Victorian Period

During the Victorian Period there was an indian mutiny. Many Indian sepoys and civilians revolted against the british. After about a year however the mutiny was extinguished. After the mutiny was stopped indian became under direct british rule. This period was the British Raj.

Also There was The Great Exhibition of 1851. This was the world's first fair , it showcased many innovative things. Also photography emerged during this time and was showcased during this fair. Photoghrophy lead to a new form of art which influenced other forms of art as well.

I think that people in this time lived in a era of new technology. I believe that were at the era where they had the effects of the industrial revolution and much new technology was being presented. They had as many new inventions and saw new ideas as we do today, even if they were less simple. I think the period of this time period lived a better life than those of previous times. However there was still much persecution.

I think the biggest difference between the victorian and romantic period was that the romantic poets were more down to earth. I think they were coming down from the happy go lucky ways of romantic poetry. They seemed to talk more about real life and things that actually happened. They showed traces of the romantic period but there is a significant difference in the writing. I think there writing reflects the changes in their culture at this time.

I think victorian poetry wanted to express the way of life living during the victorian period. The way life really was during the victorian period. The name comes from Queen Victoria who ruled during this time. I Think poets wanted to express realism, and change. There was a less influence by intuition, and more towards common sense and every day live. They were really concerned that the romantics were wild and crazy and they were dedicated to bringing the world back down to realism.

The first poem i read was by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. It was called "The Sailor Boy". I actually kind of liked this poem, which is something i cannot say for any other poem i have read this year. The poem is about a boy who people tell him that he should not leave, and that it is dangerous. They say he is foolish for considering it and death comes to those who dont listen.
‘Fool,’ he answer’d, ‘death is sure
To those that stay and those that roam,
But I will nevermore endure
To sit with empty hands at home.
He replies by saying that everyone is going to die regardless. Therefore he does not fear death, but therefore embraces adventure. He says that he will not sit at home doing nothing anymore. I think this is a good example of the victorian period because it shows change. THere was much change in england during this time period as englad focused on expanding it's empire.

The next victorian poem i read was "Among the Rocks" by Robert Browning. The rock's referred to in this poem are rocks on a seashore. During the Victorian period there were many ship voyages. Sea travel was the only way to get across the oceans. I believe by using this seashore as his setting represents the change during this period and how the victorians used many ships. The seashore was frequently visited by travelers and would be a place that can be related to.
"Listening the while, where on the heap of stones
The white breast of the sea-lark twitters sweet. "

The next victorian poem i read was "Future, The" by Matthew Arnold. This poem similiar to the last speaks of the oceans and water much. As mentioned earlier this demonstrates the victorian era to the point in which there was much sea activity. England was at war a lot during this period and they were shipping soldiers. They needed the ocean to do this. Almost all activity conducted that was not in england involved riding on a ship.
A wanderer is man from his birth.
He was born in a ship
On the breast of the river of Time;
Brimming with wonder and joy
He spreads out his arms to the light,
Rivets his gaze on the banks of the stream.
The very first stanza of the poem talks of water and joy of a wanderer. The poem is about wanderers who move from place to place, sometime meeting women. However they are never satisfied in one place. From birth they were destined to be a wonderer. It makes many references to the sea, sometimes a river. I think it uses a river to symbolize the life of a wanderer as one that continues to flow.

The last poem i read for the victorian poet was "the man he killed". We can add this one to the list of randomly picked great poems. It talks of a man who killed another man, not because he wanted to, but because he was out of a job and he needed money. He joined the army and the other fellow was of another army. He shot at him as the other guy shot back. He thinks that if he would have met this guy at any other time he may not have even had a problem with him, but war isnt a place for friends.
"I shot him dead because --
Because he was my foe,
Just so: my foe of course he was;
That's clear enough; although
I think this is another great example of the victorian period because england was constantly at war duing this period of time. I believe they were in wartime durig every year of the victorian period. This brings ensigbht to the fact that not all soldiers are fighting for the same cause, and some soldiers did this because they had no other way of supporting their family.
""He thought he'd 'list, perhaps,
Off-hand like -- just as I --
Was out of work -- had sold his traps --
No other reason why.

"Yes; quaint and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You'd treat if met where any bar is,
Or help to half-a-crown." "