Posted by Victorian Age (1837–1901): Complete Lecture Sheet (Part–1)
Victorian Age (1837–1901)
১. Victorian Age কী?
Victorian Age হলো ইংরেজি সাহিত্যের এমন একটি যুগ, যা Queen Victoria-এর শাসনামলকে কেন্দ্র করে গড়ে উঠেছে।
চাকরির পরীক্ষার জন্য গুরুত্বপূর্ণ সংজ্ঞা
Victorian Age is the period in English literature corresponding to the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), marked by realism, morality, industrial progress, imperialism, and social reform.
২. Victorian Age-এর Timeline
Chronological Timeline
1837
Queen Victoria becomes Queen of Britain.
1840s
Industrial Revolution reaches its peak.
1851
Great Exhibition held in London.
1857
Indian Rebellion against British rule.
1859
Darwin publishes On the Origin of Species.
1867
Second Reform Act.
1877
Victoria becomes Empress of India.
1901
Death of Queen Victoria → End of Victorian Age.
৩. Historical Background (ঐতিহাসিক পটভূমি)
(A) Queen Victoria’s Reign
Queen Victoria ruled Britain from 1837–1901.
তাঁর শাসনামলে—
- British Empire became the largest empire in the world.
- England became the world’s strongest industrial nation.
- Science and technology developed rapidly.
- Literature became realistic and socially conscious.
MCQ Facts
(B) Industrial Revolution
কী ছিল?
Industrial Revolution transformed Britain from an agricultural country into an industrial country.
Major Inventions
Literature-এর উপর প্রভাব
- Urban life.
- Poverty.
- Child labour.
- Factory system.
- Social inequality.
(C) British Empire
Important Facts
- “The sun never sets on the British Empire.”
- Colonies existed in Asia, Africa, America and Australia.
India under Victoria
- East India Company ended (1858).
- India became directly ruled by the British Crown.
(D) Scientific Revolution
Charles Darwin
- Published On the Origin of Species (1859).
- Theory of Evolution challenged religious beliefs.
Influence on Literature
- Doubt.
- Conflict between science and religion.
- Realistic observation.
৪. Social Background
Victorian society had two contrasting worlds.
Rich vs Poor Society
Major Social Problems
- Poverty.
- Child labour.
- Women’s inequality.
- Class division.
- Urban crime.
These became major themes in Victorian novels.
৫. Religious Backgroundies created doubt.
Religious Features
- Christianity dominated society.
- Darwin questioned Biblical creation.
- Oxford Movement revived faith.
Literature reflected—
- Faith.
- Doubt.
- Morality.
- Spiritual conflict.
৬. Characteristics of Victorian Literature
Main Characteristics (Most Important Exam Topic)
Easy Memory Trick
RMSOPIDC
- R — Realism
- M — Morality
- S — Social criticism
- O — Optimism
- P — Psychological analysis
- I — Industrial influence
- D — Detailed description
- C — Compromise
৭. Themes of Victorian Literature
Important Themes
৮. Victorian Poetry
Features
Victorian poetry differs from Romantic poetry.
Features
- Elegy.
- Dramatic Monologue.
- Religious doubt.
- Patriotism.
- Medievalism.
Major Victorian Poets
৯. Victorian Novel
Why Victorian Age is called “The Age of Novel”
Victorian period produced the greatest number of novels.
Reasons
- Rise of middle class.
- Literacy increased.
- Newspapers and magazines serialized novels.
- Social issues became popular.
Characteristics
Major Victorian Novelists
১০. Victorian Drama
Drama was less dominant than novel.
Characteristics
- Comedy of manners.
- Social satire.
- Wit and humor.
Important Dramatists
১১. Victorian Essay
Characteristics
- Moral essays.
- Cultural criticism.
- Social reform.
Important Essayists
১২. Pre-Raphaelite Movement
Started
1848
Leaders
- Dante Gabriel Rossetti
- William Holman Hunt
- John Everett Millais
Features
- Medieval beauty.
