English literature summary
Victorian
England
and
Victorian
poetry
Victorian
Age
1837–1901.
Rapid
developments;
England
leading
industrial
country;
large
empire.
Steam
power,
railways/iron
ships,
printing
presses,
the
telegraph,
the
intercontinental
cable,
photography,
farmer’s
combines,
anaesthetics,
compulsory
education.
National
wealth
accumulated:
markets
all
over
the
world,
many
factories;
social
contradictions
i.e.
double
standard:
rich/poor,
empire/colonies,
wealth/exploitation,
family/law,
personal
expression/social
criteria,
great
expectations/failure.
Conflict
between
religious
beliefs
and
science,
e.g