Victorian Poets

Victorian poets are also known as later nineteenth-century poets. Most of the writing of
this period reflects current social, economic, and intellectual problems. The poetry of
this period shows the crisis of religion and philosophy because of the development of
science.

victorian Poetry Victorian period describes the events in the age of Queen
Victoria’s reign of 1837-1901. Influence of Romantics still strong, though
Victorian poetry reacted against subjectivity. Victorian poetry is heroic,
sentimental and nostalgic. Most enduring feature of Victorian poetry is dramatic
monologue, though short lyrics and sonnets were also popular. Simplicity of
language was adhered to.

3 Poetry is Pictorial: employs details to create a visual image to represent

emotion. Use of alliteration for sound effect etc. to create effect and illustrate
meaning e.g. mellowness of Tennyson and roughness of Browning
Experimentation with narrative Depiction of inner workings of the mind, the
psychology of the characters Spiritual contemplation and philosophical inquiries
are common with the Victorian poets.

4 Poets of Early Victorian Period Mathew Arnold, Alfred Tennyson and Robert
Browning Both imbued with the spirit of romanticism with difference. Tennyson
was inspired by Byron and Keats; Browning with Shelley. Romanticism was
blended with the skepticism of the age or the great debate between religion and
science.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Tennyson's early poetry, with its medievalism and powerful visual imagery, was a
major influence on the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Tennyson is one of the most
skilled and self-conscious poets of the Victorian age. He is typical Victorian who
adopted the conventional religious and social views and values of his age. His early
poems were not much accepted, but gradually he sharpened his skill.

Tennyson's later poems are serious, thoughtful and musical. His poem The Idylls of the
King is preferred by many people even today. In Morte D Arthur he turned Malory’s
story into poetry. He did experiment with different meters. In his long poem In
Memoriam he laments for the death of his friend Arthur Hallam. Tennyson’s shorter
poems are generally better than longer ones. Ulysses is his most controlled and
perfectly written poem which presents the heroic voice of the aged hero. The Princess is
the collection of his fine lyric which shows his best mys terious and musical quality.

Robert Browning

Browning is a major Victorian poet who voiced the mood of optimism in his works. For
Browning the intellect was more important than the music. His great knowledge was the
result of his self-study and travels. His reputation is higher as the writer of dramatic
monologue. One of his successful dramatic poems is Pippa Passes. We find many such
poems in his dramas, but his natural gift was in poetry. Sometimes we notice his poetic
style very difficult. It is because of his unusual knowledge of words and his strange
sentence structure. Sordello is a good example of his difficult poem. The Ring and the
Book is a poem based on a book that he found in Florence. Asolando is a collection of
many fine poems which was published on the day of Browning death.

Matthew Arnold

Arnold was a great poet and critic of his time. He had been a professor of poetry
in Oxford for ten years. His works truly represent his age. A sad undertone runs
through nearly all his poetry. His views of modern life, of its complexity, its sick
hurry and divided aims are present in his poetry.

Arnold was also the headmaster of Rugby School. He wrote a poem

entitled Rugby Chapel. Thyrsis is a poem of lament for his friend, Clough. In his
poem The Scholar Gipsy the poet talks about an Oxford man who joins a band of
gypsies and wanders with them. Memorial Verses is his sad poem in which the
poet laments for the deaths of many poets at home and abroad. He also wrote a
critical sonnet of Shakespeare, whom he praised too much. One of his other
poems, Empedocles on Etna, has been highly praised, perhaps because it is not
altogether sad.