- Symbolism.
- Detailed art.
- Nature.
১৩. Victorian Age-এর গুরুত্বপূর্ণ Literary Terms
১৪. Romantic Age vs Victorian Age
১৫. Victorian Age MCQ Important Facts
১৬. চাকরির পরীক্ষার জন্য One-Liner Notes
Lecture Sheet Part–1 শেষ (Job Exam Master Series)
পরবর্তী Part–2-এ থাকবে আরও গভীর আলোচনা (চাকরির পরীক্ষার জন্য সবচেয়ে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ অংশ):
- Alfred Lord Tennyson (Complete Life, Works, MCQ)
- Robert Browning (Complete Life, Works, Dramatic Monologue)
- Matthew Arnold
- Charles Dickens (Complete Notes + All Famous Novels)
- Charlotte Brontë, Emily Brontë, George Eliot, Thomas Hardy
- Oscar Wilde
- Victorian Age-এর ২০০+ MCQ (BCS, NTRCA, ব্যাংক, বিশ্ববিদ্যালয় ভর্তি)
- Previous Year Questions (2010–2026) with explanations.
এই সিরিজটি PDF Lecture Sheet Format-এ অধ্যায়ভিত্তিক প্রস্তুত করা হবে।
Victorian Age (1837–1901): Complete Lecture Sheet (Part–2)
১. Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809–1892)
পরিচিতি
কেন গুরুত্বপূর্ণ?
- Victorian Age-এর প্রধান কবি।
- Nature, faith, patriotism এবং morality-এর কবি।
- Romantic ও Victorian যুগের মধ্যে সেতুবন্ধন।
Literary Characteristics
- Musical language.
- Nature imagery.
- Religious doubt.
- Patriotism.
- Medieval legends.
- Heroism.
Famous Works
Most Important Poems
In Memoriam A.H.H.
- Elegy for Arthur Hallam.
- Theme: Death, Faith, Immortality.
Exam Fact
Long elegy written after Arthur Hallam’s death.
Ulysses
Theme
- Adventure.
- Perseverance.
- Never give up.
Famous Line
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
The Lady of Shalott
Themes:
- Isolation.
- Curse.
- Art versus Reality.
Idylls of the King
Epic poem based on King Arthur.
Tennyson Exam MCQs
২. Robert Browning (1812–1889)
পরিচিতি
Literary Features
- Dramatic Monologue.
- Psychological analysis.
- Optimism.
- Human character.
- Complex language.
Dramatic Monologue
Definition
A poem where one speaker speaks to a silent listener and reveals his own personality.
Characteristics
- Single speaker.
- Silent audience.
- Psychological revelation.
Famous Poems
My Last Duchess
Most Important Poem
Themes:
- Possessiveness.
- Pride.
- Patriarchy.
Speaker:
Duke of Ferrara
Andrea del Sarto
Theme:
- Imperfect genius.
- Art and ambition.
Rabbi Ben Ezra
Theme:
- Optimism.
- Old age.
- Spiritual maturity.
Famous Quote
Grow old along with me!
Robert Browning MCQs
৩. Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861)
পরিচিতি
Literary Characteristics
- Love poetry.
- Women’s rights.
- Human sympathy.
- Anti-child labour.
Famous Works
Cry of the Children
Theme:
- Child labour.
- Social protest.
Important Fact:
Industrial Revolution criticism.
How Do I Love Thee?
Theme:
- Pure love.
- Eternal love.
Elizabeth Browning MCQs
৪. Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)
পরিচিতি
Literary Characteristics
- Melancholy.
- Faith versus doubt.
- Modern anxiety.
- Cultural criticism.
Famous Poems
Dover Beach
Most important Victorian poem.
Themes:
- Loss of faith.
- Scientific doubt.
- Human loneliness.
Important Symbol:
Sea of Faith
The Scholar-Gipsy
Theme:
- Escape from modern civilization.
- Ideal life.
Matthew Arnold as Critic
Famous Books:
Touchstone Method
Compare great poetry with classical masterpieces.
