1. Which 2 readings did you complete from the reading list provided (or from your own selections)?
I chose: Irving, W. Rip van Winkle (USA, 1819-short story) and Poe, E.A. The Murders in the Rue Morgue (USA, 1841-short story).
2. Based on these readings, compare (3 examples) and contrast (3 examples) the works you read with themes from the ppt presentations given in class on Victorian Culture and Literature.
Clearly one of the themes present in one of these stories is the application of reason logically and the use of the scientific method in “The murders in the Rue Morgue”, however we can contrast the fact that the story is many times a bit fantastic almost epic allowing us to liberate every idea that we want.
Another theme that we can find is the American Revolution related to Victorian era which was in large wars for a long time.
Also we can find another theme which is the change. When Rip van Winkle gets up from his nap, the entire world has changed. Everything he was used to before be gone--even clothing styles has changed. So we can say: “the one that winks loses…”, this story has few reality however we can learn a lot of this “saying”, thinking about how many times we live without living and when we react the life is gone.
3. Do you feel that the works you read are very good or excellent representations of Victorian Literature? Why/Why Not?
I think they are good representations because they are written by middle class people to middle class people, want that the middle class realizes how the lowest classes live because it is believed that the social reform has to depart from the highest classes. Moreover, they want to entertain people through didactic stories. However, sometimes the stories lead to a real degradation of the social and spiritual values or like Poe in his story is not worried about the social business because he considers the reality is a mental process and not a physical fact.
4. Would you recommend the readings to friends or family? Why/Why Not?
