English Literature Summary, 19th century
The Gothic Novel
The word ‘gothic’ comes from a Germanic tribe who invaded the wealthier lands. With this,
they contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. So gothic = mean, cruel, barbaric. It wasn’t
until several 100 years later that the term ‘gothic’ returned. From the 12th century,
monumental religious buildings changed from heavy-looking to lighter architecture. This style
originated from France so it was called the French style. However, in the 16th century, people
began to call this style ‘gothic’ (because of Renaissance). People embraced the old classical
styles of Greece and Rome and wanted to move away from the medieval culture. In the 18th
century the genre of gothic literature emerged. Gothic novels play on the reader’s anxieties
and are meant to scare them. The characteristics are out of step with the culture of the 18th
century: Era of Enlightenment. Characteristics:
1. Set in a vaguely defined, sinister, mediaeval world.
2. The plots are full of secrecy, supernatural events, death, madness, ancient curses, etc.
3. Take place in dark, mysterious places (bv castles, haunted houses, churchyards, etc).
4. Characters are usually sinister, often tyrants who take pleasure in abusing their power,
maniacs, vampires, skeletons, etc.
The uncanny valley = the story starts normal but keeps getting creepier.
The sublime = the strongest emotion which the mind is capable of feeling.
Terror = awaiting fear (suspense, anxiety, dread). Unsettling.
Horror = includes terror, but also has the moment of revulsion and disgust after the fear. Like
zombies, ghosts, etc.
Introduction to the Victorian Age (1837-1914)
Began with the accession to the throne of Queen Victoria and officially ends on her death in
1901, but it is considered to extend until the beginning of WW1. The Victorian Age was the
change from rural to industrial. More factories -> lack of materials -> rule other areas of the
globe. Economic growth -> factory owners wealthy -> new aristocracy -> traditional upper
class took a less important role. Countryside became depopulated (not enough food) & big
cities crowded (poverty). The peak was the Great Exhibition held in London in 1851: first ever
world exhibition. For the first time, people were able to witness and experience the
capabilities of human spirit and creative thinking -> a wave of ecstasy!
Britain became engaged in 2 conflicts:
1. The Crimean War: brief, intense war between the British and Russians, Russians won.
The British forces were outdated in weaponry and methods.
2. The Boer War: Britain fought in South Africa to defeat the rebellious Boers.
End of 19th century: Britain’s economic power began to drop, Germany became dominant.
The term Victorian got a negative meaning in the 20th century: narrow-minded, harsh, child-
unfriendly, hypocritical. This related to the middle class (bourgeoisie) which set the standards
for society. Several changes took place in a literary sense during this Age: novel-writing
made a breakthrough, taking over poetry & theatre experienced a recovery (invention of
electric light). And lastly, the discussion of this Age: Darwin’s theory of evolution. The conflict
between science and religion rocked the foundations of the British Empire. The main
argument was the story of creation as told in Genesis. Many followers of Darwin disagreed
with this and even went so far as to doubt the existence of God.
The novel in the Victorian Age
Poetry was very popular, novels became popular. Novels were expensive first because they
were heavy/big, so they were only for rich people. The publication of novels in
weekly/monthly instalments made them available to poor people. Other reasons for success:
1
, 1. It emerged as a genre in the 18th century for the middle class. It is therefore logical that the
Victorian bourgeoisie approved it.
2. As it wasn’t loaded with longstanding tradition, it could be readily adapted to the rapidly
changing circumstances (flexible).
3. They allow you to escape from everyday life (escapism), so perfect energiser for the
industrialised and chaotic society.
4. The scenes were similar to real life situations (relatable).
5. Often proposed solutions to the readers’ own problems.
Victorian novel characteristics:
1. Standard middle-class habits and standards of behaviour.
2. Most popular topic: adaptation of the individual to society.
3. Emphasis on the way that characters develop (lower class characters were described in a
boring manner, highest class were portrayed as jealous or arrogant).
4. The principal character shows human weaknesses, but remains a product of the decent
and reasonable Victorian.
Robert Browning
Characteristics of his poetry: pleasure in observing people, optimism, human progress,
individualism, rarely shows his emotions, renaissance.