Matthew Arnold MCQs
৫. Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828–1882)
পরিচিতি
Founder of Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
Literary Features
- Medievalism.
- Beauty.
- Symbolism.
- Art for beauty.
Famous Poems
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
Founded in 1848.
Members:
- Rossetti.
- Holman Hunt.
- Millais.
Rossetti MCQs
৬. Christina Rossetti (1830–1894)
পরিচিতি
Sister of Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
Literary Characteristics
- Religious devotion.
- Love.
- Temptation.
- Symbolism.
Famous Poems
Goblin Market
Most important poem.
Themes:
- Sisterhood.
- Temptation.
- Redemption.
Christina Rossetti MCQs
৭. Victorian Poetry — Literary Devices (Exam Special)
৮. Victorian Poets Comparison (Very Important)
৯. Previous Job Exam Facts (BCS / NTRCA / Bank)
১০. One-Liner Revision Notes
Tennyson → Poet Laureate, In Memoriam, Ulysses.
Robert Browning → Dramatic Monologue, My Last Duchess.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning → Love & Child Labour, Sonnets from the Portuguese.
Matthew Arnold → Dover Beach, Touchstone Method.
Dante Gabriel Rossetti → Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood.
Christina Rossetti → Goblin Market, Religious Symbolism.
Part–3 Preview (Complete Victorian Novelists)
পরবর্তী Victorian Age Lecture Sheet (Part–3)-এ থাকবে চাকরির পরীক্ষার জন্য সবচেয়ে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ Victorian Novelists-এর Complete Notes (৬০–৮০ পৃষ্ঠা সমমান):
- Charles Dickens — Life, Literary Features, All Major Novels, Characters, Themes, MCQ।
- Thomas Hardy — Life, Wessex Novels, Fatalism, Themes, MCQ।
- Charlotte Brontë — Jane Eyre Complete Analysis।
- Emily Brontë — Wuthering Heights Complete Analysis।
- George Eliot — Middlemarch, Silas Marner।
- Oscar Wilde — Victorian Drama and Aestheticism।
- 200+ Victorian Novel MCQs (BCS, NTRCA, Bank, Primary, University).
Victorian Age (1837–1901): Complete Lecture Sheet (Part–3)
১. Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
পরিচিতি
কেন Dickens সবচেয়ে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ?
- Victorian Age-এর শ্রেষ্ঠ ঔপন্যাসিক।
- দরিদ্র মানুষের জীবন তুলে ধরেছেন।
- Child labour ও industrial society-এর সমালোচনা করেছেন।
- Humor, satire এবং realism-এর অসাধারণ ব্যবহার।
Literary Characteristics
- Realism.
- Social criticism.
- Humour.
- Sympathy for poor.
- Memorable characters.
- Serialized novels.
Major Novels of Dickens
Oliver Twist (Most Important)
Themes
- Child labour.
- Poverty.
- Crime.
- Orphan life.
- Social injustice.
Important Characters
Exam Facts
- Famous orphan novel.
- First social novel by Dickens.
David Copperfield
Theme
- Autobiographical novel.
- Growth and education.
Characters
- David Copperfield.
- Mr. Micawber.
- Uriah Heep.
- Dora.
Great Expectations
Themes
- Ambition.
- Social class.
- Love.
- Wealth.
Important Characters
A Tale of Two Cities
Theme:
- French Revolution.
- Sacrifice.
- Resurrection.
Famous Opening
It was the best of times…
Dickens MCQs
২. Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)
পরিচিতি
Literary Features
- Wessex setting.
- Fatalism.
- Rural life.
- Tragic ending.
- Nature.
Wessex Novels
Wessex is an imaginary region based on Dorset.
Famous Novels
Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Themes:
- Fate.
- Purity.
- Society.
- Gender injustice.
Important Characters:
- Tess.
- Angel Clare.
- Alec d’Urberville.
Exam Fact
Subtitle:
A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented
Jude the Obscure
Theme:
- Education.
