Characteristics of Victorian Era: (1837-1901)

Characteristics of Victorian Era: (1837-1901)

In A Nutshell:

Major aspects are given below:

• Their approach to life was somehow pessimistic.
• The tone of literature was elegiac, expression was lyrical and poetry was musical.
• They discussed the misery of the poor and the follies of upper class.
• They were torn between the values of past and the sudden modernization so dissatisfaction was there.

In Depth:

The Victorian age was in many ways the most glorious age in the history of England; this period brought

• Material prosperity,
• Political awakening,
• Democratic reforms,
• Industrial and mechanical advancement,
• Social upheaval,
• Educational expansion,
• Imperialism and empire-building,
• Humanitarianism.

However, it was strangely the time of pessimism for poets, writers and thinkers, because;

There was a superficial covering swallowing the old values, morality and religion. The society was severely divided between well-to-do and labourers. Along with that spirit of pessimism and doubt, there was a touch of romanticism, the spirit of desire for the lost, past and the ideal. There was also in its literature the old romantic thirst for beauty, love and art. 

Note: This note was written after going through the material on the below website.

 - See more at http://www.bachelorandmaster.com/englishperiods/salient-features-of-victorian-literature.html#.V9wQUlt96t8

Thanks for reading.