My Last Duchess (1842)
Tells the story of a young woman whose friendly nature brings about the anger of her jealous
husband which costs her her life. Based on a true story (Alfonso II). It’s a conversation
between the duke and the narrator (dramatic monologue). The duke is the only one who
speaks, while responding to the facial expressions and gestures of the narrator. Each line
consists of 10 syllables, while the following lines rhyme, and it has a lot of run-on lines, so
there is no pause. Victorian readers had to get used to this informal rhythm.
Porphyria’s lover
It's a dramatic monologue. The speaker lives in a cottage in the countryside. His lover, a
blooming young woman Porphyria, comes in out of a storm and makes a fire and brings
cheer to the cottage. She embraces the speaker, offering him her bare shoulder. He tells us
that he does not speak to her. Instead, she begins to tell him how she has momentarily
overcome societal strictures to be with him. He realizes that she worships him at this instant.
Realizing that she will eventually give in to society’s pressures, and wanting to preserve the
moment, he wraps her hair around her neck and strangles her. He then toys with her corpse,
opening the eyes and propping the body up against his side. He sits with her body this way
the entire night, the speaker remarking that God has not yet moved to punish him.
Charlotte Brontë
Her family moved to the isolated village Haworth. Her mother got sick and died, father
couldn’t deal with 6 children. The dead mother’s maiden sister took over the household, she
was unpleasant. The 5 sisters were sent to Cowan Bridge School, whose strict method
caused the deaths of 2 of her sisters (tuberculosis) -> Lockwood School in Jane Eyre. Their
father was shocked by these deaths and took the other children from the school. Their real
education started at Haworth Parsonage, where they had access to all books. Charlotte left
home at 19 to start the position of governess (Jane Eyre). Charlotte and Emily left for
Brussels to learn French, they were at a boarding school run by their tutor Constantin Heger,
Charlotte was so good at French that she was allowed to teach it, she was probably in love
with Heger but he always kept proper distance.
Jane Eyre (1847)
The book went against Victorian morals such as that a woman should her feelings for a man
and not take the initiative at all times. The theme is a passionate love affair based on
2
The Gothic Novel
The word ‘gothic’ comes from a Germanic tribe who invaded the wealthier lands. With this,
they contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire. So gothic = mean, cruel, barbaric. It wasn’t
until several 100 years later that the term ‘gothic’ returned. From the 12th century,
monumental religious buildings changed from heavy-looking to lighter architecture. This style
originated from France so it was called the French style. However, in the 16th century, people
began to call this style ‘gothic’ (because of Renaissance). People embraced the old classical
styles of Greece and Rome and wanted to move away from the medieval culture. In the 18th
century the genre of gothic literature emerged. Gothic novels play on the reader’s anxieties
and are meant to scare them. The characteristics are out of step with the culture of the 18th
century: Era of Enlightenment. Characteristics:
1. Set in a vaguely defined, sinister, mediaeval world.
2. The plots are full of secrecy, supernatural events, death, madness, ancient curses, etc.
3. Take place in dark, mysterious places (bv castles, haunted houses, churchyards, etc).
4. Characters are usually sinister, often tyrants who take pleasure in abusing their power,
maniacs, vampires, skeletons, etc.
The uncanny valley = the story starts normal but keeps getting creepier.
The sublime = the strongest emotion which the mind is capable of feeling.
Terror = awaiting fear (suspense, anxiety, dread). Unsettling.
Horror = includes terror, but also has the moment of revulsion and disgust after the fear. Like
zombies, ghosts, etc.
Introduction to the Victorian Age (1837-1914)
Began with the accession to the throne of Queen Victoria and officially ends on her death in
1901, but it is considered to extend until the beginning of WW1. The Victorian Age was the
change from rural to industrial. More factories -> lack of materials -> rule other areas of the
globe. Economic growth -> factory owners wealthy -> new aristocracy -> traditional upper
class took a less important role. Countryside became depopulated (not enough food) & big
cities crowded (poverty). The peak was the Great Exhibition held in London in 1851: first ever
world exhibition. For the first time, people were able to witness and experience the
capabilities of human spirit and creative thinking -> a wave of ecstasy!