- Religion.
- Marriage.
- Failure.
Characters:
- Jude Fawley.
- Sue Bridehead.
Hardy MCQs
৩. Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855)
পরিচিতি
Literary Features
- Feminism.
- Gothic novel.
- Love.
- Morality.
- Psychological realism.
Jane Eyre (Most Important)
Themes:
- Love.
- Equality.
- Independence.
- Religion.
Characters
Gothic Elements
- Haunted mansion.
- Mystery.
- Fire.
- Darkness.
Charlotte Brontë MCQs
৪. Emily Brontë (1818–1848)
পরিচিতি
Famous Novel
Wuthering Heights
Theme:
- Passion.
- Revenge.
- Nature.
- Love.
Characters
Gothic Features
- Ghost.
- Revenge.
- Wild landscape.
- Supernatural.
Emily Brontë MCQs
৫. George Eliot (1819–1880)
পরিচিতি
Literary Features
- Psychological realism.
- Women’s education.
- Rural society.
- Morality.
Famous Novels
Middlemarch
Theme:
- Marriage.
- Politics.
- Women’s life.
Characters:
- Dorothea Brooke.
- Tertius Lydgate.
Silas Marner
Theme:
- Greed.
- Redemption.
- Family.
Characters:
- Silas Marner.
- Eppie.
George Eliot MCQs
৬. Elizabeth Gaskell (1810–1865)
Literary Features
- Industrial novel.
- Women’s condition.
- Social realism.
Famous Works
North and South
Themes:
- Factory owners.
- Workers.
- Love.
৭. Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)
Literary Features
- Political novels.
- Church life.
- Realism.
Famous Works
৮. Victorian Novel — Important Themes
৯. Victorian Novelists Comparison (Very Important)
১০. Previous BCS / NTRCA / Bank Exam Facts
১১. One-Liner Revision Notes (Job Exam Special)
Dickens → Social realism, poverty, orphan, industrial society.
Thomas Hardy → Wessex, fatalism, tragedy, rural England.
Charlotte Brontë → Jane Eyre, feminism, Gothic romance.
Emily Brontë → Wuthering Heights, revenge, supernatural elements.
George Eliot → Psychological realism, Middlemarch, Silas Marner.
Elizabeth Gaskell → Industrial novel, workers’ life, women’s issues.
Victorian Age (1837–1901): Complete Lecture Sheet (Part–4)
১. Victorian Drama (Complete Discussion)
Victorian Drama কী?
Victorian Age-এ নাটক উপন্যাসের মতো জনপ্রিয় না হলেও শতাব্দীর শেষদিকে আবার নাটকের পুনর্জাগরণ ঘটে।
Historical Background
Revival-এর কারণ
- Theatre became popular.
- Middle class audience increased.
- Social satire became fashionable.
- Oscar Wilde and Bernard Shaw transformed English drama.
Characteristics of Victorian Drama
২. Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
পরিচিতি
Literary Identity
- Dramatist.
- Poet.
- Novelist.
- Essayist.
Oscar Wilde’s Literary Philosophy
Art for Art’s Sake
Meaning:
Art exists for beauty, not morality.
Characteristics
- Beauty.
- Luxury.
- Style.
- Individual freedom.
- Wit.
Famous Plays
The Importance of Being Earnest (Most Important)
Themes
- Marriage.
- Identity.
- Hypocrisy.
- Love.
- Social conventions.
Characters
Why Important?
- Best Victorian comedy.
- Comedy of manners masterpiece.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Genre
Only Novel by Oscar Wilde.
Themes
- Beauty.
- Sin.
- Morality.
- Youth.
- Vanity.
Characters
- Dorian Gray.
- Lord Henry Wotton.
- Basil Hallward.
Oscar Wilde MCQs
৩. George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950)
পরিচিতি
Literary Features
- Realism.
- Social criticism.
- Fabian socialism.
- Intellectual comedy.
Famous Plays
Arms and the Man
Themes
- War versus reality.
- Love.
- Heroism.
