Queen Victoria rules the UK from 1837 to 1901. This period

Queen Victoria rules the UK from 1837 to 1901. This period in the history of the country is called Victorian. It is marked by great change. During this period the country became on of the richest and most powerful in the world as a result of the growth in industry and trade and the development of the British Empire. At the same time in Victorian England the gulf between the rich and the poor became wider and Victorian factories were notorious for using childrens labour.

When people think now of the Victorian period, it is often seen as a time of strict moral standards when people were very serious and often pretended to have better moral principles than they actually had, marriages were always permanent and sex was never mentioned. This way of life and many of the Victorian ideas may seem strange to us and often rather hard, but the Victorians were contented, and they were satisfied with few pleasures.

In a Victorian middle-class family farther, known as Papa, with his beard or side-whiskers, was the Head of the House and the breadwinner, and everyone, especially the children, treated him with the greatest respect. His word was law for all household: his wife, children and servants. He sat at the head of the table and carved the joint of meat at dinner. The youngest members of the family were not supposed to talk unless spoken to by a grown-up.

Mama kept her large family in order, and used a cane, if necessary. With eight, ten, twelve or more children, she was a very busy mother, for there were no vacuum cleaners, washing machines or electrical gadgets in the house. Tinned goods and foods prepared in packets were unknown. Clothes were mostly made at home or at a dressmakers in the town. After she was thirty, Mama was considered quite middle-aged and often took to wearing a little lace cap in the house.

At the end of the day Papa took family prayers when everyone, including the servants, knelt down in the dining room or study. He also led the family to church on Sunday. Sunday was a very solemn day and as little work as possible was done. No shops were open and there were certainly no amusements. Everyone put on their best clothes, which were usually stiff and uncomfortable. On Sunday afternoons the family often went for a walk, but no games were allowed. Even picture books were forbidden on Sundays; Sunday reading included Bible and certain books about the saints.

Although there were no radio sets, television, cinemas or motor cars, the Victorians didnt find the life dull. People worked longer hours, often twelve or fourteen hours a day. Amusements were simple and the family often gathered round the piano to sing the latest popular songs, or entertained each other by reciting or playing the piano. Public readings from Dickens and recitations were popular, and drew large audiences. In London and the large towns the music halls were not considered quite respectable, but the theatre was sometimes visited.

Children very rarely went to any entertainment, except perhaps to the circus or to a pantomime. They had their parties, with many of the games which are still played, like blind mans buff. Children had plenty of books. Many of the best childrens stories were written in Victorian days: Alice in Wonderland, The Water Babies, Tom Browns Schooldays, Black Beauty, Little Women and Treasure Island.
Задание к тексту(ответить на вопросы):
1)What мейд Victorian England a powerful country?
2)Why was Victorian time the time of great contrasts?
3)Why do people often speak of Victorian hypocrisy? What makes a person hypocritical (a hypocrite)?
4)Which Victorian ideas may seem shocking strange or hard to us? Which ideas do you find sensible if any?
5)What were some of the traditions in a middle-class Victorian family? how can you characterize them?
6)Would you be satisfied with typical Victorian amusement? If you say no explain why not.
7)Do you think Victorians were different from modern people? In what way? Does human nature change with time or is it just the circumstances that make us different?
8)The text describes the lifestyle of a middle-class family? Have you got any idea how poor families lived in those days?
9)Would you like to live in Victorian England? Why (not)?
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