Victorian Literature: An Interdisciplinary Introduction

The Victorian era was a time of rapid industrialization, scientific breakthroughs, and deep social transformation. To truly understand the literature of this period, you must look beyond the written page and explore the cultural forces that shaped it. This text-based course offers an accessible, interdisciplinary approach to reading and analyzing Victorian prose, poetry, and essays in their historical context. You will learn to connect classic literary texts with the era's major debates, including the rise of evolutionary science, the expansion of empire, and shifting gender roles. What you will learn: Analyze the impact of industrialization and urban growth on Victorian social realism; Understand how scientific discoveries, including evolutionary theory, challenged traditional religious beliefs in literature; Explore the depiction of empire, colonial expansion, and national identity in prose and poetry; Examine the evolving roles of women and the 'New Woman' question through period-specific texts; Apply modern critical frameworks, such as postcolonial and gender theory, to foundational writings. The course begins with essential historical terminology, key cultural concepts, and foundational definitions before moving into deep thematic readings of major authors and essayists. This course is designed specifically for beginners, students of English literature, and history enthusiasts, with no prior knowledge of literary theory required. Start reading to uncover the rich, interconnected world of Victorian writing.