What did Victorian authors write about during the 19th century?Middle-class values and convictionsThe importance of love and friendshipUpper-class wealth and supremacyThe belief in adventure and freedom

English Literature: Its History And Its Significance For The Life Of The English-Speaking Worldby William J. Long (adapted excerpt)The Victorian Age (1850-1900)When Victoria became queen, in 1837, English literature seemed to have entered upon a period of lean years, in marked contrast with the poetic fruitfulness of the Romantic Age. Because the Victorian age was an age of democracy and education, it was an age of comparative peace. England began to think less of the pomp and false glitter of fighting, and more of its moral evils, as the nation realized that it is the common people who bear the burden and the sorrow of poverty, while the privileged classes reap most of the financial and political rewards. Moreover, with the growth of trade and of friendly foreign relations, it became evident that the social equality for which England was contending at home belonged to the whole race of men; that brotherhood is universal, not insular; that a question of justice is never settled by fighting wars.The romantic revival had done its work, and England entered upon a new free period, in which every form of literature, from pure romance to gross realism, struggled for expression. First, though the age produced many poets, this was emphatically an age of prose. And since the number of readers had increased a thousandfold with the spread of popular education, it was the age of the newspaper, the magazine, and the modern novel—the first two being the story of the world's daily life. The novel was a pleasant form of literary entertainment, as well as our most successful method of presenting modern problems and modern ideals. The novel, in this age, filled a place which the drama held in the days of Elizabeth, and never before had the novel appeared in such numbers and in such perfection.The second marked characteristic of the age is that literature seemed to depart from the purely artistic standard and to be actuated by a definite moral purpose. The Victorian Age was an age of realism rather than of romance. It strived to tell the whole truth, showing moral and physical diseases as they were, but at the same time holding up health and hope as the normal conditions of humanity.Jane Eyreby Charlotte Brontë (excerpt)In the following excerpt, the narrator, Jane Eyre, describes an interaction with her nursemaid, Bessie.Bessie asked if I would have a book: the word book acted as a transient stimulus, and I begged her to fetch Gulliver's Travels from the library. This book I had again and again perused with delight. I considered it a narrative of facts, and discovered in it a vein of interest deeper than what I found in fairy tales: for as to the elves, having sought them in vain among foxglove leaves and bells, under mushrooms and beneath the ground-ivy mantling old wall-nooks, I had at length made up my mind to the sad truth, that they were all gone out of England to some savage country where the woods were wilder and thicker, and the population more scant; whereas, Lilliput and Brobdignag being, in my creed, solid parts of the earth's surface, I doubted not that I might one day, by taking a long voyage, see with my own eyes the little fields, houses, and trees, the diminutive people, the tiny cows, sheep, and birds of the one realm; and the corn-fields forest-high, the mighty mastiffs, the monster cats, the tower-like men and women, of the other. Yet, when this cherished volume was now placed in my hand—when I turned over its leaves, and sought in its marvellous pictures the charm I had, till now, never failed to find—all was eerie and dreary; the giants were gaunt goblins, the pigmies malevolent and fearful imps, Gulliver a most desolate wanderer in most dread and dangerous regions. I closed the book, which I dared no longer peruse, and put it on the table, beside the untasted tart.Bessie had now finished dusting and tidying the room, and having washed her hands, she opened a certain little drawer, full of splendid shreds of silk and satin, and began making a new bonnet for Georgiana's doll. Meantime she sang: her song was—"In the days when we went gipsying,   A long time ago."I had often heard the song before, and always with lively delight; for Bessie had a sweet voice,—at least, I thought so. But now, though her voice was still sweet, I found in its melody an indescribable sadness. Sometimes, preoccupied with her work, she sang the refrain very low, very lingeringly.31Select the correct answer from the drop-down menu.Read the excerpt. Then complete the paragraph.The author develops the narrator’s character through historical context by portraying the narrator as , a detail consistent with this historical period.

What social and economic values became associated with the middle class in the nineteenth century?What was the idea of the 'separate spheres' and how did it influence the social activities and family life of middle-class women and men?What was the impact of industrialization on the cities of Europe and the working poor, especially women and children?How does Mill describe the position of women in society and what changes does he and does he not support?What 'differences' do Geddes and Thompson insist exist between men and women?How does Daubié describe industrialization's impact on women's lives at work and at home, especially in transforming motherhood and family relations? What reforms and changes in societal attitudes does she propose?

The novels written in the 19th century by British author Charles Dickens are renowned for their vivid characterization and social critique. By painstakingly sketching the society's minute details and infusing ______ with his piercing social commentary, Dickens's novels have retained their relevance.20Mark for ReviewABCWhich choice completes the text so that it conforms to the conventions of Standard English?AthemBhimCthisDit

What new narrative technique did 19th century novelists, such as Charles Dickens, often use?Stream-of-consciousness narrationOmniscient narrationFirst-person narrationThird-person limited narration

A good number of Charles Dickens's novels deal with broad themes that continue to resonate with today's readers. For example, Great Expectations, which is set in Victorian England, plays with themes of social class and personal growth, and the novel remains widely read and appreciated globally. However, understanding Dickens's lesser-known short stories often demands a grasp of the detailed nuances of Victorian society. Consequently, ______13Mark for ReviewABCWhich choice most logically completes the text?Ahistorians specializing in Victorian England tend to favor Dickens's short stories over his other works.Bsome of Dickens's novels are more pertinent to contemporary readers than modern literature.CGreat Expectations is arguably the most universally relatable of all Dickens's works.Dmany readers today are likely to find Dickens's short stories less accessible than his novels.