Britain became engaged in 2 conflicts:
1. The Crimean War: brief, intense war between the British and Russians, Russians won.
The British forces were outdated in weaponry and methods.
2. The Boer War: Britain fought in South Africa to defeat the rebellious Boers.
End of 19th century: Britain’s economic power began to drop, Germany became dominant.
The term Victorian got a negative meaning in the 20th century: narrow-minded, harsh, child-
unfriendly, hypocritical. This related to the middle class (bourgeoisie) which set the standards
for society. Several changes took place in a literary sense during this Age: novel-writing
made a breakthrough, taking over poetry & theatre experienced a recovery (invention of
electric light). And lastly, the discussion of this Age: Darwin’s theory of evolution. The conflict
between science and religion rocked the foundations of the British Empire. The main
argument was the story of creation as told in Genesis. Many followers of Darwin disagreed
with this and even went so far as to doubt the existence of God.
The novel in the Victorian Age
Poetry was very popular, novels became popular. Novels were expensive first because they
were heavy/big, so they were only for rich people. The publication of novels in
weekly/monthly instalments made them available to poor people. Other reasons for success:
1
, 1. It emerged as a genre in the 18th century for the middle class. It is therefore logical that the
Victorian bourgeoisie approved it.
2. As it wasn’t loaded with longstanding tradition, it could be readily adapted to the rapidly
changing circumstances (flexible).
3. They allow you to escape from everyday life (escapism), so perfect energiser for the
industrialised and chaotic society.
4. The scenes were similar to real life situations (relatable).
5. Often proposed solutions to the readers’ own problems.
Victorian novel characteristics:
1. Standard middle-class habits and standards of behaviour.
2. Most popular topic: adaptation of the individual to society.
3. Emphasis on the way that characters develop (lower class characters were described in a
boring manner, highest class were portrayed as jealous or arrogant).
4. The principal character shows human weaknesses, but remains a product of the decent
and reasonable Victorian.
Robert Browning
Characteristics of his poetry: pleasure in observing people, optimism, human progress,
individualism, rarely shows his emotions, renaissance.
My Last Duchess (1842)
Tells the story of a young woman whose friendly nature brings about the anger of her jealous
husband which costs her her life. Based on a true story (Alfonso II). It’s a conversation
between the duke and the narrator (dramatic monologue). The duke is the only one who
speaks, while responding to the facial expressions and gestures of the narrator. Each line
consists of 10 syllables, while the following lines rhyme, and it has a lot of run-on lines, so
there is no pause. Victorian readers had to get used to this informal rhythm.
Porphyria’s lover
It's a dramatic monologue. The speaker lives in a cottage in the countryside. His lover, a
blooming young woman Porphyria, comes in out of a storm and makes a fire and brings
cheer to the cottage. She embraces the speaker, offering him her bare shoulder. He tells us
that he does not speak to her. Instead, she begins to tell him how she has momentarily
overcome societal strictures to be with him. He realizes that she worships him at this instant.
Realizing that she will eventually give in to society’s pressures, and wanting to preserve the
moment, he wraps her hair around her neck and strangles her. He then toys with her corpse,
opening the eyes and propping the body up against his side. He sits with her body this way
the entire night, the speaker remarking that God has not yet moved to punish him.
Charlotte Brontë
Her family moved to the isolated village Haworth. Her mother got sick and died, father
couldn’t deal with 6 children. The dead mother’s maiden sister took over the household, she
was unpleasant. The 5 sisters were sent to Cowan Bridge School, whose strict method
caused the deaths of 2 of her sisters (tuberculosis) -> Lockwood School in Jane Eyre. Their
father was shocked by these deaths and took the other children from the school. Their real
education started at Haworth Parsonage, where they had access to all books. Charlotte left
home at 19 to start the position of governess (Jane Eyre). Charlotte and Emily left for
Brussels to learn French, they were at a boarding school run by their tutor Constantin Heger,
Charlotte was so good at French that she was allowed to teach it, she was probably in love
with Heger but he always kept proper distance.
Jane Eyre (1847)
The book went against Victorian morals such as that a woman should her feelings for a man
and not take the initiative at all times. The theme is a passionate love affair based on
2
