TEXTBOOK_ BRITISH LITERATURE -II SEMESTER-II -3-39

Page 1

Overview

  • Films discussed: Becoming Jane (2007), The Hours (2002)

  • Topics: Linguistics and Textual Analysis of prose

  • Sections covered:

    • Linguistics

      • Fundamental Concepts and Distinctions

      • Morphology and Word Formation

      • Syntax: The Study of Sentence Structure

    • Textual Analysis (Prose)

      • Narrative Styles

      • Form and Structure

      • Genres

      • Literary Devices

    • Assignments and References

References

  • Some key texts include:

    • M. A. Yadugiri – Making Sense of English

    • E. M. Forster – Aspects of the Novel

    • M. H. Abrams – A Glossary of Literary Terms

    • Pushpinder Syal and D.V. Jindal – Introduction to Linguistics: Language, Grammar and Semantics

    • Akmajian et al – Linguistics: An Introduction to Language and Communication

    • Fromkin and Ladman – An Introduction to Language

Page 2

History of English Literature - The Victorian Age (1837-1901)

  • Queen Victoria’s Reign

    • Growth in literature, particularly fiction by authors such as Dickens, Thackeray, the Brontës, George Eliot, and others.

    • Popularity of poetry, notably by Tennyson and Browning.

    • Influence of thinkers like Matthew Arnold, utilitarianism, and social critique.

Cultural Context

  • An age marked by:

    • Social and industrial change

    • Conflicting explanations and theories; a blend of scientific confidence and spiritual pessimism.

    • Tensions evident in literature on traditional beliefs and progressive thought.

Philosophical Doubts

  • Emergence of doubts about Christian doctrine and historical bases.

  • Higher Criticism and Darwin's On the Origin of Species challenged established beliefs.

  • Moral teaching and contemporary life influenced by broader social and economic changes.

Page 3

Victorian Society

  • Moral Teaching

    • Emphasis on monogamy and family life with widespread moral anomalies.

    • The first stirrings of the modern women’s movement juxtaposed with the idealized matronly role of Queen Victoria.

Literary Continuity and Changes

  • English Romanticism Into Victorian Literature

    • End of Romanticism observed in figures like Coleridge and Wordsworth.

    • Serialization changes literary publication, leading to a modern single-volume format.

Prose Influences

  • Introduction of Thomas Carlyle:

    • His critique of industrial capitalism and the ills it brought to society.

    • Sartor Resartus evaluates human need versus outdated religious forms.

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Carlyle and His Legacy

  • Carlyle’s Observations

    • Explored exploitation in industrial society, resonating with Marxist thought.

    • Advocated for moral renewal and not revolution.

Other Notable Figures

  • John Stuart Mill

    • Balanced rational material improvement with emotional/spiritual growth in his works.

  • Charles Darwin

    • Contributed to a new empirical model of truth through his natural studies (e.g., The Voyage of the Beagle).

Page 5

Literary Developments

  • John Ruskin

    • Critic and social commentator, influential in art and aesthetics.

    • Recognized for his perception and expression despite contradictions.

Pre-Raphaelite Poets

  • Formed a group of painters/writers, reflecting on medieval themes and contemporaneous ideals.

  • Key figures: Dante Gabriel Rossetti, William Morris, and their emphasis on aestheticism and political engagement.

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Tennyson’s Influence

  • Tennyson

    • Poet Laureate who encapsulated Victorian ideals and anxieties in his works.

    • Notable works: “In Memoriam,” Idylls of the King, and various lyrical poems.

Other Poets of Note

  • Christina Rossetti

    • Established herself as a leading religious poet; themes throughout her work.

  • Gerard Manley Hopkins

    • Innovator whose work gained posthumous recognition; integrated the sacred with the natural world.

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Browning and Theatrical Voices

  • Robert Browning

    • Developed the dramatic monologue form; themes of identity and morality present in his works.

The Brontës

  • Explored provincial life with Gothic elements.

    • Notable works by Anne, Charlotte, and Emily Brontë, blending realism and Gothic intimacy.

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Transition in Narrative Forms

  • Victorian Novels

    • Exploration of social class and individuality in context with authors like Gaskell, Trollope, and Dickens.

Conclusion of the Victorian Era

  • Viewed as a period of competitive literary expression, paving the way for modernist trends.

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The Edwardian Context (1901-1914)

  • Perceived as a peaceful time, overshadowed by looming conflicts of WWI.

Social Dynamics

  • Rise of urban centers and changing community identities.

  • Shift from traditional aristocracy to a more democratic social structure.

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Georgians and Modernists

  • Changes in poetry and narrative from the Georgian poets to Modernists like Yeats.

  • Modernism depicted a fractured reality and alienation amid war's devastation.

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Themes of War

  • The impact of the First World War on literature, moving from romantic notions to stark realism.

  • Poets such as Sassoon and Owen challenged conventional narratives about war.

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Individual vs. Collective

  • Examination of individual experiences amid societal changes, influencing modern narrative forms.

Yeats's Evolution

  • Charting Yeats's transformation in the literary landscape pre- and post-WWI, with emphasis on nationalism and myth.

Page 13

Summary of Modern Poetry

  • The emergence of voices that blended tradition with innovation, marked by personal and public themes.

Page 14

Conclusion of the Era

  • Closing reflections on how literature adapted to modern challenges, leading to new forms and expressions.