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Charles Dickens

Loyola Academy English Department. Charles Dickens. 1812-1870. English Literature Mr. Simon. Family Life. Father – John Dickens Mother – Elizabeth Barrow Father was a Navel clerk Financially comfortable and then destitute Parents were sent to a Debtors Prison. Dickens’ early years.

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Charles Dickens

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  1. Loyola Academy English Department Charles Dickens 1812-1870 English Literature Mr. Simon

  2. Family Life • Father – John Dickens • Mother – Elizabeth Barrow • Father was a Navel clerk • Financially comfortable and then destitute • Parents were sent to a Debtors Prison

  3. Dickens’ early years • Family imprisoned for debt • Young Charles forced to work in shoe factory: • Warrens Blacking Factory • Mostly self-educated – erratic schooling • In 1827, he took a job as a legal clerk • He then worked as a reporter in courts and in Parliament

  4. Katherine Hogarth: not a happy woman 9 children Mistress: Ellen Turner- London Actress Spent much of his time in London Not a good family man Settled down to comfortable, married, middle class life Married Life and Family

  5. Early Writing Career He wrote short humorous sketches with pictures by Boz which became known as Pickwick Papers Became famous in a short period of time and wildly popular among devoted readers awaiting his next installment Gave numerous public readings for $$$, worldwide

  6. Success as a Novelist • Nickolas Nickleby1839 • Oliver Twist 1839 • The Old Curiosity Shop 1841 • Barnaby Rudge 1841 • Martin Chuzzlewitt 1843 • Dombey and Son 1849 • David Copperfield 1850 • Bleak House 1853 • Hard Times 1854 • Little Dorritt 1857 • A Tale of Two Cities 1859 • Great Expectations 1861

  7. Major Themes in Dickens’ fiction • Loneliness of childhood • Oppression of poverty • Uncertainty of love and marriage • Indifference of social institutions • Sustaining joy of family life • Perseverance and sacrifice in face of untold hardships and injustice • Many autobiographical links between life and writings of Dickens

  8. Themes • Docks • Aristocracy- wealth, rich, land and power • Child labor- Oliver Twist • Family life • Lost love and unattainable women • Dickens’ main characters greatly resemble himself and his life

  9. Most famous successful work • A Christmas Carol 1843 • Enduring holiday favorite • Amusing elements of supernatural, melodrama, humor, and pathos • Extremely optimistic tale of redemption for Ebeneezer Scrooge, archetypal miser • Remains a sentimental classic

  10. Twilight of Dickens’Career • Our Mutual Friend 1865 • The Mystery of Edwin Drood unfinished when • Dickens died suddenly from a stroke in June, 1870 • His death was mourned by thousands when he was buried at Westminster Abbey five days after his death

  11. The Victorian Period • Queen Victoria 1819-1901 • At the age of 18 Victoria inherited the throne, she reigned for 64 years • “The sun never sets on the Queen’s empire” • the power and influence of Britain around the world • She died a lonely ruler

  12. The Industrial Revolution • Villagers moved to the cities = factories = jobs= smoke= pollution • = backbreaking labor= death vs. luxury side by side with poverty • “It was the best of time; it was the worst of times. Dickens – A Tale of Two Cities

  13. London and the Times

  14. Dickens and ChristmasThe first Christmas Card, Tree and Holiday Traditions

  15. Dickens legacy and links • He remains the foremost 19th century British writer of fiction • Amazing and detailed depiction of lifestyle and issues of a transforming industrial and urban landscape • Vivid and dramatic dialogue • Profession as court reporter enhanced awareness of social inequities • http://www.underthesun.cc/Classics/Dickens/ • humwww.ucsc.edu/dickens/ • http://www.literature.org/authors/dickens-charles

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