Final answer:
Tennyson was known as the father of the Victorian age because of his profound impact on Victorian literature, exemplified by his appointment as Poet Laureate in 1850. Option C is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alfred Lord Tennyson is often referred to as the father of the Victorian age due to his profound impact on Victorian literature. Despite his initial neglect towards his academic undertakings, Tennyson's determination to perfect his poetic craft led to his rise in popularity during the 1840s.
His diverse body of work, which ranged from poems and drama to essays and philosophical reflections, substantially shaped the literary standard of his time. His appointment as Poet Laureate by Queen Victoria in 1850, succeeding William Wordsworth, signified not only a personal honor but also a symbolic torch-passing to a new literary movement reflective of the Victorian culture and sensibilities.