Study Guides

Unit Summary

This unit teaches students about life in Britain from 1837-1901. They learn about key events like Victoria's accession, the railways, and the Great Exhibition. The unit explores how her reign defines the period, technological advances, and connections within Britain and globally.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to describe some of the features of Victorian society that are shown in the painting 'Work' by Ford Madox Brown.

Key Notes

• During Victoria's reign there were very clear groups of people, called classes, in society.
• Ford Madox Brown's 1865 painting called 'Work' shows some of these alongside many other aspects of Victorian life.
• In the middle of the painting are a group of workers called 'navvies', who are digging up the road to build a tunnel.
• Around them are both rich and poor men and women, a group of orphaned children and some sleeping unemployed men.
• At the top of the painting are two wealthy figures on horseback whose progress has been stopped by the work.

Vocabulary To Learn

• society: society is a large group of people who share the same ruler, laws and resources
• classes: classes are groups of people based on the job they do or how much money they have
• wealthy: If you have a lot of money and own many expensive things then you are wealthy

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Pupils may think that classes in society are small groups, like classes at school.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Alice Kinloch and the Victorian British Empire Study Guide
• Britain at the time of Victoria's death Study Guide
• Factories in Britain during Victorian times Study Guide
• The Great Exhibition Study Guide
• Victoria, Empress of India Study Guide
• Victoria, Scotland and John Brown Study Guide
• Victoria's 'melancholy' childhood Study Guide
• Victoria's accession to the throne Study Guide
• Victoria's children Study Guide
• Victoria's proposal and marriage to Albert Study Guide
• Victorian childhood Study Guide