The Poetry of a period generally reflects the main characteristics of its intellectual life but it may f be doubted whether the Victorian poetry does so Historically perhaps prose fiction is the most: important, or at any rate the most characteristic, product of the literature of the century. “Poetry during the period is chiefly lyric or sonic in character.”
There are few great constructive works. Browning is an exception; but even his plays are the least successful part of his works. Morris; was a great narrative poet, but his narrative was not dramatic; and Tennyson’s plays and Idylls of the Kings are the part of his work with which the majority of people would most willingly dispense.