wow
Victorian Literature
go!
Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens, 1837-8
"Oliver Twist was born into a world of hardship. The workhouse where he spent his early years was cold, noisy, and harsh. The orphans were given little food, often just a thin gruel that did nothing to fill their empty stomachs. The cruel officials watched them closely but cared little for their suffering.
One day, Oliver dared to ask for more food. The room fell silent. His small voice shook, but he was determined to speak the truth: "Please, sir, I want some more."
This simple request was met with anger by the officials. They believed children like Oliver should be grateful for whatever they were given, no matter how meager." 1. What kind of life does Oliver have in the workhouse? Use two descriptive words from the text.
2. Why is Oliver’s request important? What moral question does it raise?
3. What type of narrative style is used?
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë, 1847
"Jane Eyre was a quiet and thoughtful girl, living with her strict aunt and cousins. She loved to read and dream of a better life. Although she faced many hardships, Jane always tried to do what was right, believing in her own strength and moral values.
When she grows up, Jane works as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets Mr. Rochester. Their relationship teaches her about love, respect, and honesty." 1. How would you describe Jane’s character based on this passage?
2. What themes does Brontë explore in this excerpt?
3. Why might Victorian readers find Jane Eyre interesting or inspiring?
Darwin vs. Dickens
On the origin of the species, C. Darwin, 1859"In the struggle for survival, those individuals with favorable variations will have the best chance of surviving and reproducing. Over many generations, these favorable characteristics become more common in the population. This process, which I call natural selection, can explain how all species have developed from earlier forms of life. Just as a breeder selects the best animals for breeding, nature selects those best adapted to their environment."
Hard Times, Charles Dickens, 1854 "In the factory town, only those who could adapt to the harsh conditions survived. The weak fell by the wayside while the strong—or perhaps simply the lucky—prospered. Tom had learned that showing kindness was often seen as weakness in this competitive world. Like animals fighting for limited resources, the workers competed desperately for employment, while the factory owners grew wealthy from this struggle." Great Expectations, Charles Dickens, 1860-1"The gentleman's son was educated in the finest schools, while the laborer's child learned only what was necessary for factory work. Each seemed destined to remain in their appointed place, as if social position were as fixed as the characteristics of different species. Yet occasionally, someone like Joe would rise from humble origins through education and determination, proving that social evolution, unlike natural evolution, could happen within a single lifetime."
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives,not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”
Victorian poetry and drama
"Laura, like the biblical Eve, cannot control her curiosity or appetite, and suffers for it. Lizzie bravely confronts the goblins, resisting temptation and sacrifice for her sister’s salvation, portraying female agency and sisterhood as forms of resistance to patriarchal oppression." Goblin market, Christina Rossetti, 1862
Victorian poetry also conveyed moral lessons, aiming to educate readers about virtue, social responsibility, and ethical behavior. However poets like Christina Rossetti challenged societal norms through symbolic and allegorical work, exposing tensions in gender roles and moral expectations, while others like Elizabeth Barrett Browning addressed social reforms and injustices such as child labor and women's rights. Dramatic monologues became a popular form to explore complex psychological and social themes, offering multiple perspectives on moral dilemmas. IVictorian drama blends melodramatic moral storytelling, social satire, grand spectacle, and evolving realism, reflecting the complexities of Victorian society and theater.
"’How long,’ they say, ‘how long, O cruel nation, Will you stand, to move the world, on a child’s heart, — Stifle down with a mailed heel its palpitation, And tread onward to your throne amid the mart?’” The Cry of the Children, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1844
Key Features of Victorian Literature Main themes: social class, morality, personal struggle, and social injustice.Style: Brontë focuses on character emotions and moral values
Key Features of Victorian Literature Concrete Descriptive Language: The passage uses vivid, sensory words like “cold,” “noisy,” “harsh,” “little food,” and “thin gruel” to create a realistic picture of life in a Victorian • workhouse and to help readers imagine it.Moral Question/Social critique: Oliver’s simple but brave request for more food raises ethical issues. Is it right to deny basic needs? Dickens encourages readers to reflect on the need for compassion and reform. Realism: Dickens portrays the everyday life of an orphan realistically, without romanticizing the hardship. This contrasts with idealized stories that ignore social problems.
Victorian Literature
Arianna Cozzani
Created on September 21, 2025
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
Visual Presentation
View
Terrazzo Presentation
View
Colorful Presentation
View
Modular Structure Presentation
View
Chromatic Presentation
View
City Presentation
View
News Presentation
Explore all templates
Transcript
wow
Victorian Literature
go!
Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens, 1837-8
"Oliver Twist was born into a world of hardship. The workhouse where he spent his early years was cold, noisy, and harsh. The orphans were given little food, often just a thin gruel that did nothing to fill their empty stomachs. The cruel officials watched them closely but cared little for their suffering. One day, Oliver dared to ask for more food. The room fell silent. His small voice shook, but he was determined to speak the truth: "Please, sir, I want some more." This simple request was met with anger by the officials. They believed children like Oliver should be grateful for whatever they were given, no matter how meager." 1. What kind of life does Oliver have in the workhouse? Use two descriptive words from the text. 2. Why is Oliver’s request important? What moral question does it raise? 3. What type of narrative style is used?
Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë, 1847
"Jane Eyre was a quiet and thoughtful girl, living with her strict aunt and cousins. She loved to read and dream of a better life. Although she faced many hardships, Jane always tried to do what was right, believing in her own strength and moral values. When she grows up, Jane works as a governess at Thornfield Hall, where she meets Mr. Rochester. Their relationship teaches her about love, respect, and honesty." 1. How would you describe Jane’s character based on this passage? 2. What themes does Brontë explore in this excerpt? 3. Why might Victorian readers find Jane Eyre interesting or inspiring?
Darwin vs. Dickens
On the origin of the species, C. Darwin, 1859"In the struggle for survival, those individuals with favorable variations will have the best chance of surviving and reproducing. Over many generations, these favorable characteristics become more common in the population. This process, which I call natural selection, can explain how all species have developed from earlier forms of life. Just as a breeder selects the best animals for breeding, nature selects those best adapted to their environment."
Hard Times, Charles Dickens, 1854 "In the factory town, only those who could adapt to the harsh conditions survived. The weak fell by the wayside while the strong—or perhaps simply the lucky—prospered. Tom had learned that showing kindness was often seen as weakness in this competitive world. Like animals fighting for limited resources, the workers competed desperately for employment, while the factory owners grew wealthy from this struggle." Great Expectations, Charles Dickens, 1860-1"The gentleman's son was educated in the finest schools, while the laborer's child learned only what was necessary for factory work. Each seemed destined to remain in their appointed place, as if social position were as fixed as the characteristics of different species. Yet occasionally, someone like Joe would rise from humble origins through education and determination, proving that social evolution, unlike natural evolution, could happen within a single lifetime."
“It is not the strongest of the species that survives,not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”
Victorian poetry and drama
"Laura, like the biblical Eve, cannot control her curiosity or appetite, and suffers for it. Lizzie bravely confronts the goblins, resisting temptation and sacrifice for her sister’s salvation, portraying female agency and sisterhood as forms of resistance to patriarchal oppression." Goblin market, Christina Rossetti, 1862
Victorian poetry also conveyed moral lessons, aiming to educate readers about virtue, social responsibility, and ethical behavior. However poets like Christina Rossetti challenged societal norms through symbolic and allegorical work, exposing tensions in gender roles and moral expectations, while others like Elizabeth Barrett Browning addressed social reforms and injustices such as child labor and women's rights. Dramatic monologues became a popular form to explore complex psychological and social themes, offering multiple perspectives on moral dilemmas. IVictorian drama blends melodramatic moral storytelling, social satire, grand spectacle, and evolving realism, reflecting the complexities of Victorian society and theater.
"’How long,’ they say, ‘how long, O cruel nation, Will you stand, to move the world, on a child’s heart, — Stifle down with a mailed heel its palpitation, And tread onward to your throne amid the mart?’” The Cry of the Children, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, 1844
Key Features of Victorian Literature Main themes: social class, morality, personal struggle, and social injustice.Style: Brontë focuses on character emotions and moral values
Key Features of Victorian Literature Concrete Descriptive Language: The passage uses vivid, sensory words like “cold,” “noisy,” “harsh,” “little food,” and “thin gruel” to create a realistic picture of life in a Victorian • workhouse and to help readers imagine it.Moral Question/Social critique: Oliver’s simple but brave request for more food raises ethical issues. Is it right to deny basic needs? Dickens encourages readers to reflect on the need for compassion and reform. Realism: Dickens portrays the everyday life of an orphan realistically, without romanticizing the hardship. This contrasts with idealized stories that ignore social problems.