Course Description
This course will explore the social, economic, and historical interpretations of the Victorian novels written by Anne Brontë. The readings will cover the works by Anne Brontë, the criticism of Brontë’s works and the social economic background in Brontë’s time.
The list first starts with general theories of the European novels by including the work of Armstrong and Moretti. Siskin’s discussion on novels is also included. Next, this list contains the two main texts, Agnes Grey and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, along with the biographies of Anne Brontë. The biographies such as the works of Chitham, Frawley, and Langland will provide the general background of Brontë’s life and works. This section will also include books with recent critical essays on the Brontës such as The Brontës in the World of Arts and New Approaches to the Art of Anne Brontë. This choice of materials also aims to familiarize the student with the social-historical background of the Victorian era to foreground the historical context of the novels, specifying on the discussion of the female role in the Victorian era. The works by Easley, Davidoff & Hall, Shanley, and Thormählen probe into the social historical context of the professionalization and education of Victorian women. Then, the focus will fall on the social economic environment of Victorian times for interpreting the novels of Brontë with the concept of credit economy. The books by Finn, Gallagher, and Lysack offer the examples and models for interpeting novels with the concept of credit economy. Finally, the works concerning economy and social theory are included too, such as Pierre Bourdieu’s work and Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations. The above explains how this selection of books will orient the student in the plethora of studies on Victorian novels with the specific focus on Anne Brontë.