Floyd-British Literature - Test 2

Victorian Period

Prudish and old fashioned, distinct gender roles, domestic space intact, class distinction, British empire sets the standard

The long nineteenth century

period of significant global transformations like the industrial revolution, political revolutions, adn imperialism

The Industrial Revolution

steam engine, telegraph, pruning press with journals and magazines,

The condition of England

Elizabeth Gaskell, Charles Dickens. Charles Kingsley, examines the disparity between the rich and the poor, the struggles of the working class, and the impact of industrialization

Mimetic writing

imitates reality, presents the world in a realistic manner

The Victorian Noon

considered the peak of victorian culture, period of social and political stability where literature flourished,

Psychological theories

double brain theory, difference between men and women’s psychological processes

Evolutionary theories

Darwin’s origin of species, man is just an animal, survival of the fittest, natural selection

The civilizing mission

England believed they were the superior nation and it was their responsibility to imperialize other nations to better their people.

The Scramble for Africa

Many European powers rushed to Africa to imperialize their nations and get the most land in this area.

Genre Fiction

as opposed to domestic fiction, went away from the boring and dull realistic fictions, adventure romance etc.

The scientific romance

frankenstein sets the tone, development of science and technology, abuse of science, progress becomes problematic and out of control

Invasion narratives

imperial concerns, france germany and USA, depict and invasion by a foreign power

Second-Wave Gothic

sense of dread and fear, supernatural and science, monsters come from science, psychology, inner turmoil of evolution and inner beast

Ghost stories

spiritualism, seances, serialization in magazines, there was disbelief concerning ghosts

Penny dreadfuls

cheaply published so that everyone can afford them, tended to be gothic topics, gothic with ghosts and crime

imperial fiction

empire conquers other lands, civilize or missionize others, solidify British superiority

Imperial gothic

other lands are superstitious, chaotic, magic mysterious and dangerous

Children’s fiction

childhood as a formative period, children as protagonists, create their own world, autonomous without adults, alternative realm, orphan’s creative capacity, provisional domestic construct, space of inclusion, self-confidence

Detective fiction

application of intellect, solve a problem, reader participates, Edgar Allen poe, Sherlock Holmes, antagonist is foreign or British traitor

Victorian Aspects of the Holmes movie

• the upper class dressed in suits and fancy dresses as a sign of their money and status

• there was an idea that those who were different and not of the upper class were lesser people which is evident in the way the gypsy is treated

• Technology was feared and new war technology is being used to commit heinous crimes

• There was a lot of sinning behind the scenes from upper class such as a professor in the movie who is criminal

• War was on their minds as the theme of imperialism was prevalent in society. There was a lot of literature written about wars another countries which is what the villain is trying to do here

Victorians between traditional and modern world

They were becoming more modernized because the technology was advancing but they were scared of what it would do. They were more progressive in the way that they viewed other people groups and they were urbanized all living in the same city but they still saw a division between upper and lower classes. Had new psychological advances but still looked down on women with hysteria