It was in the Victorian Era (维多利亚时期) that the novel became the leading form of literature in English. Most writers were more concerned to meet the tastes of the middle class. The best known works of the period included the works of Charles Dickens and the Bronté sisters and others.
Charles Dickens came on the literary scene in the 1830s. Dickens wrote vividly about London life and the struggles of the poor. Most of his works were written in a very humorous style, which was popular with readers of all classes.
The Bronté sisters were English writers of the 1840s and 1850s. They began to write from early childhood. In 1846 they published the first book at their own expense as poets; however, their book attracted little attention, selling only two copies. Then the sisters turned to writing novels, each producing a novel in the following year.
An interest in rural(田园的) matters and the changing social and economic situation of the countryside may be seen in the novels of Thomas Hardy and a number of others.
Literature for children developed as a single style. Some works became well-known, such as those of Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear. Adventure novels were written for adults but are now generally grouped in the list for children. Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author at the end of the Victorian Era, best known for her children’s books, which featured (以……为特色) animal characters. In her thirties, Potter published the highly successful children’s book The Tale of Peter Rabbit in 1902.
小题1:What can we know about Charles Dickens from the text?
A．He showed an interest in rural matters in his writing.
B．He focused on changing social and economic situation of the countryside
C．He wrote about the struggles of the poor in London?
D．He published the highly successful children’s book小题2:Which is TRUE about the Bronté sisters?
A．They were English writers of the 1830s.
B．They paid to have their first book published.
C．They began their writing from the rural life.
D．Their first book was successful.小题3:Who wrote the famous children’s book The Tale of Peter Rabbit according to the text?
A．Lewis Carroll.
B．The Brontésisters.
C．Thomas Hardy.
D．Helen Beatrix Potter.小题4:The author states in the last paragraph that ________.
A．Edward Lear was famous for writing about animals
B．adventure novels were not written for children at first
C．Thomas Hardy was not as famous as Lewis Carroll
D．society changed rapidly in the Victorian Era小题5:This text is mainly about ________.
A．literature in the Victorian Era
B．writing styles in the Victorian Era
C．famous works in the Victorian Era
D．the importance of literature in the Victorian Era
