Final answer:
Victorian-era literature primarily focused on the effects of social change on individuals and groups, characterized by the realism movement, although it also included romantic and supernatural elements from the overlapping Romantic period.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject matter dealt with in Victorian-era literature is vast and varied, reflecting the complexity of the era itself. However, the most prominent focus, particularly in the works of many key authors of the time like Charles Dickens, was on the effect of social change on individuals and groups (Option B). This Realism movement was known for its detailed portraits of everyday life and social stratification, with an emphasis on depicting reality accurately, in both its positive and negative aspects.
Romanticism, a movement preceding and overlapping the Victorian age, also played a significant role in the literature of the time. Romantic themes often included the beauty of nature, the importance of emotion and imagination, and occasionally explored the supernatural. Meanwhile, Gothic literature, a subgenre of Romanticism characterized by dark and mysterious settings and elements of horror, found its expression through writers like Mary Shelley and Edgar Allan Poe.
While romantic themes and elements of the supernatural were indeed part of Victorian and Romantic literature, the overarching trend in Victorian works was more concerned with social commentary and realist depictions of the industrializing world. Hence, Victorian-era literature mostly dealt with the effects of social change.