Charles Dickens Biography and Works
53 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which character did Charles Dickens create that is known for his miserly habits?

  • Scrooge (correct)
  • Thomas Gradgrind
  • Oliver Twist
  • Mr. Pickwick

    • Charles Dickens primarily focused his novels on the upper-middle-class.

    False

    What was the pen name used by Charles Dickens?

    Boz

    Charles Dickens' novel 'Hard Times' is set in an imaginary industrial town named ______.

    <p>Coketown</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following works with their descriptions:

    <p>Oliver Twist = A story highlighting the life of a young orphan in a workhouse. A Christmas Carol = A tale about redemption through the transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge. The Pickwick Papers = A humorous series of adventures involving a group of friends. Hard Times = A critique of the educational system and industrial society.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role did children often play in Dickens' novels?

    <p>They were portrayed as moral teachers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Dickens' writing often featured sentimental plots and was influenced by Gothic literature.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Thomas Gradgrind's philosophy in 'Hard Times'?

    <p>Facts and statistics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was Louisa's primary motivation for marrying Josiah Bounderby?

    <p>To help her brother get a job</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Tom Gradgrind is portrayed as a responsible worker who cares for his employees.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What philosophy is represented by Mr. Gradgrind and Mr. Bounderby in the novel?

    <p>Utilitarianism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The main setting of the novel is the industrial town of __________.

    <p>Coketown</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the characters with their roles:

    <p>Josiah Bounderby = Banker and factory owner Tom Gradgrind = Selfish brother Louisa Gradgrind = Unhappy wife Mr. Gradgrind = Educator adhering to facts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Dickens portray the town of Coketown?

    <p>As a place of uniformity and monotony</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The ruling classes view the workers in Coketown as grateful and responsible.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the name 'M'Choakumchild' suggest about the school's teaching methods?

    <p>Suffocation or oppression</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Wilde believed that Art should be created for the sake of __________.

    <p>Art itself</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which literary style did Oscar Wilde become especially known for?

    <p>Aestheticism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Oscar Wilde published a collection of poems early in his career.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What subject did Wilde study at Trinity College?

    <p>Classics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The chimneys of Coketown emitted __________ smoke.

    <p>black</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following characters with their characteristics:

    <p>Mr. Gradgrind = Educator focused on facts Louisa Gradgrind = Trapped in an unhappy marriage Tom Gradgrind = Selfish and irresponsible Josiah Bounderby = Emotionless factory owner</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What notable approach did Whitman use in his poetry?

    <p>Free verse</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Emily Dickinson published over a hundred poems during her lifetime.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What central figure does the poem 'O Captain! My Captain!' mourn?

    <p>Abraham Lincoln</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Whitman is often referred to as the father of __________ poetry.

    <p>American</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following poets with their main characteristics:

    <p>Walt Whitman = Use of free verse Emily Dickinson = Use of dashes and concise language</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which poem does Dickinson compare hope to a bird?

    <p>Hope is the Thing with Feathers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Whitman's poetry rejected traditional poetic forms.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What recurring theme is present in Whitman's poetry?

    <p>Celebration of self-expression</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Dickinson's poetry often links love to the hope of __________ union.

    <p>eternal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following poems with their authors:

    <p>O Captain! My Captain! = Walt Whitman Hope is the Thing with Feathers = Emily Dickinson</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which influential figure supported Whitman during his career?

    <p>Ralph Waldo Emerson</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Dickinson's poems frequently lacked titles.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Whitman see as an extension of the natural world?

    <p>The human body</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In 'O Captain! My Captain!', the speaker refers to Lincoln as __________.

    <p>father</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Dickinson's tone can be characterized as:

    <p>Witty and ironic to melancholic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does Dickinson emphasize about hope in her poem?

    <p>Hope is selfless and persists through difficulties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these works was considered Oscar Wilde's masterpiece?

    <p>The Importance of Being Earnest</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Oscar Wilde was never banned from the London stage.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Dorian Gray wish for that had a significant impact on his life?

    <p>eternal youth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Wilde wrote a long letter to Lord Douglas known as __________.

    <p>De Profundis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the characters to their descriptions.

    <p>Dorian Gray = Embodies beauty and youth Lord Henry Wotton = Influential and cynical conversationalist Basil Hallward = Deeply attached to the portrait Oscar Wilde = Advocate of aestheticism and beauty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which concept does Oscar Wilde's 'Art for Art's Sake' relate to?

    <p>Art can save the soul from materialism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The Picture of Dorian Gray is set in modern-day London.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of narrative perspective is used in The Picture of Dorian Gray?

    <p>third-person narrator</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Lord Henry believes that intellect destroys the __________ of beauty.

    <p>harmony</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What character trait does Dorian Gray exemplify after the influence of Lord Henry?

    <p>Selfishness</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the terms with their definitions.

    <p>Dandy = An aristocrat known for elegance and vanity Symbolism = A movement using symbols to express ideas Aestheticism = Belief in art as the ultimate expression of beauty Dehumanization = Loss of individuality and moral values</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Wilde's last work was published under his real name.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Basil Hallward refuse to do with his portrait of Dorian Gray?

    <p>exhibit it</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Oscar Wilde died in __________ in 1900.

    <p>Paris</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary theme of The Picture of Dorian Gray?

