Charles Dickens.pptx

8/14/2019 Charles Dickens.pptx

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CharlesDickens


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Agenda

Charles Dickens

Introduction

Works Overview

Oliver Twist

David Copperfield

A Tale of Two Cities

Great Expectations

Works Cited


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Charles Dickens

Charles John Huffam Dickens(7February 18129 June 1870)wasan English writer and social criticwho is generally regarded as the

greatest novelist of the Victorianperiod and the creator of some of theworld's most memorable fictionalcharacters. During his lifetimeDickens's works enjoyed

unprecedented popularity and fame,and by the twentieth century hisliterary genius was fully recognizedby critics and scholars. He isconsidered second only to

Shakespeare among all Englishwriters.


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IntroductionCharles Dickens was born on February7, 1812 in Portsmouth, Hampshire, to

John and Elizabeth Dickens.

His early years seem to have been

idyllic, though he thought himself a

"very small and not-over-particularly-

taken-care-of boy".

John Dickens' work took him fromplace to place, so that Charles spent

his childhood in Portsmouth, London

and Chatham.


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In 1824 Mr. Dickens (Charles father) was taken to debtors prison, soCharles had to work in the Warrens Blacking Factory. He worked 10hour days in absolutely atrocious working conditions applying labels

to shoe polish. His horrific experience during this time, although onlya few months, forever changed his views, and set the precedence forhis writing style.


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Introduction Continued

At the age of 15, Charles becomes a law clerk andfree-lance writer

In 1834, as a newspaper reporter he takes Bozas

pen name.In 1836 he publishes Sketches by Boz, a collectionof 56 sketches concerning London scenes andpeople

He writes autobiographical novels Oliver Twist (1838),David Copperfield (1849-50), Little Dorrit (1857).

Dickens novels concerning social issues BleakHouse (185253), Hard Times (1854), GreatExpectations(1861).


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Private life

On 2 April 1836, Dickens

marries Catherine

Thomson Hogarth and

they have 10 children.

In 1857 he falls deeply in

love with the 18-year oldactress Ellen Ternan

which was to last the rest

of his life.


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Dickens deathOn 8 June 1870, Dickens suffers a stroke at his homeand the next day, on 9 June, he dies at Gad's HillPlace.

Contrary to his wish to be buried atRochester

Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, andstrictly private mannerhe was laid to rest inthe Poets Corner of Westmnster Abbey.

A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeralreads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens England's

most popular author, who died at his residence,Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, thesuffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, oneof England's greatest writers is lost to the world."


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Dickens' death certificate

Dickens on his death bed


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Introduction ContinuedDickens gave a series of farewell readings close to the

end of his life, in London, during 1870. It is said that at

the end of his last reading he spoke the words, From these

garish lights I vanish now forevermore.

It is said, according to Dickens obituary, that his very last

words were, Be natural my children. For the writer that

is natural has fulfilled all of the rules of art.

Charles Dickens signature


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Works OverviewOliver Twist (1838);

A Christmas Carol (1843);

David Copperfield (1850);

Bleak House (1852);

Hard Times (1854);

A Tale of Two Cities (1859);

Great Expectations (1860);

The Pickwick Papers (1868).


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Oliver TwistThe second novel written byCharles Dickens. The story followsthe young life of an orphan whoendures a horrible life in aworkhouse (a place where those

unable to support themselves areoffered employment and housing).Oliver is later placed with anundertaker of whom he laterescapes, but only to fall into theevil hands of a pickpocket gang.

This book is known for exposingthe terrible treatment of orphanedchildren in London during thistime.


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David Copperfield

This story follows the life of DavidCopperfield from childhood to adult. As achild David is sent to a boarding school byhis stepfather because he defended himself

during a beating. After the death of hismother and brother, his stepfather sends himto work in a factory. The story continuesinto Davids adult years, and so many traitsof his character can be applied to Dickenshimself.

This novel is said to follow many events ofDickens own life, and out of all his works isknown as the closest to an autobiography.


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A Tale of Two Cities

It takes place in the early years of therevolution, and provides a look into thedemoralization of the peasants by thearistocrats, and in a twist the brutal

treatment of former aristocrats by therevolutionaries.

This novel is reviewed as one of the mostfamous works in history of fictionalliterature.


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Great ExpectationsWritten in first person, this story

follows the life of an orphan namedPhilip Pirrip, nicknamed Pip. In thebeginning Pip lives with is abusive

sister and her husband, but he is later

sent to live with a woman who teacheshim to work as a laborer, despite hishopes she will teach him to be a

gentleman. The story continues tofollow Pip throughout his life throughadulthood. He eventually inherits a

fortune.

The majority of critics agree that thisnovel is Dickens greatest.


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Works CitedMerriman, C.D. The Literarture Network. Charles Dickens. (2006).Retrieved 01, May 2011. http://www.online-literature.com/dickens

Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. Wikipedia,The Free Encyclopedia. CharlesDickens. (26, April 2011). Retrieved 01, May 2011.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens

Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Oliver Twist.(01, May 2011). Retrieved 01, May 2011.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Twist

Cody, David. The Victorian Web. Dickens, A Brief Biography. (2004).

Retrieved 01, May 2011.http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/dickensbio1.html

Charles Dickens Online, The Works and Life of Charles Dickens. CharlesDickens. (2011). 01, May 2011. http://www.dickens-online.info/
http://www.online-literature.com/dickenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Twisthttp://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/dickensbio1.htmlhttp://www.dickens-online.info/http://www.dickens-online.info/http://www.dickens-online.info/http://www.dickens-online.info/http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/dickensbio1.htmlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Twisthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickenshttp://www.online-literature.com/dickenshttp://www.online-literature.com/dickenshttp://www.online-literature.com/dickens


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