Republic of the Philippines

Pangasinan State University

Bayambang Campus
College of Teacher Education
Languages Department
Bayambang, Pangasinan

EL 113
SURVEY OF
ANGLO-AMERICAN
LITERATURE

The Victorian Period

 Ulysses – Alfred, Lord Tennyson
(Pages 1-3)
 Dover Beach – Matthew Arnold
(Pages 4-6)
 Sonnet XIV – Elizabeth Barret Browing
(Pages 6-7)
 Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
(Pages 8-10)
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THE VICTORIAN PERIOD

Ulysses
By Alfred, Lord Tennyson
LESSON PROPER/CONTENTS
BACKGROUND OF THE WRITER

STORY OVERVIEW
Alfred, Lord Tennyson
One of the most beloved Victorian poets, Alfred, Lord Tennyson,
was born in Sornersby, Lincolnshire, England, on August 6, 1809.
The fourth child out of twelve, Tennyson demonstrated a passion
for writing at a young age. In his 6,000-line epic poem, he
authored at the age of twelve. The Reverend George Tennyson,
his father, gave his sons language instruction in both classical and
modern forms.

Tennyson escaped home in 1827 to attend Trinity College,

Cambridge. In that same year, he and his brother Charles
published Poems by Two Brothers. Although the poems in the
book were mostly juvenilia, they attracted the attention of the
“Apostles,” an undergraduate literary club led by Arthur Henry Hallam. The “Apostles” provided
Tennyson, who was tremendously shy, with much needed friendship and confidence as a poet.
Hallam and Tennyson became the best of friends; they toured Europe together in 1830 and
again in 1832. Hallam’s sudden death in 1833 greatly affected the young poet. The long elegy
“In Memoriam” and many of Tennyson’s other poems are tributes to Hallam.

At the age of forty-one, Tennyson had established himself as the most popular poet of the
Victorian era. In 1859, Tennyson published the first poems of “Idylls of the Kings,” which sold
more than ten thousand copies in one month. In 1884, he accepted a peerage, becoming Alfred,
Lord Tennyson. He died on October 6, 1892, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

LITERARY PIECE

STORY OVERVIEW Ulysses

By Alfred, Lord Tennyson
It little profits that an idle king,
By this still hearth, among these barren crags,
Match'd with an aged wife, I mete and dole
Unequal laws unto a savage race,
That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me.
I cannot rest from travel: I will drink
Life to the lees: All times I have enjoy'd
Greatly, have suffer'd greatly, both with those
That loved me, and alone, on shore, and when
Thro' scudding drifts the rainy Hyades
Vext the dim sea: I am become a name;
For always roaming with a hungry heart
Much have I seen and known; cities of men
And manners, climates, councils, governments,

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Myself not least, but honour'd of them all;

And drunk delight of battle with my peers,
Far on the ringing plains of windy Troy.
I am a part of all that I have met;
Yet all experience is an arch wherethro'
Gleams that untravell'd world whose margin fades
For ever and forever when I move.
How dull it is to pause, to make an end,
To rust unburnish'd, not to shine in use!
As tho' to breathe were life! Life piled on life
Were all too little, and of one to me
Little remains: but every hour is saved
From that eternal silence, something more,
A bringer of new things; and vile it were
For some three suns to store and hoard myself,
And this gray spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.

This is my son, mine own Telemachus,

To whom I leave the sceptre and the isle,—
Well-loved of me, discerning to fulfil
This labour, by slow prudence to make mild
A rugged people, and thro' soft degrees
Subdue them to the useful and the good.
Most blameless is he, centred in the sphere
Of common duties, decent not to fail
In offices of tenderness, and pay
Meet adoration to my household gods,
When I am gone. He works his work, I mine.

There lies the port; the vessel puffs her sail:

There gloom the dark, broad seas. My mariners,
Souls that have toil'd, and wrought, and thought with me—
That ever with a frolic welcome took
The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed
Free hearts, free foreheads—you and I are old;
Old age hath yet his honour and his toil;
Death closes all: but something ere the end,
Some work of noble note, may yet be done,
Not unbecoming men that strove with Gods.
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:
The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,
'T is not too late to seek a newer world.
Push off, and sitting well in order smite
The sounding furrows; for my purpose holds
To sail beyond the sunset, and the baths
Of all the western stars, until I die.
It may be that the gulfs will wash us down:
It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles,

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And see the great Achilles, whom we knew.

Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho'
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS

STORY
1. WhatOVERVIEW
about Ulysses’s morals and character does his desire for adventure reveal?
Ulysses yearning for adventure is beyond the limitations of age. No matter how old he is,
he still embrace to live his life to fullest because he believed that each day offers new
opportunity. His thirst for knowledge and the value he gave on personal growth over
security and comfort highlights his desire for adventure. It displays his restless nature and
discontentment with the typical aspects of being a king. This restlessness and yearning
for never-ending movement are indicative of a deep appreciation for life’s possibilities
and a refusal to let age or circumstance define one.
And this gray spirit yearning in desire
To follow knowledge like a sinking star,
Beyond the utmost bound of human thought.

2. Why does Ulysses compare himself to “gray spirit” and “a sinking star”?
The “gray spirit” was used to symbolize his old age while the “sinking star” is remaining
time he have in his life. His desire for knowledge will continue as long as he live and in
every hour that has left, he will continue to seek and explore new adventures in his life
because he believed that death is just the end of everything so as long as he have his
breath, he will not waste every opportunity that will come.

3. What is the significance of the sea as a symbol in the poem?

In the poem, the sea represents the unknown, adventure, and the countless chances for
learning and growth. It stands for ‘Ulysses’ unwavering ambition to travel beyond the
boundaries of his kingdom and the social mores that are often associated with his rank
and age. The immensity and mystery of the sea reflect the depths of human aspiration
and the never-ending search for fulfillment and significance outside of the comforting
confines of life.

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DOVER BEACH
By Matthew Arnold

BACKGROUND OF THE WRITER

STORY OVERVIEW Matthew Arnold

Matthew Arnold was born on December 24, 1822, in

Laleham, Middlesex, England. He died on April 15, 1888, in
Liverpool. He was a prominent Victorian poet, writer, and
educator known for his critical views on contemporary
society, particularly targeting the aristocracy and
commercial classes. His contributions to education reform
emphasized the importance of cultivating a specific type of
education tailored to the needs of modern society, focusing
on self-discovery and a deeper understanding of one’s true
essence.

Despite grappling with religious uncertainties throughout

his life, Arnold endeavored to reconcile his doubts by
seeking to encapsulate the essence of Christianity in his
writings. His advocacy for renewed religious faith and
embracing classical and aesthetic morals reflected Victorian
ideals. Arnold aimed to democratize culture, viewing it to
foster intellectual inquiry and practical progress for the
betterment of society.

LITERARY PIECE

STORY OVERVIEW Dover Beach

The sea is calm tonight.

The tide is full, the moon lies fair
Upon the straits; on the French coast the light
Gleams and is gone; the cliffs of England stand,
Glimmering and vast, out in the tranquil bay.
Come to the window, sweet is the night-air!
Only, from the long line of spray
Where the sea meets the moon-blanched land,
Listen! you hear the grating roar
Of pebbles which the waves draw back, and fling,
At their return, up the high strand,

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Begin, and cease, and then again begin,

With tremulous cadence slow, and bring
The eternal note of sadness in.
Sophocles long ago

Heard it on the Ægean, and it brought

Into his mind the turbid ebb and flow

Of human misery; we

Find also in the sound a thought,

Hearing it by this distant northern sea.

The Sea of Faith

Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore

Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.

But now I only hear

Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,

Retreating, to the breath

Of the night-wind, down the vast edges drear

And naked shingles of the world.

Ah, love, let us be true

To one another! for the world, which seems

To lie before us like a land of dreams,

So various, so beautiful, so new,

Hath really neither joy, nor love, nor light,

Nor certitude, nor peace, nor help for pain;

And we are here as on a darkling plain

Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,

Where ignorant armies clash by night.

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REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. How does the sea imagery reflect the poem’s mood?
STORY OVERVIEW
- The sea imagery in “Dover Beach” reflects a mood of tranquility with underlying sadness and
uncertainty. The calm sea and moonlight evoke a sense of peacefulness, while the relentless
rhythm of the waves and the mention of the “grating roar” convey a deeper melancholy and
the transience of beauty. The rhythmic ebb and flow of the waves reflect the cyclical nature of
human suffering and the unavoidable passage of time.

