Question

What is the relationship between modernism and Victorian culture?

Answer 1

Victorian literature was written in England during the "Victorian era" which was from 1832-1901. Victorian literature mostly focused on the strict social, political, and sexual conservatism of the time. Some famous Victorian authors are Edith Wharton, Kate Chopin, Charles Dickens, and William Thackeray. Modern age literature (modernism) was during the 1890's through the 1940's. The literature focused on moving towards modern Western ideas, religion, social conventions, and morality. Some famous modern age authors are William Faulkner, Scott Fizgerald, and Joseph Conrad. So I suppose the main difference is that Victorian literature focused on the culture in which they were already in while Modern age focused on the ideas of the West and the future. That would be the difference but also the relationship between the two

Answer 2

While the Victorian novel is taken with both the portrayal of the character and plot, the modernist novel, on the contrary, is concerned with the character’s perception of life and the representation of inner reality. In addition, the authors of modernist fiction were preoccupied not just with the process of writing, but also with the theory of the novel. To sum up, modernism as a literary movement represents fresh, bold approaches and techniques, a new, panoramic point of view and advanced literary and critical theories. It departs significantly from the traditions of the Victorian period, rejecting its realism and conservatism.