The-Victorian-Period-英国文学·维多利亚时代-PPT.ppt
Chapter 5 The Victorian Period1Background InformationChanges in SocietyChanges in PoliticsChanges in Science&TechnologyChanges in Ideology2Changes in Politics Political power passed from the decaying aristocrats into the hands of the middle-class industrial capitalists.As a result,from the 30s of 19th century,the struggle between the workers and capitalists became the fundamental contradiction in England.A new class,the proletariat,emerged.3While England had reached its highest point of development as a world power,the poor living and working conditions of workers led to the Chartist Movement(宪章 运 功),which was the first mass movement of the English working class and the early sign of the awakening of t h e p o o r,o p p r e s s e d p e o p l e.4Changes in Science and Technology Scientific discoveries and technological inventions made England the“workshop of the world”.(railway,steamship,spinning looms,printing machine,etc)With Industrial Revolution in full swing,England accumulated large amounts of profit and settled down to a time of prosperity and relative stability.5The middle-class life of the time was characterized by prosperity,respectability（体面）,and material progress.People as a whole celebrated a national spirit of earnestness（认真）,respectability,modesty and domesticity.Common sense and moral propriety（得体）became the predominant concern in literary works.6Changes in Ideology Religious collision The widespread of Utilitarianism(功利主义)7大家应该也有点累了，稍作休息大家有疑问的，可以询问和交流 大家有疑问的，可以询问和交流8Religious collision It started from the early 19th century and was caused by the rapid development of science and technology,new inventions and discoveries.Evolutionary science shook the theoretical basis of the traditional faith.(Darwins The Origin of Species&The Descent of Man)Peoples religious doubts and anxieties were increased.9Utilitarianism The belief that everything should be tested by the extent to which it could promote the material happiness.It was welcomed especially by the middle-class industrialists and made cultural values,moral standards less valuable.the worsening of living condition of poor people10Literary FormsLiterary ExpressionNovel Prose Poetry11Novel The most widely read and the most vital and challenging expression of progressive thought in this period The most famous novelists of the time were the critical realists.(Charles Dickens,William Makepeace Thackeray,Charlotte Bront,Emily Bront,Mrs.Gaskell and Thomas Hardy)12Features of English Critical Realism The critical realists described with much vividness and great artistic skill the chief traits of the English society and criticized the capitalist system.Humorous scenes and bitter satire13The English critical realists not only gave a satirical portrayal of the bourgeoisie and all the ruling class,but also show profound sympathy for the common people.The critical realists were unable to find a good solution to the social contradictions.The chief tendency in their works is not of revolution but of reformism.14Prose Great prose writers:Thomas CarlyleThomas Babington MacaulayMatthew ArnoldJohn Henry NewmanJohn Stuart MillJohn RuskinThomas Henry Huxley15Most influential prose works:Carlyles Sartor Resartus,Chartism&The French RevolutionMacaulays History of EnglandRuskins Modern Painters(5 volumes)16Poetry Famous poets:Robert BrowningAlfred TennysonDante Gabriel RossettiGerald Manley HopkinsAlgernon Charles Swinburne17
