Victorians
Discuss one of five passages, to assess the attitude, themes and style of the chosen text and show how these elements are characteristically Victorian. It is helpful to start by giving a short overview of the passage: the description of the content of the passage should act as an introduction, not the main argument of the essay.
Candidates must attempt to apply their critical skills and comment on the style and language used in the passage as well as its content. A good way to demonstrate the passage’s Victorian characteristics is by commenting briefly on similar elements in some of the other texts studied on the course.
Essay writing practice for this section is strongly recommended. The most common error is to present a prepared overview of the Victorian period or of a specific topic or theme. Social and political context should form part of the answer but the commentary must focus on critical analysis of the selected passage.
