📚18th and 19th Century Literature Unit 12 – Literature in the Industrial Age

Key Literary Movements

• Romanticism emphasized emotion, imagination, and individualism in contrast to the rationalism of the Enlightenment
  • Celebrated nature, beauty, and the sublime (awe-inspiring experiences)
  • Valued intuition and subjective experience over reason and objectivity
• Realism sought to depict life accurately without idealization or romanticization
  • Focused on everyday people, settings, and situations (middle and working classes)
  • Used detailed, objective descriptions to create a sense of verisimilitude (truthfulness)
• Naturalism extended realism by emphasizing determinism and the influence of heredity and environment on characters
  • Portrayed individuals as powerless against larger social and natural forces
  • Often included gritty, unidealized depictions of poverty, violence, and moral decay
• Aestheticism prioritized beauty, art for art's sake, and the pursuit of pleasure
  • Rejected utilitarian and moralistic approaches to art and literature
  • Embraced sensuality, decadence, and the cultivation of refined tastes
• Symbolism used symbols, metaphors, and suggestive imagery to evoke emotions and ideas
  • Sought to express the inner workings of the mind and the mysteries of the universe
  • Influenced by the work of French poets like Baudelaire and Rimbaud

Major Authors and Works

• Charles Dickens (1812-1870) wrote novels that critiqued social injustice and poverty in Victorian England
  • Notable works include "Oliver Twist," "Great Expectations," and "A Christmas Carol"
  • Used vivid characterization, humor, and sentimentality to engage readers
• George Eliot (1819-1880), pen name of Mary Ann Evans, wrote realist novels exploring moral and psychological complexity
  • "Middlemarch" is considered a masterpiece of the genre, offering a panoramic view of provincial life
  • Other works include "Silas Marner" and "The Mill on the Floss"
• Emily Brontë (1818-1848) wrote the passionate, gothic novel "Wuthering Heights"
  • Explored themes of love, revenge, and the destructive power of obsession
  • Used innovative narrative techniques and evocative descriptions of the Yorkshire moors
• Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was a leading figure of the Aesthetic movement known for his wit, flamboyance, and social critique
  • Wrote plays like "The Importance of Being Earnest" and "Lady Windermere's Fan"
  • His only novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," explores the pursuit of pleasure and the corruption of the soul
• Émile Zola (1840-1902) was a French novelist and a key proponent of naturalism
  • His series of 20 novels, "Les Rougon-Macquart," examines the effects of heredity and environment on a family
  • Notable works include "Germinal," about a coal miners' strike, and "Nana," about a prostitute

Industrial Revolution's Impact on Literature

• Rapid urbanization and the growth of cities provided new settings and subjects for literature
  • Authors depicted the squalor, poverty, and social problems of urban life (Dickens' London)
  • The city became a symbol of both progress and alienation in works like Baudelaire's "Les Fleurs du Mal"
• The rise of the middle class and increased literacy rates expanded the reading public
  • Serialized novels and magazines became popular forms of entertainment and social commentary
  • Authors could make a living through writing, giving rise to professional authorship
• Technological advancements in printing and distribution made literature more accessible
  • Cheap, mass-produced books and periodicals reached a wider audience
  • The railway system facilitated the dissemination of literature across countries
• Industrialization and mechanization sparked debates about the role of the artist and the nature of creativity
  • Some writers celebrated the power of technology and progress (Jules Verne, H.G. Wells)
  • Others critiqued the dehumanizing effects of industrialization and yearned for a simpler, more natural way of life (William Blake, John Ruskin)
• The social and economic changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution provided themes for literature
  • Class conflict, labor conditions, and the exploitation of workers were addressed in works like Elizabeth Gaskell's "North and South"
  • The environmental impact of industrialization was explored in works like Charles Dickens' "Hard Times"

Themes and Motifs

• The individual vs. society: many works explored the tension between personal desires and social expectations
  • Characters struggled to find their place in a rapidly changing world (Pip in "Great Expectations")
  • The pressure to conform to societal norms often led to repression, hypocrisy, and moral conflict (Edna Pontellier in Kate Chopin's "The Awakening")
• The corrupting influence of power and wealth: authors critiqued the greed and materialism of the industrial age
  • Characters were often seduced or destroyed by the pursuit of money and status (Dorian Gray in "The Picture of Dorian Gray")
  • The unequal distribution of wealth and the exploitation of the poor were recurring themes (the Parisian underworld in Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables")
• The search for meaning and purpose in a world without God: as traditional religious beliefs were challenged, characters grappled with existential questions
  • Some turned to art, beauty, or sensual pleasure as a substitute for faith (the Decadent movement)
  • Others found solace in nature, romanticism, or humanistic ideals (the Transcendentalist movement)
• The role of women in society: female authors and characters challenged traditional gender roles and expectations
  • The "New Woman" emerged as a figure of independence and self-determination (Marian Halcombe in Wilkie Collins' "The Woman in White")
  • Works explored the limitations and oppression faced by women in patriarchal society (Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour")
• The impact of science and technology: scientific discoveries and technological innovations shaped the cultural imagination
  • Some works celebrated the potential of science to transform society (H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine")
  • Others expressed anxiety about the unintended consequences of progress (Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein")

