Written by: Angelia Greiner

Who was Charles Dickens? Considered by many as greatest Victorian writer Prolific author Writings: commentary on own life and Victorian society

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, …” — Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859) It was the best of times… Single click speaker to hear audio clip >>>>

Life and Times Best of Times Worst of Times New inventions Growth of cities Opportunity for wealth New ideas Pollution Disease Strict social classes Conflict within the individual and with others

The Victorian Age

Daily Life Working conditions Sanitation and disease Social problems

Crime and Consequences Common Crimes Pickpocketing Murder Common Consequences Hanging Prison

Jack the Ripper Represents classic whodunit Ferociousness of murders Suddenly disappeared

Science and Philosophy The Great Exhibition Charles Darwin Karl Marx and Frederick Engels Darwin

Charles Dickens Born February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, England Portsmouth

Dickens: The Man Born to John and Elizabeth Dickens John Dickens Elizabeth Dickens

Early Years Educated at William Gile’s school Family moved to Camden Town Father imprisoned for debt

Defining Times Charles worked at factory to support family Father rejoined family Charles attended academy

Other Defining Moments Family evicted from home for non-payment of rent Left school and became a clerk for Ellis and Blackmore Became a freelance reporter

A Young Man Became reporter for The Morning Chronicle Published first story in 1833 Met future wife, Catherine Hogarth Hogarth

1836—A Time of Change Published first book Sketches by Boz Married Catherine Hogarth Began serialization of The Pickwick Papers Left The Morning Chronicle Became editor of Bentley’s Miscellany

Birth of Works and Children Nicholas Nickleby Old Curiosity Shop Children: Charles, Mary, Kate, and Walter

A Christmas Carol Published on December 19, 1843 Instant success at its publication Theme of redemption

Traveling Abroad Dickens traveled to Italy for a year Traveled to Switzerland and Paris Sydney Dickens

The Prolific Writer at Work 1844: The Chimes 1845: The Cricket on the Hearth 1846: Dombey and Son 1848: The Haunted Man 1849: David Copperfield The Cricket on the Hearth

The 1850s Dickens created and edited a new journal Dickens family moved to Tavistock House Wrote novels emphasizing theme

Final Years Dickens sustained injuries in train crash Began final tour in America Died June 9, 1870

Dickens’ Audience Middle and lower classes of society Had experienced poverty firsthand Educated and successful writer Lived a middleclass lifestyle

Dickens and His Characters Characters semi-autobiographical Characters also composites of real people

Character Original Composite Flat or static

Themes Individual and his or her environment Individual morality

Themes Power of institutionalized evil People’s moral obligation to society

Dickens’ Style Humor Language Syntax “You may be an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of an underdone potato. There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!” —Scrooge’s response to the visit of Marley’s ghost in A Christmas Carol

Concluding Thoughts Personal life reflected the times Stories focused on the individual and environment Writing style met needs of readers Emphasized love and redemption