2. What does the “Sea of Faith” symbolize?

- The “Sea of Faith” symbolizes the one-strong belief in religious and spiritual certainties that
have now receded, leaving behind a sense of emptiness and disillusionment. Its withdrawal
represents the loss of faith, the decline of traditional values, and the loss of religious faith in
modern society, as evidenced by the metaphorical withdrawal of the sea.

3. How does the reference to Sophocles enhance the poem’s meaning?

- The reference to Sophocles adds historical and cultural depth to the poem’s exploration of
human suffering and existential uncertainty. By alluding to a renowned ancient Greek
playwright who also contemplated the complexities of life, the poem suggests that the themes
of despair and turmoil are timeless and universal. It adds depth to the poem’s exploration of
the universal experience of grappling with the uncertainties and complexities of life.

SONNET XIV

By Elizabeth Barret Browing

BACKGROUND OF THE WRITER

STORY OVERVIEW
Elizabeth Barret Browning

 Born on March 6, 1806. Elizabeth Barrett

Browning was an English poet of the Romantic Movement
(a literary and artistic movement emphasizing the
imagination and emotions).
 Sonnet XIV is one of the writings in her book,
“Sonnets from the Portuguese” which contains 44
sonnets dedicated to her husband which she made before
their wedding and was published in 1950.

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LITERARY PIECE

STORY OVERVIEW If thou must love me…

(Sonnet XIV)

If thou must love me, let it be for nought

Except for love's sake only. Do not say,

"I love her for her smile—her look—her way

Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought

That falls in well with mine, and certes brought

A sense of pleasant ease on such a day"—

For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may

Be changed, or change for thee—and love, so wrought,

May be unwrought so. Neither love me for

Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry:

A creature might forget to weep, who bore

Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!

But love me for love's sake, that evermore

Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.

REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS

1. STORY
What doOVERVIEW
you think is the poem about?
 The sonnet emphasizes what love is about; that it should not only focus on the physical
attributes of the speaker because, through time, those attributes could change. The
sonnet also suggests that love should not be out of pity because it will be temporary,
instead, it emphasizes the genuine and everlasting love that endures all circumstances.

2. Why do you think the speaker said that she should not be loved because of her smile, her
looks, and her way of speaking gently?
 Because it will all change over time, and being genuine will be the only thing that is left.
Because the speaker highlights how eternal and powerful love is.

3. Who do you think is the speaker talking to?

 The speaker (wife) is talking to her husband- that her husband should not love her
because of her external qualities but put emphasis on the significance of the deep
foundation of love.

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PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

By Jane Austen

BACKGROUND OF THE WRITER

STORY OVERVIEW
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775, in the small
village of Steventon, Hampshire, England. She was an
English writer who first gave the novel its distinctly
modern character through her treatment of ordinary
people in everyday life. She published four novels during
her lifetime: Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and
Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814),
and Emma (1815).

Her novels defined the era’s novel of manners, but they

also became timeless classics that remained critical and
popular successes for over two centuries after her
death. These works reflect her enduring legacy.

SUMMARY OF THE LITERARY PIECE

STORY OVERVIEW Pride and Prejudice

By Jane Austen

The arrival of Mr. Bingley, a man with a large fortune, to Netherfield draws the attention of
the Bennet family from Loungbourn. Mrs. Bennet, who wants nothing but to see her daughters
happily settled and married, wants to be acquainted with Mr. Bingley, as she sees it as an
opportunity for one of her daughters to be married to him. At the ball arranged for their arrival,
the eldest Bennet, Jane, attracts Mr. Bingley's attention; they dance four times and have a blast
the entire night. Mr. Darcy, who caught the room's attention with his good and handsome looks,
was perceived as a pompous man after his manners dissatisfied the people. After the ball, Jane
received a letter from Ms. Caroline Bingley inviting her to dine with them in the Netherfield. Her
arrival in Netherfield lasted for days as she got ill.

When they returned home, Mr. Bennet informed his family about the arrival of his cousin,
Mr. Collins, intending to marry one of the Bennets. At first, his attention was initially drawn to
Jane, but since they were expecting an engagement between Mr. Bingley and Jane, his attention
was eventually shifted to Elizabeth. He proposed to Elizabeth, but she refused it and ended up
marrying Charlotte Lucas, Elizabeth’s best friend. In their visit to their uncle Philips in Meryton,
they became acquainted with the officers and Mr. Wickham, and they also saw Mr. Bingley and
Mr. Darcy. The encounter between Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy does not seem good, and it was
observed by Elizabeth. In Meryton, Mr. Wickham and Elizabeth had a chance to converse about
his relationship with Mr. Darcy, putting him on the bad side.

