ABSTRACT
What has eventually to be explained is what it was that at the time allowed a slow increase in the number of school stories, largely about private schools and mainly in the vein of Eric, to occur during the 1860s and 1870s and what then allowed a sharp increase o f similar stories, but mainly about public schools which were in the vein of Tom Brown to take place from around 1880. Furthermore, some search must be made for reasons why the minor genre became established with the four characteristics that were isolated in the last chapter. In addition, we have noted that literature for young persons and children was starting to show a critical elem ent; attention m ust also be given to the reasons for that development. In this chapter the state at the time of five social institutions will be considered: first, the economic and the political frameworks; next, the religious and moral structure; fourth, the family; and finally, the contemporary educational structure.
