1832-1901

The Victorian Era“The Young Victoria” (2009)

1. New towns, goods, wealth, jobs2. Gained political power3. Peace and economic growth

Peace and Economic Growth

4. Progress is measured by material improvement

5. Cleanliness and order6. Didn’t like his materialistic attitude7. Material advances

The Idea of Progress

8. Full of troubles, a depression, and bad working conditions

9. Potato blight in Ireland – million dead, 2 million left

10. Filth and disorder11.

• economic depression• Widespread unemployment• Famine in Ireland• Deplorable working/living conditions

“Hungry Forties”

12. Price of food – too high for working men; working men & women couldn’t vote

13. Peaceful “monster rally” to protest the above

14. Margarine15. 1832 – all men who owned property; 1867 –

all working class men (except agricultural workers)

16. 191817. Mandatory school and limited child labor

The Movement for Reform

18. If it might embarrass the reader19. Too strong – uneasy about that20. Father = in charge

MC Woman = marry and make a home or governess (unmarried)

WC = servant in a richer household

Decorum and Authority

21. Earth, creatures, natural laws22. Science and technology23. Viewed the world as a set of problems to be

solved by science

Intellectual Progress

24. Materialism? Green movement? Authority and decorum?25.

Mechanized factories and railways City dwellers Increased literacy and libraries Advances in science and tech. that might solve disease,

poverty, immorality, etc. Factory acts: trying to regulate the high toll that factories

took on workers. Reevaluation of the benefits of rapid “progress”

26. Charles Dickens27. Happy endings, but also because he showed things

“how they were”

Questions and Doubts

28. It’s the poet’s job to connect heaven/earth, body/soul, and material/ideal for the reader.

29. Found it hard to believe in a higher power that controlled all

30. Suggested that “faith” was dying and giving way to science

31. Began to believe that life was all hardship and heartache

32. Transition from God uncertainty and spiritual doubt

Trust to Skepticism

33. Entertained, informed, warned, reassured34. Dangers & benefits of rapid

industrialization; encourages people to inspect the idea of “progress”

Revealing Reality…

Progress (Industrialization – benefits and problems)

Social Reform (working class gains power)Prudery (extreme modesty; freedoms limited)City Living (filth and disorder)Skepticism (no more all-powerful God)

Key Ideas

Sonnet 43How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.I love thee to the depth and breadth and heightMy soul can reach, when feeling out of sightFor the ends of Being and ideal Grace.I love thee to the level of everyday’s Most quiet need, by sun and by candlelight.I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.I love thee with the passion put to useIn my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my childhood’s faith – I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life! – and, if God choose,I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet 43How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. (A)I love thee to the depth and breadth and height (B)My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight (B)For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. (A…ish)I love thee to the level of everyday’s (A)Most quiet need, by sun and by candlelight. (B)I love thee freely, as men strive for Right; (B)I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise. (A)I love thee with the passion put to use (C)In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith. (D)I love thee with a love I seemed to lose (C)With my childhood’s faith – I love thee with the breath, (D)Smiles, tears, of all my life! – and, if God choose, (C)I shall but love thee better after death. (D)

Rhyme Scheme

Write a copy-change version of the “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” sonnet.

You must use this first line as your first line; however, you may change the “love” to “hate” if you so desire.

Also, you may change the “thee” to “you” if you prefer… just be consistent!

Your poem MUST have a rhyme scheme.You must have 14 lines total (including the first

“How do I love thee?” line).A “pretty” copy is due tomorrow (either typed or

handwritten on nice/pretty/decorated paper).Write your name on the BACK of the final copy,

and turn it in to me.

Your task?