Episode 224: “Agnes Grey” by Anne Brontë, Introduction and Ch. 1-5
The Literary Life Podcast
The Evolution of Victorian Novels and Censorship
This chapter explores the transformation of the novel during the Victorian era, focusing on the shift towards more sanitized and family-friendly storytelling. It examines the impact of lending libraries and publishers on audience perceptions and the resulting censorship influenced by societal expectations.
Today on The Literary Life Podcast, Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks begin a new book discussion series covering Anne Brontë’s Victorian novel Agnes Grey. This week they are giving an introduction to the social and literary climate in which Anne was writing, as well as discussing chapters 1-5 of the book.
Thomas shares a little information on Utilitarianism, and Angelina talks about how this affected the literature of the Victorian period. She also points out that the Brontës were writing in the medieval literary tradition rather than the didactic or realistic style, and as such we should look for symbols and metaphors in their journey of the soul. Thomas and Angelina explore the background of the Brontë sisters, discuss the position of the governess in this time period, and compare Agnes Grey to other governess novels.
Diving into the first five chapters of this book, Angelina and Thomas look at the life of young Agnes Grey and at her family. In treating the characters in the early chapters, they talk about Agnes Grey’s first forays into the life of the governess, the horrid children in her care, their irresponsible parents, and more.
Check out the schedule for the podcast’s summer episodes on our Upcoming Events page. If you haven’t heard about Cindy Rollins’ upcoming Summer Discipleship series, you can learn more about that over at MorningTimeforMoms.com.
In June Mr. Banks will be teaching a 5-day class on St. Augustine, and in July Dr. Jason Baxter will be teaching a class on Dostoevsky. Also, don’t miss the launch the HHL publishing wing, Cassiodorus Press! Sign up for the newsletter at HouseofHumaneLetters.com to stay in the know about all the exciting new things we have coming up!
Commonplace Quotes:Truth is the trial of itself,/ And needs no other touch.
Ben JonsonThe previous literary life of this country had left vigorous many old forces in the Victorian time, as in our time. Roman Britain and Mediæval England are still not only alive but lively; for real development is not leaving things behind, as on a road, but drawing life from them, as from a root. Even when we improve we never progress. For progress, the metaphor from the road, implies a man leaving his home behind him: but improvement means a man exalting the towers or extending the gardens of his home.
G. K. Chesterton, The Victorian Age in Literature GanymedeBy W. H. Auden
He looked in all His wisdom from the throneDown on that humble boy who kept the sheep,And sent a dove; the dove returned alone:Youth liked the music, but soon fell asleep. But He had planned such future for the youth:Surely, His duty now was to compel.For later he would come to love the truth,And own his gratitude. His eagle fell. It did not work. His conversation boredThe boy who yawned and whistled and made faces,And wriggled free from fatherly embraces; But with the eagle he was always willingTo go where it suggested, and adoredAnd learnt from it so many ways of killing. Book List:Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot
Tom Jones by Henry Fielding
Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
Adam Bede by George Eliot
Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
My Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du Maurier
The Infernal World of Bramwell Brontë by Daphne Du Maurier
Villette by Charlotte Brontë
Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
Mary Poppins by P. L. Travers
The Way We Live Now by Anthony Trollope
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
Esther Waters by George Moore
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