Important Character
Captain Bluntschli
Nickname:
Chocolate Cream Soldier
Pygmalion
Themes:
- Language.
- Education.
- Social class.
Characters
- Eliza Doolittle.
- Professor Higgins.
Shaw MCQs
৪. Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881)
পরিচিতি
Victorian essayist and historian.
Literary Features
- Hero worship.
- Social criticism.
- Spiritual leadership.
Famous Works
Hero Theory
Great men shape history.
Carlyle MCQ
৫. John Ruskin (1819–1900)
পরিচিতি
Victorian art critic and essayist.
Literary Features
- Art criticism.
- Social reform.
- Architecture.
Famous Books
Ruskin’s Contribution
- Influenced Gandhi.
- Influenced William Morris.
৬. Walter Pater (1839–1894)
পরিচিতি
Leader of the Aesthetic Movement.
Philosophy
Art should give pleasure.
Famous Book
Studies in the History of the Renaissance
Literary Features
- Beauty.
- Individual experience.
- Sensual appreciation.
৭. Aesthetic Movement (Very Important)
Definition
Movement emphasizing beauty over morality.
Motto
Art for Art’s Sake
Leaders
Characteristics
- Beauty.
- Luxury.
- Style.
- Decorative art.
- Individuality.
Aesthetic Movement vs Victorian Morality
৮. Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood (Complete)
Foundation
Founders
Why “Pre-Raphaelite”?
Wanted to return to the purity of art before Raphael.
Characteristics
- Medievalism.
- Nature.
- Symbolism.
- Bright colours.
- Religious feeling.
Major Pre-Raphaelite Writers
৯. Victorian Essay (Complete Overview)
Characteristics
Major Essayists
১০. Comedy of Manners
Definition
Comedy that satirizes upper-class manners and behavior.
Characteristics
- Wit.
- Irony.
- Satire.
- Marriage.
- Social etiquette.
Best Example
The Importance of Being Earnest
১১. Social Satire
Definition
Criticism of society through humor.
Writers
Themes
- Marriage.
- Politics.
- Religion.
- Class.
১২. Victorian Drama vs Modern Drama
১৩. Important Literary Terms
১৪. Previous BCS / NTRCA / Bank MCQ Facts
১৫. One-Liner Revision Notes (Job Exam Special)
Oscar Wilde → Prince of Paradox, Aesthetic Movement, The Importance of Being Earnest.
George Bernard Shaw → Father of Modern English Drama, Arms and the Man, Pygmalion.
Thomas Carlyle → Hero Worship Theory.
John Ruskin → Art Criticism, Modern Painters.
Walter Pater → Leader of Aestheticism.
Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood → Founded 1848, Rossetti–Hunt–Millais.
Victorian Age (1837–1901): Complete Lecture Sheet — Part–5
২. Victorian Poetry-এর প্রধান কবি
| কবি | প্রধান পরিচয় |
| Alfred Tennyson | Poet Laureate; representative Victorian poet |
| Robert Browning | Dramatic Monologue |
| Matthew Arnold | Poet of Doubt / Critic |
| Christina Rossetti | Religious & devotional poetry |
| Gerard Manley Hopkins | Innovative religious poetry |
| Elizabeth Barrett Browning | Love & social poetry |
৩. Victorian Novel-এর প্রধান ঔপন্যাসিক
| লেখক | প্রধান পরিচয় |
| Charles Dickens | Social novelist |
| William Makepeace Thackeray | Satirical novelist |
| George Eliot | Psychological & realist novelist |
| Thomas Hardy | Novelist of fate/tragedy |
| Charlotte Brontë | Feminist / Gothic influence |
| Emily Brontë | Romantic/Gothic novelist |
| Anne Brontë | Social & feminist novelist |
| George Meredith | Psychological novelist |
| Anthony Trollope | Social novelist |
| Robert Louis Stevenson | Adventure fiction |
| Oscar Wilde | Aestheticism & comedy |
PART-B: Alfred Tennyson — Final Revision
৪. Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809–1892)
পরিচয়
- Victorian Age-এর অন্যতম প্রধান কবি।
- Poet Laureate of England।
- Victorian poetry-এর representative poet।
Major Works
- In Memoriam A.H.H.
