ENG 213: SELECTED EUROPEAN AUTHORS (2C) a) Account the great development of poetry in the early years of Victorian era. b) Mention four (4) circumstances of social change during Victorian era.

Here are four circumstances of social change during the Victorian era:

• Industrialization and Urbanization: The rapid growth of factories led to a massive shift of population from rural areas to burgeoning cities, resulting in overcrowding, poor sanitation, and the emergence of a large urban working class.
• Rise of the Middle Class: Economic prosperity from industrialization expanded the middle class, who became influential in shaping Victorian values, emphasizing respectability, morality, and domesticity.
• Social Stratification and Poverty: Despite overall national wealth, there was a stark divide between the rich and the poor, with widespread poverty, child labor, and harsh living conditions for the working class.
• Changes in Gender Roles and Women's Rights: While women were largely confined to the domestic sphere, the era also saw the beginnings of movements advocating for women's suffrage, education, and greater social and economic opportunities.