Literary Techniques and Styles

• Realism: authors sought to depict life accurately, without idealization or sentimentality
  • Used detailed, objective descriptions to create a sense of verisimilitude (Gustave Flaubert's "Madame Bovary")
  • Focused on everyday people, settings, and situations (George Eliot's "Middlemarch")
• Naturalism: an extension of realism that emphasized determinism and the influence of heredity and environment on characters
  • Portrayed individuals as powerless against larger social and natural forces (Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure")
  • Often included gritty, unidealized depictions of poverty, violence, and moral decay (Émile Zola's "Germinal")
• Stream of consciousness: a narrative technique that presents a character's thoughts and perceptions in a continuous, unstructured flow
  • Pioneered by Édouard Dujardin in "Les Lauriers sont coupés" (1888) and later developed by modernist writers like James Joyce and Virginia Woolf
  • Allows for a deep exploration of a character's inner life and psychological complexity
• Interior monologue: a literary device that presents a character's thoughts, feelings, and memories in a direct, unmediated way
  • Differs from stream of consciousness in its greater coherence and structure
  • Used to reveal a character's motivations, conflicts, and inner struggles (Leo Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina")
• Symbolism: the use of symbols, metaphors, and suggestive imagery to evoke emotions and ideas
  • Seeks to express the inner workings of the mind and the mysteries of the universe
  • Often draws on mythological, religious, or dream-like imagery (William Blake's "Songs of Innocence and of Experience")
• Irony: the use of language to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning
  • Can be verbal (saying one thing but meaning another), situational (a discrepancy between expectations and reality), or dramatic (when the audience knows more than the characters)
  • Used to critique social norms, expose hypocrisy, or create comic effects (Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice")

Social and Historical Context

• The French Revolution (1789-1799) had a profound impact on European society and culture
  • The ideals of liberty, equality, and fraternity inspired political and social reforms
  • The revolution's violence and upheaval also sparked a conservative backlash and a renewed interest in the Middle Ages and chivalry (the Romantic movement)
• The Industrial Revolution transformed the economy, social structure, and daily life of Europe and North America
  • The growth of factories, cities, and transportation networks led to rapid urbanization and the rise of the middle class
  • The working conditions and living standards of the poor, especially in cities, became a major social issue (Friedrich Engels' "The Condition of the Working Class in England")
• The rise of nationalism and imperialism in the 19th century shaped global politics and culture
  • The unification of Germany and Italy, the expansion of the British Empire, and the American Civil War were major events
  • Imperialism and colonialism were often justified through ideas of racial and cultural superiority (Rudyard Kipling's "The White Man's Burden")
• The women's suffrage movement gained momentum in the late 19th century
  • Women fought for the right to vote, own property, and access education and professions
  • Female authors like Mary Wollstonecraft, George Eliot, and Kate Chopin addressed issues of gender equality and women's rights in their works
• The influence of science and technology on society and culture increased throughout the 19th century
  • Darwin's theory of evolution challenged traditional religious beliefs and sparked debates about the nature of humanity
  • The invention of the telegraph, telephone, and cinema transformed communication and entertainment
  • The rise of mass media and advertising created new forms of cultural expression and consumerism

Critical Reception and Legacy

• Many 19th-century authors were both popular and critically acclaimed in their own time
  • Charles Dickens was a literary celebrity whose works were widely read and adapted for the stage
  • George Eliot was praised for her psychological insight and moral seriousness
  • Mark Twain was celebrated for his humor, satire, and distinctively American voice
• Some authors and works were controversial or misunderstood by contemporary critics
  • Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights" was criticized for its dark themes and unconventional structure
  • Oscar Wilde's work was often dismissed as frivolous or immoral by Victorian critics
  • Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick" was a commercial failure and largely ignored until the 20th century
• The 19th century saw the development of new forms of literary criticism and theory
  • The Romantic movement emphasized the importance of imagination, emotion, and individual genius in the creation and interpretation of literature
  • The realist and naturalist movements valued objectivity, social commentary, and scientific analysis in the study of literature
  • The aesthetic movement prioritized beauty, art for art's sake, and the cultivation of refined tastes
• Many 19th-century authors and works have had a lasting influence on literature and popular culture
  • The novels of Jane Austen, the Brontë sisters, and George Eliot have inspired countless adaptations and imitations
  • The poetry of William Blake, Walt Whitman, and Emily Dickinson has shaped the development of modern poetry
  • The works of Charles Dickens, Mark Twain, and Arthur Conan Doyle have become cultural touchstones and sources of endless fascination

Connections to Modern Literature

• The 19th century laid the foundation for the development of modernist literature in the early 20th century
  • The stream of consciousness technique, pioneered by Édouard Dujardin, was further developed by James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and William Faulkner
  • The symbolist movement, with its emphasis on the power of language and the imagination, influenced poets like T.S. Eliot and Ezra Pound
  • The realist and naturalist traditions continued to shape the work of authors like Theodore Dreiser, Sinclair Lewis, and John Steinbeck
• Many 19th-century authors and works continue to be widely read, studied, and adapted today
  • Jane Austen's novels remain popular for their wit, social commentary, and romantic plots
  • Charles Dickens' works are still celebrated for their vivid characters, social criticism, and storytelling power
  • The detective fiction of Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle has inspired countless imitations and variations in literature, film, and television
• Contemporary authors often engage with and reimagine 19th-century texts and themes
  • Jean Rhys' "Wide Sargasso Sea" (1966) tells the story of the "madwoman in the attic" from Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre"
  • John Fowles' "The French Lieutenant's Woman" (1969) is a postmodern pastiche of Victorian literature
  • Jasper Fforde's "Thursday Next" series (2001-2012) features a literary detective who enters the world of 19th-century novels
• The social and political issues addressed by 19th-century authors continue to resonate with modern readers
  • The critiques of poverty, inequality, and industrialization in the works of Charles Dickens and Elizabeth Gaskell are still relevant today
  • The feminist themes in the works of Mary Wollstonecraft, George Eliot, and Kate Chopin anticipate the concerns of the modern women's movement
  • The exploration of race, imperialism, and cultural identity in the works of Joseph Conrad, Rudyard Kipling, and Harriet Beecher Stowe remains timely and thought-provoking