I’m taking a course in Victorian literature and I can see in my notes frequent mention of Victorian themes (the idea of each person having a calling, perseverance, making ones way in life through hard work etc.) but it is unclear to me whether these are themes in literature or themes in English culture of Victorian time that we are identifying in the literature.
modern literature as in novels didnt exist till I think late 16th century. Think it started with Don Quixote, Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver’s travels, etc. Before that you had mainly religious works, Plays(which was the main poetry of the time) and some philosophical works. The plays were mainly religious themed and largely based around themes of destiny and tragedy.
I think the perserverance aspect and the hard-work ethic etc. is Victorian in character though.