1.

     In what ways would you say that the so-called Victorian poets (Victorian
Era 1832-1902) reflect the sociopolitical realities of their time in their work?
a.     1832 – expansion of vote to men
b.     1837 – Victoria becomes the queen
c.      1845 – Potato Famine in Ireland – I million died and 2 million
emigrated
d.     1847 – 10-hour working day ac for women and children
e.      1859 – The Origin of the Species by Charles Darwin
 (To discuss)

 the reign of Queen Victoria in English (1837-1901)

o ***Blake (1757-1827)
o Christina Rossetti (1830-1894)
o Gerald Manly Hopkins (1844-1889)
o W B Yeats (1865-1939)
o Sassoon (1886-1967)

 some similarities that existed between the Romantics and the

Victorians:

Questioning the Established Rule of Church

Interest in myths and mysteries.
Skepticism and Doubtfulness.
Characteristics
Realism
 The Romanic Poets believed in Art for the Art Sake.
 Nature in the Victorian era became just a source of leisure and
inspiration for the poets.
Science and Technology
 welcomed by the Victorian poets as they made them believe that a man
can find all solutions to his problems and sufferings.
 They made their readers believe that they should use science for their
betterment.

Questioning of God
  The development of empirical science, rationalism and radicalism led
the people to give up religious thoughts and be more sceptic.
 Moreover, corruption in the Church, defining the morality of Priests,
etc also led the people to question the religious institutions. - Blake

Sense of Responsibility
 The Romantics did not like the city life and instead of giving voice to
the victims of industrialisation, they left the city life.
 On the other hand, Victoria poets took the responsibility of social
reform and gave voice to the masses by living with them.

Morality
Though morality saw a steep decline in the Victorian Era, a number of poets
tried to retain it by encouraging the people to be honest and noble.
Interest in Medieval Myths & Folklore
The Victorians showed great favour towards Medieval Literature. They loved
mythical and chivalrous anecdotes of Medieval Knights, Courtly Love etc.
This interest is on contrary to the Romantics as the latter loved classical
myths and legends.
Use of Sensory Devices & Imagery
The poets of the preceding era used imagery vividly. However, the Victorians
also used sensory devices to describe the abstract scenes of chaos between
Religion and Science.
Sentimentality
The Victorians wrote about artistic creations thus giving way to deeper
imaginations.

Humour
A number of poets wrote humorous and whimsical verses. e.g. Bad Ballads.