- Ulysses
- The Charge of the Light Brigade
- The Lady of Shalott
- Morte d’Arthur
- Locksley Hall
- The Princess
- Idylls of the King
গুরুত্বপূর্ণ তথ্য
In Memoriam লেখা হয় Tennyson-এর বন্ধু Arthur Henry Hallam-এর মৃত্যুকে কেন্দ্র করে।
In Memoriam-এর প্রধান বিষয়
- Death
- Grief
- Faith
- Doubt
- Immortality
বিখ্যাত উক্তি
“’Tis better to have loved and lost”
৫. Ulysses
Genre
Dramatic Monologue
Theme
- Adventure
- Old age
- Heroism
- Desire for knowledge
- Continuous struggle
Famous line
“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”
Exam Fact: Ulysses — Tennyson.
৬. The Charge of the Light Brigade
Background
Crimean War
Theme
- Courage
- Patriotism
- Military sacrifice
Famous line
“Theirs not to reason why”
PART-C: Robert Browning — Final Revision
৭. Robert Browning (1812–1889)
প্রধান পরিচয়
Master of Dramatic Monologue
Major Works
- My Last Duchess
- Andrea del Sarto
- Fra Lippo Lippi
- Porphyria’s Lover
- The Bishop Orders His Tomb
- Rabbi Ben Ezra
- The Ring and the Book
৮. Dramatic Monologue
Definition
একজন বক্তা কথা বলে এবং তার বক্তব্যের মাধ্যমে—
- নিজের চরিত্র প্রকাশ করে;
- অন্য চরিত্র সম্পর্কে ধারণা দেয়;
- একটি নির্দিষ্ট পরিস্থিতি তৈরি করে।
প্রধান কবি
Robert Browning
Famous Dramatic Monologues
- My Last Duchess
- Andrea del Sarto
- Fra Lippo Lippi
- Porphyria’s Lover
৯. My Last Duchess
Speaker
Duke of Ferrara
Theme
- Jealousy
- Pride
- Power
- Male domination
Important Character
Duke of Ferrara
Famous line
“I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together.”
PART-D: Matthew Arnold
১০. Matthew Arnold (1822–1888)
পরিচয়
- Poet
- Critic
- Essayist
Famous Works
- Dover Beach
- The Scholar-Gipsy
- Thyrsis
- Culture and Anarchy
- Essays in Criticism
১১. Dover Beach
প্রধান বিষয়
- Loss of faith
- Modern doubt
- Sadness
- Isolation
Famous metaphor
Sea of Faith
Important Idea
Victorian society-এর religious faith ক্রমশ কমে যাচ্ছে।
১২. Arnold as Critic
Arnold-এর বিখ্যাত ধারণা—
“The best that has been thought and said.”
Culture
Culture means perfection through knowledge and ideas.
