Charles Dickens Exposing the unseemliness of progress during the Industrial Revolution

Why should I know Dickens? As a prolific 19th Century author of short stories, plays, novellas,[and] novels,... Dickens became known the world over for his remarkable characters... and his depictions of the social classes, mores and values of his times. Some considered him the spokesman for the poor,... the downtrodden and the have-nots. Question 1: Why is Dickens such a famous and well respected writer?

Origins of Dickens Charles John Huffman Dickens was born on 7 February, 1812 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England (now the Dickens Birthplace Museum) the son of Elizabeth née Barrow ( ) and John Dickens (c ) a clerk in the Navy Pay Office.Dickens Birthplace Museum Question 2: What are the titles of Dicken’s first and lastmajor pieces of writing?

Childhood: The Good When Dickens’ father was transferred to Chatham in Kent County, the family settled into the genteel surroundings of a larger home with two live-in servants.... Dickens was a voracious reader of such authors as Henry Fielding, Daniel Defoe, and Oliver Goldsmith. When he was not attending the school of William Giles where he was an apt pupil, he and his siblings played games of make-believe, gave recitations of poetry, sang songs, and created theatrical productions that would spark a lifelong love of the theatre in Dickens.Chatham in Kent County genteel voraciousHenry Fielding, Daniel Defoe, and Oliver Goldsmith recitations Question 3: In your own words, describe what kind of life Dickens had as a child (do not quote from above).

Childhood: The Bad [I]n 1824, John Dickens was imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea Prison. All of the family went with him except for Charles who, at the age of twelve, was sent off to work at Warren’s Shoe Blacking Factory to help support the family, pasting labels on boxes. He lived in a boarding house in Camden Town and walked to work everyday and visited his father on Sundays.Marshalsea PrisonCamden Town Question 4: Compare Dickens’ experience to your knowledge of life during the Industrial Revolution. (i.e. Was it typical for people to go to debtor’s prison or for children to work? If so, why?

Life Lessons It was one of the pivotal points in Dickens’ education from the University of Hard Knocks and would stay with him forever. The idyllic days of his childhood were over and he was rudely introduced to the world of the working poor, where child labour was rampant and few if any adults spared a kind word for many abandoned or orphaned children.idyllicrampant Question 6: What is “the University of Hard Knocks”? What writing technique is this?

Development of a writer The appalling working conditions, long hours and poor pay typical of the time were harsh, but the worst part of the experience was that when his father was released his mother insisted he continue to work there. While he felt betrayed by and resented her for many years to come, his father arranged for him to attend the Wellington House Academy in London as a day pupil from , perhaps saving him from a life of factory work and setting him on the road to becoming a writer.appalling Question 6: What does the writer mean when he says Dickens’ father saved him from a life of factory work?

Works Cited Biography written by C.D. Merriman for Jalic Inc. Copyright Jalic Inc All Rights Reserved. 11/20/

Now that you are done, with your partner, begin reading the first excerpt from Hard Times and answer the questions. The End!