Literature: Victorian Literature Through the Decades - The 1840s
Course details
Course code
Q00016886Course date
Number of classes
13 sessionsTimetable
Tutor
Greta DepledgeFee range
How you'll learn
Venue
Exeter Community Centre (Exeter)17 St. Davids Hill
Exeter
EX4 3RG
Level of study
Entry Levels 1,2,3: If you have never studied this subject before and you’re not confident in your ̨Íåswag, Entry levels are a good starting point.
Level 1: Covers basic ̨Íåswag and knowledge needed for this subject
Level 2: Building on basic knowledge or experience. Similar to Grade 4/ C at GCSE or O level in England or Standards in Scotland.
Level 3: Learn about the topic in-depth and have a broad range of ̨Íåswag. Independent working Equivalent to an A level in England or Higher in Scotland.
Beginners: A perfect introduction if you have no experience and ̨Íåswag in this subject.
Improvers: The next step if you have basic ̨Íåswag or knowledge but want to progress them further.
Advanced: Build on the solid experience and ̨Íåswag you have in this subject, applying your ̨Íåswag and knowledge in a more complex way.
Course overview
Course description
The purpose of this course is to consider literature from the 1840s with a view to forming a greater understanding of ‘Victorian Literature’ by looking at a number of texts published from each decade of Victoria’s long reign.
The 1840s was a time of great prosperity for many with the industrial revolution bringing about the growth of many industrial towns and cities resulting in vast numbers of people migrating from rural areas into growing urban spaces. Progress did mean opportunity for many. However this period was also known as the ‘Hungry Forties’ so there was also significant social inequality. We will consider the following texts: Barnaby Rudge (Charles Dickens 1841); The Luck of Barry Lyndon (W M Thackeray, 1844); Sybil (Benjamin Disraeli, 1845); Agnes Grey (Anne Bronté, 1847); Shirley (Charlotte Bronté, 1849). We will consider the social and political context of the texts to be studied and consider the narrative techniques and styles we see in these diverse texts.
In subsequent courses we will study the decades from the 1850s through to 1901. It is of course not compulsory to study each course and learners may choose to dip in and out for the decades they are most interested in.
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