PART-E: Charles Dickens
১৩. Charles Dickens (1812–1870)
পরিচয়
Greatest Victorian Novelist
প্রধান বৈশিষ্ট্য
- Social criticism
- Child characters
- Poverty
- Industrial society
- Humour
- Satire
১৪. Major Novels of Dickens
| Novel | প্রধান বিষয় |
| Oliver Twist | Poverty & crime |
| David Copperfield | Growth & education |
| Great Expectations | Ambition & social class |
| Hard Times | Industrial society |
| Bleak House | Legal system |
| A Tale of Two Cities | French Revolution |
| Nicholas Nickleby | Education |
| Little Dorrit | Debt & bureaucracy |
| Our Mutual Friend | Money & society |
১৫. Oliver Twist
Main Character
Oliver Twist
Themes
- Poverty
- Child exploitation
- Crime
- Social injustice
Famous Character
Fagin
১৬. Great Expectations
Main Character
Pip
Important Characters
- Pip
- Estella
- Miss Havisham
- Joe Gargery
- Magwitch
Themes
- Social class
- Ambition
- Love
- Moral development
PART-F: William Makepeace Thackeray
১৭. Thackeray (1811–1863)
প্রধান পরিচয়
Satirical Novelist
Greatest Novel
Vanity Fair (1848)
Subtitle
A Novel Without a Hero
Main Character
Becky Sharp
Theme
- Vanity
- Social ambition
- Class
- Hypocrisy
PART-G: George Eliot
১৮. George Eliot (1819–1880)
Real Name
Mary Ann Evans
পরিচয়
- Realist novelist
- Psychological novelist
Major Works
- Adam Bede
- The Mill on the Floss
- Silas Marner
- Middlemarch
- Daniel Deronda
- Romola
১৯. Middlemarch
Subtitle
A Study of Provincial Life
Theme
- Marriage
- Society
- Politics
- Human psychology
- Social change
Exam Fact
Middlemarch → George Eliot
PART-H: Thomas Hardy
২০. Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)
পরিচয়
Novelist of Fate and Pessimism
যদিও Hardy-এর অধিকাংশ প্রধান উপন্যাস Victorian period-এর মধ্যে প্রকাশিত, তাঁর সাহিত্য Victorian ও Modern—দুই যুগের মধ্যে একটি গুরুত্বপূর্ণ bridge হিসেবে বিবেচিত।
Major Novels
- Far from the Madding Crowd
- The Mayor of Casterbridge
- Tess of the d’Urbervilles
- Jude the Obscure
- The Return of the Native
- The Woodlanders
২১. Tess of the d’Urbervilles
Subtitle
A Pure Woman Faithfully Presented
Main Character
Tess Durbeyfield
Themes
- Fate
- Society
- Sexual morality
- Suffering
- Class
২২. The Mayor of Casterbridge
Main Character
Michael Henchard
Theme
- Fate
- Pride
- Alcohol
- Tragedy
- Human weakness
PART-I: Brontë Sisters
২৩. Charlotte Brontë
Major Work
Jane Eyre (1847)
Heroine
Jane Eyre
Hero
Edward Rochester
Themes
- Love
- Independence
- Social class
- Feminism
- Religion
২৪. Emily Brontë
Major Work
Wuthering Heights (1847)
Main Characters
- Heathcliff
- Catherine Earnshaw
Themes
- Passion
- Revenge
- Love
- Nature
- Social class
Exam Fact
Wuthering Heights → Emily Brontë
২৫. Anne Brontë
Major Works
- Agnes Grey
- The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
Theme
- Women’s independence
- Marriage
- Social problems
PART-J: Oscar Wilde
২৬. Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)
পরিচয়
- Aesthetic Movement
- Wit & satire
- Comedy of manners
Major Works
- The Picture of Dorian Gray
- The Importance of Being Earnest
- Lady Windermere’s Fan
- An Ideal Husband
- Salome
২৭. The Picture of Dorian Gray
Genre
Philosophical / Gothic Novel
Theme
- Beauty
- Youth
- Morality
- Hedonism
- Corruption
Central Idea
Dorian-এর portrait তার moral corruption-এর প্রতীক।
২৮. The Importance of Being Earnest
Genre
Comedy of Manners
Main Characters
- Jack Worthing
- Algernon Moncrieff
- Gwendolen Fairfax
- Cecily Cardew
- Lady Bracknell
Famous Character
Lady Bracknell
PART-K: Victorian Women Writers
২৯. গুরুত্বপূর্ণ নারী সাহিত্যিক
| Writer | Major Work |
| Charlotte Brontë | Jane Eyre |
| Emily Brontë | Wuthering Heights |
| Anne Brontë | Agnes Grey |
| George Eliot | Middlemarch |
| Elizabeth Gaskell | North and South |
| Christina Rossetti | Goblin Market |
৩০. Christina Rossetti
Major Works
- Goblin Market
- In the Bleak Midwinter
- Remember
Themes
- Religion
- Love
- Death
- Sacrifice
PART-L: Victorian Literary Movements
৩১. Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
Founded
1848
Important Members
- Dante Gabriel Rossetti
- William Holman Hunt
- John Everett Millais
Characteristics
- Medieval art
- Beauty
- Nature
- Detailed imagery
৩২. Aesthetic Movement
Principle
Art for Art’s Sake
Major Figure
Oscar Wilde
Meaning
Art-এর উদ্দেশ্য সরাসরি morality বা social reform নয়; beauty itself is important.
