George Eliot was the pen name for the English Victorian writer Mary Ann Evans. Eliot wrote Realist novels, which detailed the daily lives and social expectations of her characters. She is best known today for her novels Middlemarch, Daniel Deronda, and Silas Marner.
George Eliot
Eliot was born on November 22, 1819 in Warwickshire, England. She received a classical education, but veered away from the traditional thinking of her family in her early twenties. Her association various radical philosophical and literary circles, led her to reject the Christianity she had been raised with, but embrace a sense of moral duty. In the early 1850s, Eliot met George Lewes, a journalist who lived estranged from his wife. Eliot and Lewes began a relationship and lived as common law husband and wife for the next 25 years. Lewes encouraged Eliot’s literary aspirations, and she began publishing short stories, poetry, and eventually novels. The social stigma she faced as Lewes’s unlawful wife combined with the disparaging treatment female writers received at that time, led Eliot to adopt her pen name.
Eliot’s novels are most famous for their realism and underlying moral themes. Like other Victorian Realists, Eliot included detailed portraits of ordinary people. Her accurate use of dialect intensified the immersive effect of her writing. Her most celebrated novel, Middlemarch, is praised for its expansive portrayal of English society, detailing the life of every social class and weaving their plot lines together. The novel engages questions of art, politics, literature, and morality as it progresses, exploring, in particular, the conflict between women’s sense of duty and desire for a happy marriage. Eliot revisits this theme in her 1876 novel Daniel Deronda, notable for its avant-garde portrayal of a Jewish hero and protagonist. Eliot’s writing has been both lauded and criticized for its intrusive narrative voice. Eliot offers up her own philosophical commentary throughout her novels, resulting in some of the most oft-quoted selections. In recent years, Eliot’s novels have been adapted into several films and TV series, reintroducing her engaging stories and themes to new generations.
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Try it for Free!George Eliot Books
- Middlemarch
- Daniel Deronda
- Silas Marner
- Mill on the Floss
- The Lifted Veil
- Adam Bede
- Romola
- Felix Holt, the Radical
- Scenes of Clerical Life
- The Spanish Gypsy
- Brother Jacob
George Eliot Quotes
“Every limit is a beginning as well as an ending.”
“Joy is the best wine.”
“Resolve will melt no rocks. But it can scale them.”
How Tos about Who was George Eliot?
Create a George Eliot-themed reading corner in your classroom
Designate a cozy space in your classroom and fill it with books by George Eliot, such as 'Middlemarch' and 'Silas Marner.' Add comfortable seating and inspirational posters to encourage students to explore her works independently.
Introduce students to George Eliot’s life and contributions with a timeline activity
Provide students with key dates from George Eliot’s life and ask them to create illustrated timelines. Highlight major works, personal milestones, and historical context to help students connect her biography to her literature.
Facilitate a group discussion on George Eliot’s themes
Guide students in exploring recurring themes in Eliot’s novels, such as morality, society, and personal growth. Encourage students to share examples and relate them to modern experiences for deeper understanding.
Assign creative projects based on George Eliot’s characters
Ask students to choose a character from one of Eliot’s works and create diary entries, letters, or artwork that reflect the character’s perspective. This boosts empathy and helps students analyze literary characterization.
Connect Eliot’s literature to other subjects for interdisciplinary learning
Link George Eliot’s novels to history, art, or social studies lessons. For example, discuss the Victorian era’s impact on her writing or compare her social commentary to current events for a richer educational experience.
Frequently Asked Questions about Who was George Eliot?
Who was George Eliot?
George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, a renowned English novelist and poet known for her realistic and insightful portrayal of Victorian society.
Why did Mary Ann Evans use the name George Eliot?
Mary Ann Evans adopted the name George Eliot to ensure her works were taken seriously and to avoid the prejudice women writers faced in the 19th century.
What are George Eliot’s most famous books?
Some of George Eliot’s most famous novels include Middlemarch, Silas Marner, and The Mill on the Floss.
How did George Eliot influence English literature?
George Eliot helped shape modern English literature by bringing psychological depth, realism, and social commentary to her novels.
What topics did George Eliot write about?
George Eliot explored themes such as society, morality, human relationships, and personal growth in her writing.
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