victorian lit

Queen Victoria (1819-1901) was the first English monarch to see her name given to the period of her reign whilst still living. The Victorian Age was characterised by rapid change and developments in nearly every sphere - from advances in medical, scientific and technological knowledge to changes in population growth and location. Over time, this rapid transformation deeply affected the country's mood: an age that began with a confidence and optimism leading to economic boom and prosperity eventually gave way to uncertainty and doubt regarding Britain's place in the world. Today we associate the nineteenth century with the great change in English literature in particular the area of poetry. Victorian poetry as it’s most commonly referred to, was very much concerned with contemporary social problems. Change rather than stability came to be accepted for the first time as normal in the nature of human outlook. Victorian poetry can be classified as Early (1837-51), Mid(1851-70) and late(1...