You are on page 1of 17

Charles Dickens

Agenda
Charles Dickens Introduction Works Overview Oliver Twist David Copperfield

A Tale of Two Cities


Great Expectations Works Cited

Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens( 7 February 1812 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic who is generally regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian period and the creator of some of the world's most memorable fictional characters. During his lifetime Dickens's works enjoyed unprecedented popularity and fame, and by the twentieth century his literary genius was fully recognized by critics and scholars. He is considered second only to Shakespeare among all English writers.

Introduction
Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 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-particularlytaken-care-of boy". John Dickens' work took him from place to place, so that Charles spent his childhood in Portsmouth, London and Chatham.

In 1824 Mr. Dickens (Charles father) was taken to debtors prison, so Charles had to work in the Warrens Blacking Factory. He worked 10 hour days in absolutely atrocious working conditions applying labels to shoe polish. His horrific experience during this time, although only a few months, forever changed his views, and set the precedence for his writing style.

Introduction Continued
At the age of 15, Charles becomes a law clerk and free-lance writer

In 1834, as a newspaper reporter he takes Boz as pen name.


In 1836 he publishes Sketches by Boz, a collection of 56 sketches concerning London scenes and people He writes autobiographical novels Oliver Twist (1838), David Copperfield (1849-50), Little Dorrit (1857).

Dickens novels concerning social issues Bleak House (185253), Hard Times (1854), Great Expectations (1861).

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 old actress Ellen Ternan which was to last the rest of his life.

Dickens death
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffers a stroke at his home and the next day, on 9 June, he dies at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried atRochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner he was laid to rest in the Poets Corner of Westmnster Abbey.

A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens England's most popular author, who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world."

Dickens' death certificate

Dickens on his death bed

Introduction Continued
Dickens 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

Works Overview
Oliver 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).

Oliver Twist
The second novel written by Charles Dickens. The story follows the young life of an orphan who endures a horrible life in a workhouse (a place where those unable to support themselves are offered employment and housing). Oliver is later placed with an undertaker of whom he later escapes, but only to fall into the evil hands of a pickpocket gang. This book is known for exposing the terrible treatment of orphaned children in London during this time.

David Copperfield
This story follows the life of David Copperfield from childhood to adult. As a child David is sent to a boarding school by his stepfather because he defended himself during a beating. After the death of his mother and brother, his stepfather sends him to work in a factory. The story continues into Davids adult years, and so many traits of his character can be applied to Dickens himself. This novel is said to follow many events of Dickens own life, and out of all his works is known as the closest to an autobiography.

A Tale of Two Cities


It takes place in the early years of the revolution, and provides a look into the demoralization of the peasants by the aristocrats, and in a twist the brutal treatment of former aristocrats by the revolutionaries. This novel is reviewed as one of the most famous works in history of fictional literature.

Great Expectations
Written in first person, this story follows the life of an orphan named Philip Pirrip, nicknamed Pip. In the beginning Pip lives with is abusive sister and her husband, but he is later sent to live with a woman who teaches him to work as a laborer, despite his hopes she will teach him to be a gentleman. The story continues to follow Pip throughout his life through adulthood. He eventually inherits a fortune. The majority of critics agree that this novel is Dickens greatest.

Works Cited
Merriman, 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. Charles Dickens. (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. Charles Dickens. (2011). 01, May 2011. http://www.dickens-online.info/

You might also like