian Era: Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Brontë, and George Eliot. The Brontës' novels explored themes of passion, isolation, and the search for self-identity. Eliot, on the other hand, wrote realistic and insightful novels that depicted the lives of ordinary people.

* Real Example: Emily Brontë's novel "Wuthering Heights" is a classic tale of love, revenge, and the destructive power of passion. The novel's complex characters and atmospheric setting continue to captivate readers today.

Chapter 5: Charles Dickens and Victorian Social Realism

This chapter examines the work of Charles Dickens, one of the most popular and influential Victorian novelists. Dickens' novels exposed the social and economic problems of his time, such as poverty, child labor, and urban blight.

* Real Example: Dickens' novel "Oliver Twist" follows the adventures of an orphan boy in Victorian England. The novel exposes the harsh realities of poverty and the exploitation of children.

Chapter 6: The Fin de Siècle

This chapter explores the end of the Victorian Era and the transition to modernism. Writers and artists of this period embraced ambiguity, subjectivity, and a preoccupation with the unconscious mind.

* Real Example: Oscar Wilde's play "The Importance of Being Earnest" is a satirical comedy that mocks the social conventions of Victorian England. Wilde's witty dialogue and exploration of identity prefigured the modernist movement.