Which two of the following novels belong to the Victorian Age in English Literature?
(a) Pendennis
(b) The Way of All Flesh
(c) The Battle of the Books
(d) Barchester Towers

Choose the correct option:

Correct option is D

Explanation:

The correct answer is Pendennis and Barchester Towers.

Pendennis (1848-1850), written by William Makepeace Thackeray, is a Victorian novel that belongs to the period of the Victorian Age in literature. It follows the journey of the protagonist, Arthur Pendennis, through his education, career, and love life, capturing the social realities and moral dilemmas of the time.

Barchester Towers (1857), written by Anthony Trollope, is also a Victorian novel that falls under the category of social and satirical fiction. It is part of Trollope's Barsetshire series and focuses on the politics and social life of the clergy in a small English cathedral town. The novel is rich in humor, character development, and social commentary.

Information Booster:

Pendennis by William Makepeace Thackeray is one of the most significant novels of the Victorian era. It is semi-autobiographical and depicts the life of Arthur Pendennis, a young man navigating through love, life, and society in the 19th century. The novel touches on issues such as class, morality, and self-discovery, all central to Victorian ideals.

Barchester Towers is the second novel in Anthony Trollope’s Barsetshire series, exploring the intricacies of the Anglican Church and the lives of clergymen in a fictional cathedral town. The novel satirizes the social and religious structures of Victorian society and is renowned for its rich characterizations and humorous writing.

The Victorian Age in literature, spanning from the 1830s to 1901, is marked by a focus on social issues, morality, and individual character development. Novels of this period often dealt with the lives of the middle and upper classes and explored themes such as industrialization, gender roles, and empire.

Additional Knowledge:

The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler: Although The Way of All Flesh is often associated with Victorian literature, it was published posthumously in 1903 and is more of a critique of Victorian society than a representative of the era. The novel addresses themes such as religion, family dynamics, and personal freedom.

The Battle of the Books by Jonathan Swift: This work is a satirical piece written in the Augustan period (early 18th century), well before the Victorian Age. It humorously engages with the debate between the ancients and the moderns, questioning the value of classical knowledge versus contemporary learning.