Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
George Eliot is the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, a prominent English novelist and one of the leading writers of the Victorian era. She is known for her realistic portrayals of rural life and complex character development.
Realism is a literary movement that aims to depict ordinary life and characters realistically, without idealization or romanticizing. It focuses on accurate representation.
Bildungsroman: A bildungsroman is a coming-of-age novel that follows the psychological and moral growth of its protagonist from youth to adulthood. It often explores themes of identity and self-discovery.
Social Commentary: Social commentary refers to an author's critique or analysis of societal issues through their work. George Eliot's novels often contain social commentary on topics such as gender roles and class divisions.