126 An ABC of English Literature 6. The Victorian Period (1832-1901) This age is named after Queen Victoria who reigned over England from 1837 to 1901. It may be noticed that though Queen Victoria came to power in 1837, the Victorian Period began in 1832, five years before the accession of Queen Victoria, because the literary features of the new age became obvious during 1832. The twelve years, from 1848 to 1860, of this age is called the Age of the Pre- Raphaelites because the artists of that time followed the art forms used before the period of Raphael (1483-1520), the Italian artist. D, G. Rossetti, W. H. Hunt and J. Millais formed this gfoup and later on Christina Rossetti, W. Morris and A. Swinburne joined them. Originally it was a movement for the painters but eventually these ideals took the shape of a literary movement. Medievalism, symbolism, sensuousness, truthfulness and simplicity are the main . features of the Pre-Raphaelites. The last two decades (1880-1901) of this period is called the Age of Aestheticism. In reaction against the Victorian moral obsession it was held that art should have its end in itself, which lies in its beauty and formal perfection. These decades also called Decadence because there was a fall and decay of the Victorian spirit and standard in these years, The important facts which influenced the literature of this period are: 1. The First Reformation Act in 1832, the Second Reformation Act in 1867 and the Third Reformation Act in 1884 gave voting rights to every male and brought about significant changes in social life. 2. In 1833 slaves were declared free. 3. Chimney Sweeps Act in 1840 and Factory Act in 1833 prohibited child labour. 4. Mechanism of railways and ships was improved which helped develop overseas commerce and industry, and thus, _ brought material affluence. idetory of English Literature 127 5, ‘There was a significant progress of women during this time. 6, Agriculture based society was disintegrated as the result of the development of industry. This had a strong effect on the rural people. 7. ‘The theory of evolution and the concept of communism changed the traditional view of life and religion. 8. The Fabian Society was founded in 1883 to avoid violence in class-struggle. G.B, Shaw was one of the members of this Society.Main Literary Features of the Age: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 0) 8) 9) Victorian literature shifts from the Romantic utopianism to utilitarianism, from the Romantic imagination to reality, from the Romantic common man to middle class. Victorian attitude to nature also changes. To the Romantics it was kind and harmonious; to the Victorians it is harsh and cruel, Prudery and morality become the controlling principles of creative works. It encourages “compromise and construction”. In the early part of the age literature chooses “art for life’s sake” as the principle of art and asserts didactic purposes. The mass of writings of this age reflects a highly idealized notion of “proper behaviour”. A dualism of reason and emotion, materialism and mysticism, religion and science or faith and doubt, freedom and restriction is very common in the literature of this period. Poets, novelists and essayists of this age emphasize truth, justice, brotherhood, peace and stability. Dramatic monologue and elegy are popular poetic forms of the age. Isolation, loss of faith, despair and emancipation of women are common themes of poems, Classical myths are retold in poems.132 An ABC of English Literature 10) The novel becomes the domineering literary form in the Victorian Period, A typical Victorian novel has a long and complicated plot, an omniscient narrator whose comments on wrong and right serve moral purposes. It has a setting in a known city, a child protagonist, social and humanitarian themes, deeper character analyses, irony in the description and justification of all events in the final chapter. Its common subjects are exploitation of women and children, terrible living conditions, industrial civilization, lost identity, ete. A good number of novels written by women raise the feminist issues. 11) Towards the end of this period most of these features of the Victorian Age gradually disappear. A new movement known as the Decadence started. It brings back “art for art’s sake”. It emphasizes sensationalism, egocentricity, the bizarre, the artificial, etc. in literature. Swinbume, Dowson, Pater, Morris and the Rossettis are the writers of this group.