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In longing for his best friend, Elizabeth visited Charlotte in Rosings. In his visits, she met
Colonel Fitzwilliam, where she heard that Mr. Darcy was the reason for Mr. Bingley and Jane’s
separation, as Mr. Bingley left Netherfields with no plan to come back. In Rosings, Mr. Darcy had
a chance to confess how he liked Ms. Elizabeth but rejected it and had a confrontation regarding
the separation of the two lovers and various claims made by Mr. Wickham towards him. After
the serious conversation between the two, Mr. Darcy gave Ms. Elizabeth a letter explaining his
side of all the sentiments they'd discussed.

In the return of Elizabeth to Longbourn, she was invited by his aunt and uncle Gardiners to go
with them to London. On their northern tour, they had a chance to go to Pemberly, the place
where Mr. Darcy lives. There, she discovered more about Mr. Darcy and started to adore him,
and she also had a chance to meet Mr. and Ms. Bingley as well as Mr. Darcy’s sister, Georgina.
Everything is going well, but not until she receives a letter from Jane. It is about Lydia, who ran
away and had an elopement with Mr. Wickham. In this case, Mr. Darcy is the one who found
them and convinced Wickham to marry Lydia in exchange for money. With Mr. Darcy’s action,
Elizabeth believes that he is not as Wickham said. She realized, as stated in Mr. Darcy’s letter,
about the true character of Wickham.

After months, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy came back to Netherfield. They visited the Bennets
at Longbourn, and Mr. Bingley had a chance to see Jane again and propose to her. Mr. Darcy
again confessed to Ms. Elizabeth, accepted it, and had an engagement.

REFLECTIVE QUESTIONS
1. In the novel
STORY Pride and Prejudice, how was marriage valued?
OVERVIEW

- Marriage is one of the themes in Pride and Prejudice. In the character of Mrs. Bennet, she
does not value marriage because of love but because of wealth. What matters to her is the
fortune and the comfortable lives of their daughters as they enter marriage. Same case with
the character of Charlotte; she shows that marriage is not always about love but also about
financial security as she marries Mr. Collins; even if she doesn’t love him, she considers the
wealth and the life that Mr. Collins offers. Ms. Elizabeth defied this kind of mindset when she
rejected Mr. Collins regardless of the wealth and life he offered her. She showcases the true
power of women and strong beliefs in love, where no such class can define one’s love and
intention of marriage. The relationship between Mr. Darcy and Ms. Elizabeth is what Jane
Austen wants it to be. It is not forced. It is not for wealth and money. It is love. And that is
how I would like to value marriage as well as love. That marriage should not be based on
social status. That marriage should not be based on power and fortune. That marriage should
not be based on the wants of others but on you, with a pure intention of love.

2. How are “pride” and “prejudice” represented in the novel?

- The words pride and prejudice are prominently seen in the story. It is most evident in the
character of Darcy, whose persona was decided by several people at the start of the novel.
People dislike Mr. Darcy because of his characteristics and behavior. He was seen as an
arrogant and imprudent man. Prejudice refers to people's unfavorable judgments about
someone without knowing the facts. Just like how Ms. Elizabeth misjudged Mr. Darcy in the
account told by Mr. Wickham and as Mrs. Catherine de Bourgh criticized the Bennets family.
Pride and prejudice divert Mr. Darcy and Ms. Elizabeth from their true feelings for each other.

1. How is social class viewed in the novel?

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- Class is another theme in the novel Pride and Prejudice. It is viewed as the basis for measuring
one’s life. Basically, a person who belongs to a higher class is given a lot of interest by people,
just like how much attention Bingley gets because of her status as a man with a large fortune.
A person's wealth is very important for them to be able to marry someone. If you are a well-
to-do person, then you will be respected and loved by a lot of people. That is the reality in
the novel. But the character of Ms. Elizabeth Bennet is something every individual should
possess. In the novel, she shows civility to Ms. Catherine de Bourgh, but then during her visit
to Longbourn, where she criticizes Ms. Elizabeth based on her social class, Ms. Elizabeth does
not let Lady Catherine's power control her. She never let Lady Catherine de Bourgh limit her
desires just because of social class. The characteristics of Ms. Elizabeth remind us that we
should not weight people based on their power and social hierarchy.

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