Literature

• Writers of the Neoclassical period tried to imitate the style of the Romans and Greeks.

• Thus, it was 'neo,' which means 'new,' and 'classical,' as in the day of the Roman and Greek classics.

• This was the era of the Enlightenment, of logic, and of reason. It was preceded by the Renaissance and followed by the Romantic Era.

• Neoclassical literature is characterized by order, accuracy, and structure. In direct opposition to Renaissance attitudes, where man was seen as basically good, the Neoclassical writers portrayed man as inherently flawed.

• They emphasized 'restraint,' self-control, and common sense.

• This was a time when conservatism flourished in both politics and literature.

• Some popular types of literature included: parody, essays, satire, letters, fables, melodrama, and rhyming with couplets.

ROMANTIC PERIOD IN ENGLISH LITERATURE: 1798-1832

• PERIOD OF GREAT CHANGE IN ENGLAND:

• AGRICULTURAL - POWERFUL LANDHOLDING ARISTOCRACY

• GIVING WAY TO MODERN INDUSTRIAL NATION OF LARGE-SCALE EMPLOYERS & A GROWING, RESTLESS MIDDLE CLASS.

• AMERICAN & FRENCH REVOLUTIONS - IMPORTANT ELEMENTS OF THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE.

• REVOLUTIONS - THREATS TO EXISTING SOCIAL STRUCTURE

• POLITICAL REPRESSION IN ENGLAND

• NEEDED CHANGES – DUE TO INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION.

• MILL TOWNS GREW

• THE LANDSCAPE - SUBDIVIDED

• FACTORIES SPEWED POLLUTION OVER SLUMS

• THE POPULATION - DIVIDED INTO RICH & POOR.

LACK OF REFORM

• LOW WAGES

• HORRIBLE WORKING CONDITIONS

• LARGE-SCALE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN & CHILDREN IN BRUTALLY HARD OCCUPATIONS (SUCH AS COAL MINING).

• In the face of technological un-employment & poverty, workers

• COULD NOT VOTE

• RESORT TO PROTESTS & RIOTS

• THE POOR SUFFERED

• THE LEISURE CLASS PROSPERED

Rights of women

• WOMEN OF ALL CLASSES

• REGARDED AS INFERIOR TO MEN

• UNDEREDUCATED

• LIMITED VOCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

• STRICT CODE OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR

• ALMOST NO LEGAL RIGHTS.

• THE CAUSE OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS WAS LARGELY IGNORED.

ROMANTICISM

• English writers of the late 1700s and early 1800s substituted passion for Augustan harmony and moderation.

• They believed in the creative power of the imagination and adopted an intensely personal view of the world:

• embraced imagination and naturalness

• turned away from 18^th century emphasis on reason and artifice

• fascination with youth and innocence

• embraced personal experience and emotions

• These writers are called romantics.

The Victorian Age1832-1900

Victorian literature is just literature written during the reign of Queen Victoria in Great Britain.

Queen Victoria (1819-1901) Reign: 1837-1901

• She had the longest reign in British history

• Became queen at the age of 18; she was graceful and self-assured. She also had a gift for drawing and painting

• Throughout her reign, she maintained a sense of dignity and decorum that restored the average person’s high opinion of the monarchy after a series of horrible, ineffective leaders

• 1840-Victoria married a German prince, Albert, who became not king, but Prince-consort

• After he died in 1861, she sank into a deep depression and wore black every day for the rest of her life

The Growth of the British Empire

• England grew to become the greatest nation on earth, the population of England more than doubled, from 14 million to 32 million.

• Empire included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, Kenya, and India

• England built a very large navy and merchant fleet (for trade and colonization)

• Imported raw materials such as cotton and silk and exported finished goods to countries around the world

• By the mid-1800s, England was the largest exporter and importer of goods in the world. It was the primary manufacturer of goods and the wealthiest country in the world

• Because of England’s success, they felt it was their duty to bring English values, laws, customs, and religion to the “savage” races around the world