৩৩. Industrial Revolution-এর প্রভাব
Victorian literature-এ Industrial Revolution-এর ফলে দেখা যায়—
- Poverty
- Child labour
- Urbanization
- Class conflict
- Factory life
- Social inequality
Dickens
Industrial society-এর অন্যতম প্রধান critic।
৩৪. Victorian Doubt
Victorian Age-এ Science ও Religion-এর মধ্যে conflict তৈরি হয়।
Major Causes
- Darwin’s Evolution Theory
- Scientific discoveries
- Biblical criticism
- Industrial progress
Literary Result
- Loss of faith
- Religious doubt
- Pessimism
- Spiritual crisis
PART-M: Victorian Age — Writer & Work Matching
| Writer | Work |
| Tennyson | In Memoriam |
| Tennyson | Ulysses |
| Browning | My Last Duchess |
| Arnold | Dover Beach |
| Dickens | Oliver Twist |
| Dickens | Great Expectations |
| Thackeray | Vanity Fair |
| George Eliot | Middlemarch |
| Hardy | Tess of the d’Urbervilles |
| Charlotte Brontë | Jane Eyre |
| Emily Brontë | Wuthering Heights |
| Oscar Wilde | The Picture of Dorian Gray |
| Wilde | The Importance of Being Earnest |
PART-N: Famous Quotes — Who Said / Where?
| Quote | Writer / Work |
| “To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” | Tennyson — Ulysses |
| “Theirs not to reason why.” | Tennyson — The Charge of the Light Brigade |
| “’Tis better to have loved and lost.” | Tennyson — In Memoriam |
| “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp.” | Browning — Andrea del Sarto |
| “I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together.” | Browning — My Last Duchess |
| “The Sea of Faith…” | Arnold — Dover Beach |
| “A novel without a hero.” | Thackeray — Vanity Fair |
PART-O: Victorian Literary Terms
| Term | Associated Writer |
| Dramatic Monologue | Robert Browning |
| Poet Laureate | Alfred Tennyson |
| Sea of Faith | Matthew Arnold |
| Problem Novel | Dickens / Eliot |
| Social Novel | Dickens |
| Satirical Novel | Thackeray |
| Psychological Realism | George Eliot |
| Novel of Fate | Thomas Hardy |
| Aestheticism | Oscar Wilde |
| Art for Art’s Sake | Aesthetic Movement |
| Pre-Raphaelite Movement | Rossetti & others |
| Gothic Novel | Brontë tradition |
PART-P: Victorian Age — 20 Most Important Facts
- Victorian Age began in 1837.
- It ended in 1901.
- Queen Victoria ruled Britain.
- Tennyson was Poet Laureate.
- Browning was master of Dramatic Monologue.
- Ulysses → Tennyson.
- My Last Duchess → Browning.
- Dover Beach → Matthew Arnold.
- Vanity Fair → Thackeray.
- Oliver Twist → Dickens.
- Middlemarch → George Eliot.
- George Eliot’s real name → Mary Ann Evans.
- Jane Eyre → Charlotte Brontë.
- Wuthering Heights → Emily Brontë.
- Tess of the d’Urbervilles → Thomas Hardy.
- The Picture of Dorian Gray → Oscar Wilde.
- Art for Art’s Sake → Aestheticism.
- Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood → 1848.
- Victorian literature reflects Faith vs Doubt.
- Industrialization strongly influenced Victorian literature.