Did you know that Charles Dickens...?
* was the second of 8 children
* had to start work at the age of 12 because of his father's debts
* called his wife Catherine Hogarth 'Pig' or 'Mouse' - they separated, having had 10 children
* also fell in love with his wife's 17-year-old sister Mary and after her death lived with another sister, Georgiana
* was neat, punctual and impatient
* when concentrating pulled his hair and sucked his tongue
* constantly combed his hair, even at dinner parties
* was supersitious - felt Fridays were lucky, always slept with his bed in a north-west position and touched things three times for luck
* hated bats
* was interested in hypnotism and the occult and did magic tricks at children's parties
* suffered a stroke during dinner and died the following morning, aged 58
(Source: Private Lives)
STUDY QUESTIONS - GREAT EXPECTATIONS
1. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel.
2. Comment on the major characters and their personal traits.
3. What is the setting of the novel? Does it play any significant role in the novel?
4. Characterize Pip , his social and family background and interpret his ‘great expectations’. Are they fulfilled? What lessons does Pip learn as a wealthy gentleman?
5. What social classes are portrayed in the novel? How is the theme of social class central to the novel?
6. Comment on the narration? Who is the narrator? Does the narrator have any other functions in the story?
7. What are the main subject matters? Can you formulate any theme? Discuss the meaning of the novel’s title.
8. What may be the genre of this novel?
9. Do you see any parallels between Pip’s and Dickens’s life?
10. What is the tone of the novel? Do you know why?
11. Comment on the ending of the novel.
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STUDY QUESTIONS - A CHRISTMAS CAROL
1. Briefly retell the plot.
2. Characterize the main characters.
3. What is the main conflict of the story?
4 What is the genre and the form?
5 List all the supernatural elements that appear in the story.
6 The story resembles a fairy tale to certain extent. Find as many common principles as possible.
7. What is the prevailing tone / mood? Provide examples.
8. Comment on the style used.
9. Are there any symbols in the text?
10. Define the tone used.
11. What could be the main theme of the story?
