Literature- theory

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

18th - 19th ct literature

- theory: context and characteristics

- books: choice of 10 --- > see Classroom

Testweek: essay

argue for or against a statement relating to your book using your knowledge of the literary period. 

- essay structure - language - literary analysis 

Victorian and romantic

- science

- nature

- class society

- individualism

- spirituality/ soul/ ethics/ mankind

The focus of these themes and the way in which they are expressed changes over time

18th century

The Monk: A Romance, Matthew Lewis, 1796.

The mysteries of Udolpho, Ann Radcliffe, 1794

The Castle of Otranto, Horace Walpole, 1764

Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe, 1719

 

Gulliver’s Travels, Jonathan Swift, 1726

19th century

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë, 1847

Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë, 1847

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen, 1813

Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde, 1893

Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, 1818/ 1831

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson, 1886

18th century

scientific discoveries and philosophers: Age of Reason / Enlightenment

previously in ignorance, now rational

this anything was possible through reason resulted in confidence in individual

meant a boom in Britain’s economy

international trade and colonisation made Britain rich!

first to enter industrialisation: impact on day to day life: 

trade and industry overtook agriculture and people moved to cities

nobility not only ones in power anymore!

you could prosper by investing and trading > middle class (bourgeoisie)

through marriages rise to nobility

new social class became influential:

hard work and virtuous living new ideals

importance of upbringing and role of mother

new role women: domestic, still important to marry rich

still many underpaid uneducated workers > contrast!

18th century- literacy

cities centre of intellectual life: ideas spread more widely and quickly

new technologies:

printing cheaper and faster and quicker transport: ideas spread easier

pamphlets and journals (with news, essays, stories, satire, poetry) to large parts of society

new form of literature: the novel

describing lives of ordinary people with ordinary problems

recognisable to many!

travel accounts, but also less exotic

reflect day to day life in contrast to before (heroes and monarchs)

truthful, realistic and yet exciting, preferably with moral (sometimes even satire)

examples: Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver’s Travels, Tom Jones, Pamela

Romantic Period (1798-1837)

started with publication of Lyrical Ballads (by Wordsworth and Coleridge) and ended with ascension of Queen Victoria

earlier than periods with similar name in Europe

one of most important literary periods in English history!

product of socio-economic setting:

steam engine > 2 industrial revolutions (from agricultural to industrial and rural to urban)

French revolution: new ideas and attitudes (shout for freedom and rejection of authority)

in other words: this movement reacted against the Age of Reason!

Great period for poetry, but also some prose

novels mainly about earlier times (18th century)

Characteristics of R.L

focus on power and grandeur of nature

emotion over intellect

imagination over logic > as countermovement for Age of Reason

(also the mysterious and frightening!)

originality (or inspiration/intuition) was prized!

interest in history (mostly mediaeval), celebrating times before industrialisation

fascination with exotic and unfamiliar

anti-authoritarian and anti-establishment

individualistic

common people could be noble if close to nature

much poetry about children 

(uncorrupted by knowledge, innocent, close to nature) 

Romantic Poetry

Two generations of Romantic poets:

criticised social conventions and society is evil. supported ideals of freedom and equality of French Revolution.

simple language, wanted to combine supernatural, mysterious and fantastical images and tones with everyday themes

leading poets: Wordsworth, Coleridge (Rime of the Ancient Mariner), Southy

true incarnation of Romantic revolt. Total rebellion without truce, affirmation of the individual, truth and beauty

more complex versifications

leading poets: Keats, Percy Shelley, Lord Byron 

(all lived short lives by ‘living on the edge’)

Een gedichtenactiviteit doen

Romantic prose

Most important novelists: 

Mary Shelley (Frankenstein), 

Bronte sisters (after period, but in mood and style), 

Austen (books about Age of Reason), 

Sir Walter Scott (historical novels), 

Gothic novel is typically a Romantic form: 

famous example: Frankenstein

first already before Romantic period: Castle of Otranto, became more popular during Romantic Period

characteristics: sinister settings, extreme landscapes (nature, weather, etc) and their effects on your mood/circumstances, omens, supernatural elements, fear

In fragmenten uit de boeken laten highlighten wat de kenmerken zijn

Victorian period 1837-1901/1914

true change into industrialised society

large factories and automatisation 

lack of raw material in Britain > trade internationally in British Empire

economic growth meant both great fortune and poverty:

factory owners and entrepreneurs were wealthy: new aristocracy (bourgeoisie) and traditional upper class became less important

many people moved to cities: overcrowded and lack of housing with miserable working conditions. Depopulation of rural areas meant food shortages.

Peak was Great Exhibition in 1851

showing off with capabilities of human spirit and creative thinking

uprise of socialistic movement: power for the workers

start of Labour Party 1893

major discussion: Darwin’s evolution theory

conflict between science and religion

plaatjes laten zien

Ook stripjes over aotmatisation

Misschien film? Charlie Chapplin The Kid/ iets met die frabriek? Of Buster Keaton die in zo'n grote machine iets doet?

Victorian Literature

emotions made way for more rational style, innovative works

novel became most popular form

made available for large parts of society in serial form: cheap and accessible

reasons why it became more popular:

novel intended for middle class > picked up and approved by Victorian bourgeoisie

no tradition yet, so could be adapted to Victorian age

allow to escape reality, perfect for chaotic society

relatable for people: real life situations

proposed solutions to complex issues

Victorian Novels

Characteristics of novels:

standard middle class behaviours and habits > relatable

popular topic: adaptation of individual to society

emphasis on character development, including climbing social ladder

principle character shows weakness, but still decent and reasonable Victorian

Victorian novels now can be big, but were not like that then due to serialisation

serialisation meant constant excitement and suspense

nostalgia (because present day was bad..)

Famous novelists:

Charles Dickens (Bleak House is first detective novel, Hard Times about factory life)

George Eliot (woman writer, Middlemarch)

Thomas Hardy (Jude the Obscure)

Oscar Wilde (dandy, shocking, The Picture of Dorian Gray)

Age of Reason:

all about rational and knowledge

often satirical or moralistic

start of novel with still stock characters and logical plots

truthful, hardly fantasy

already more about normal people

Victorian age:

questioning religion (Darwin)

social turmoil

feminism and realism

individualistic change and character development

serial novels, mainly about middle class