2019学年度外研版选修七Module3LiteraturePeriod 9 Task-Preparing a fact file on Charles Dickens

■ Goal

● To learn to make a file

■ Procedures

Step 1: Surf the Internet for related information

Step 2: Make a display of your fact file

More about Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was born in Portsmouth on 7th February 1812, the second of eight children. His father was a government clerk who was put in prison for three months for debt. After working in a factory and his father' release from prison, Dickens was sent to school.

　At 15, he started working in a firm of attorneys in London's Gray's Inn. Dickens taught himself shorthand and in 1834 he became a reporter for debates in Parliament for the Morning Chronicle newspaper. In 1836 he married Catherine Hogarth, with whom he had ten children. His first novel was The Pickwick Papers which became a national success. Like all of his subsequent novels, it was published serially in parts, and also very cheaply. It was only published as a complete novel later. His novels then flowed in quick succession: Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, The Old Curiosity Shop, and Barnaby Rudge. Dickens then visited America, and had a triumphant reception; however he was disillusioned by the young republic. He wrote about his experiences in America Notes. He published first, and most famous, of his Christmas Books-A Christmas Carol in 1843, followed by Martin Chuzlewit. He traveled in Europe-Italy, Switzerland and Paris in the period 1844-1846, and on his return wrote Dombey and Son and David Copperfield which were more serious and better planned than his earlier novels. In 1850 he founded his weekly magazine Household Words.

　In his later works, Dickens' social criticism became stronger, and his satire more concentrated: Bleak House, Hard Times, Little Dorrit, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations, Our Mutual Friend. In1858 he had separated from his wife and befriended a young actress called Ellen Terman, who may have become his mistress. In that year, he also began an endless series of public readings of his work. From 1865 he started to become ill, and a reading trip to America in 1867-1868 certainly didn't help his health. Dickens' last novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, was never completed, as he suffered a stroke and died on 9th June, 1870.

Main works:

The Pickwick Papers

Oliver Twist

Our Mutual Friend

Nicholas Nickleby

The Old Curiosity Shop

Barnaby Rudge

Martin Chuzzlewit

Dombey and Son

David Copperfield

Bleak House

Hard Times

Little Dorrit

Our Mutual Friend

A Tale of Two Cities

Great Expectations