Major Victorian Poets and Their Contributions in the History of English Literature
The poetic temper of the Victorian Age is not materially different from that of the early 19th century. In its individualism, play of imagination, love of the picturesque, and interest in Nature and the past, it continues the romantic tradition. But in its response to the changed conditions -- political, economic, and scientific and religions -- it no doubt acquired a distinctive character of its own. The Victorian poets lived in the world of their day which looked up to them for guidance. Democracy introduced a new face; science banished God from the universe; and religion therefore had little useful role to play. Upon what platform would England stand then? Tennyson, Browning and Arnold came to her rescue. Each came out with a message of his own to reassure his readers that their doubts, distractions and fears were all right with the world. The poets turned prophets too. Victorian poetry came to be related more to life than the romantic. It is the voice of Victorian England.
Science also had its impact on the poet's attitude to nature. with the existence of god himself in doubt, he saw no divinity in it , nor did he invest it with any philosophical significance . It was Darwin's evolutionary theory which caused this change of attitude. On the contrary, Nature was discovered to be ' red in tooth and claw '. Under the impact of science, the poetic style also underwent a change.While the style continued to be ornate, most notably in Tennyson and the Pre - Raphaelites, it became more to the point than before. Victorian poetry therefore shed the mere flowers of speech .It stove for beauty within the limits of reason.
Tennyson wrote several volumes of verse but the more important of his poems include : The Lotus - Eaters , Ulysses , Break, Break, Break, Locksley Hall, The Lady of shallot, The princess , In memoriam , The charge of the Light Brigade , Maud , Idylls of the king , Enoch Arden , and Crossing the Bar . They comprise Lyrics, odes, dramatic monologues, an elegy, metrical romances, and verse tales. Victorian England re -lives in his pages. The princess thus deals with a question that vexed his age -- woman's place in society. In Memoriam, an elegy endeavors to reconcile the conflicting claims of science and religion. The charge of the Light Brigade and several other poems voice the patriotic fervour of the age. Even The Lotus -Eaters and Ulysses which deal with Greek themes , and the Idylls of the king which retell the tales of the medieval English king , Arthur , present a picture of Victorian life rather than that of ancient Greece or medieval England . Tennyson's treatment of nature is also coloured by the spirit of the age. Above all, he was a master craftsman and a great experimentalist in rhymes.
The volumes of verse by which Robert Browning is best known are Men and women, Dramatic Personae and The Ring and the Book . His best known poems include: Evelyn Hope , Porphyria's Lover , My Last Duchess.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's work roughly falls into Two divisions: Poems that are purely topical in there interest and those that have a more abiding appeal. To the former category belong The Cry of the Children , drawing attention to the evils of child labour ; The Cry of the Human , expressing similar sympathy for the oppressed ; Casa Guidi Windows , inspired by the Italian struggle for freedom ; and Aurora Leigh , a blank -verse romance , voicing the Victorian woman's yearning for a place of honour in society category belong The Sonnets from the Portuguese , a sequence of 44 sonnets expressing Elizabeth's love for Robert Browning . They are truer poetry than any of her other poems, sincere in feeling and simple in expression. Part of their interest is due to the fact that they are the first sequence of sonnets in English literature to be addressed by a woman to a man. They are her only title to a place in literature today.
The Victorian era was a prolific period for English literature, producing some of the most influential poets of all time. The works of Tennyson, Browning, Arnold, Rossetti, and Swinburne continue to resonate with readers today and have contributed significantly to the development of English literature. Through their poetry, these writers explored complex themes such as love, mortality, social justice, and spirituality, capturing the essence of Victorian society and leaving a lasting legacy in the world of literature.
A Quick Recap & Few Others
👉Alfred, Lord Tennyson: Tennyson is perhaps the most famous poet of the Victorian era. His works, including "The Charge of the Light Brigade" and "In Memoriam A.H.H.", capture the spirit of the times with their focus on love, loss, and heroism.
👉Robert Browning: Browning's poems, such as "My Last Duchess" and "The Pied Piper of Hamelin", are known for their psychological depth and dramatic monologues. His work helped to usher in the era of modernist poetry.
👉Christina Rossetti: Rossetti's poetry often explores themes of love, death, and religion. Her most famous works include "Goblin Market" and "In the Bleak Midwinter", which have become beloved Christmas carols.
👉Matthew Arnold: Arnold's poetry often grapples with the changing social landscape of Victorian England. His works, including "Dover Beach" and "The Scholar Gypsy", are known for their lyrical beauty and contemplative tone.
👉Gerard Manley Hopkins: Hopkins's poetry is characterized by its innovative use of language and imagery. His works, such as "The Windhover" and "Pied Beauty", explore themes of nature, faith, and the divine.
Ref:
1. Peterson. (2013). Victorian Poets, Politics, and Networks: Response. Victorian Studies, 55(2), 309. https://doi.org/10.2979/victorianstudies.55.2.309
2. Srebrnik, P. T. (1996). Victorian Women Poets. Victorian Review, 22(1), 71–78. https://doi.org/10.1353/vcr.1996.0006
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