    <p>The dangers of vanity and hedonism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Charles Dickens

    • Born in England, experienced a difficult childhood, working in a factory at 12.
    • Later became an office boy, then a parliamentary debate reporter, and newspaper reporter.
    • Published under the pen name "Boz," creating sketches and novels like The Pickwick Papers.
    • Married Catherine Hogarth, and continued journalistic work alongside novel writing.
    • Started Oliver Twist in 1837, and published other works like A Christmas Carol.
    • Died in 1870, buried in Westminster Abbey.
    • Shifted the focus of novels from upper classes to the lower orders.
    • Created iconic characters like Mr. Pickwick and Scrooge, exaggerating their traits for entertainment.
    • Critiqued social issues without direct condemnation, generally supporting the poor and marginalized.
    • Children often featured as moral guides.
    • Used his novels to educate the wealthy about the poor.
    • Utilized effective language with vivid descriptions, repetition, and irony.
    • Considered one of the greatest English novelists.
    • Narrative influenced by the Bible, fairy tales, and 18th-century novels.
    • Plots could be episodic due to serial publication.
    • London frequently served as the setting, offering insightful commentary on social issues without being radical.
    • Highlighted the realities of metropolitan life.

    Hard Times

    • Set in an industrial town (Coketown), presenting a critique of Utilitarianism.
    • Thomas Gradgrind represents Utilitarianism through education, demanding only facts.
    • Josiah Bounderby exemplifies Utilitarianism in industrial practices, treating workers as mere cogs.
    • Gradgrind's rigid philosophy harms his children, Louisa and Tom.
    • Louisa marries Bounderby, facing an unhappy marriage.
    • Tom's selfishness, leading to robbery and accusations.
    • Gradgrind eventually revises his philosophy regarding the importance of human feelings.
    • Coketown represents the oppressive conditions of Victorian England.
    • Depicts factories as controlling and dehumanizing with soot-covered buildings and monotonous lives.
    • Contrast between the beautiful products of industry and the drab, harsh reality of the town.
    • Novel divided into three books with three chapters each.
    • "Sowing" portrays the impact of Gradgrind's education, "Reaping" shows the consequences, and "Garnering" presents Gradgrind's change.

    Mr. Gradgrind

    • Presented as a strict, factual educator in a classroom setting.
    • Characterized by a focus on facts and statistics, with monotonous repetition of the word "Facts."
    • Portrays a rigid, unyielding, and ultimately, self-correcting Utilitarianism philosophy.

    Coketown

    • Depicts a bleak industrial city marked by monotonous, uniform red brick buildings.
    • Characterized by the constant presence of black smoke and noise of machinery.
    • Represents alienation and dehumanization of workers by industrial life.
    • Contrast between elegant products of industry and the wretched working-class conditions.
    • A critique of societal neglect of the poor.
    • Workers dehumanized by industrial system, viewed negatively by the ruling classes.

    Oscar Wilde

    • Born in Dublin, educated at Trinity College and Oxford.
    • Became a celebrity "dandy" known for wit and style.
    • Early successes in poetry and lectures, promoting Aestheticism.
    • Celebrated for works like The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest.
    • Used irony and theatrical posing to provoke.
    • Married, fathered children, and continued writing short stories, novels and plays.
    • Used Art for Art's Sake as a means to critique social standards.
    • His success was undermined by his relationship with the poet, Lord Douglas, and his subsequent imprisonment for homosexuality.
    • Died in 1900 in a Parisian hotel.
    • His works explored themes of beauty, pleasure, and social critique through dandyism.

    The Picture of Dorian Gray

    • Set in London in the late 19th century.
    • Dorian Gray, a beautiful young man, is painted by Basil Hallward.
    • Lord Henry Wotton influences Dorian into a life of pleasure and vice.
    • The portrait of Dorian Gray ages instead of Dorian himself, reflecting his moral decay.
    • Dorian's deeds become increasingly monstrous and harmful.
    • Dorian kills Basil out of guilt.
    • Dorian attempts to destroy the portrait, ultimately killing himself.
    • At death, the portrait returns to its original beauty, and Dorian is transformed into a grotesque person.

    The Painter's Studio

    • Introduces Basil Hallward, a painter and Lord Henry Wotton, in Basil's studio.
    • Describes the studio's atmosphere and features in detail.
    • Highlights Basil's deep connection with the portrait and his personal investment.
    • Shows Basil’s appreciation of Dorian's beauty and innocence.
    • Reveals Lord Henry Wotton's cynicism through witty comments and beliefs about beauty, and society
    • Discusses the portrait of Dorian Gray and its implications.

    Walt Whitman

    • Born in New York. Began working as a printer and journalist.
    • Published Leaves of Grass, a groundbreaking work in free verse.
    • Visited wounded soldiers during the Civil War, influenced by Lincoln and abolitionism.
    • Published Drum-Taps reflecting on the Civil War.
    • Poems celebrated the nation's diversity, viewed the human body as an extension of nature.
    • Emphasized the importance of human experience.
    • Celebrated everyday life and nature, representing democratic ideals.
    • Supported American dynamism and individualism, advocating for self-expression and experience.

    O Captain! My Captain!

    • Commemorates President Abraham Lincoln's assassination.
    • Depicts Whitman's deep admiration and mourning for Lincoln.
    • Elevates Lincoln to a mythical, heroic figure.
    • Celebrates Lincoln's contributions while lamenting his loss.

    Emily Dickinson

    • Born in Massachusetts, lived a largely reclusive life.
    • Wrote extensive poetry, though most of it was published posthumously.
    • Examined themes of death, love, time, and sorrow from a unique perspective.
    • Poetic style characterized by concise language, innovative use of dashes and syntax, and often from an emotional perspective.

    Hope is the Thing with Feathers

    • Compares hope to a bird, symbolizing its comfort, strength, and selflessness in the face of adversity.
    • Highlights hope's unwavering nature, persisting even in difficult situations.
    • Emphasizes the universality of hope, representing enduring resilience.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Explore the life and literary contributions of Charles Dickens, one of England's greatest writers. This quiz covers his challenging childhood, career evolution, and significant works such as Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol. Discover how Dickens used his narratives to critique social issues and educate readers about the struggles of the poor.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser