Introduction
Charles Dickens is said to be one of the greatest authors of the Victorian Era.
Before we read A Christmas Carol, you must spend some time learning about Charles Dickens and what the world was like as he knew it.
Task
Answer in complete sentences (written on a separate sheet of the paper) the questions on the "Process" tab. Turn in to box when complete.
Process
Section I
Please begin by clicking on the following link: https://www.biography.com/people/charles-dickens-9274087
1. Where and when was Charles Dickens born?
2. In addition to A Christmas Carol identify three works of literature written by Charles Dickens.
3. Write two things about A Christmas Carol that is interesting to you.
Section II
Go to: http://charlesdickenspage.com/dickens_london_map.html
You will find a map of London-as it was during Dickens’ lifetime. Please locate and click on Camden Town.
4. Which family from A Christmas Carol lived in Camden Town?
Section III
Go to: http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/5-things-victorian-women-didnt-do-much?scrlybrkr
5.-8. Name the five things and a little something about each one that Victorian Women didn't do.
Section IV
Go to: http://www.victorianweb.org/history/poorlaw/dietwh.html
9. Workhouses were built to house poor Victorians, who worked for a small amount of food and money. Click on workhouses and read about the original workhouse in Rotherham, then identify three foods that poor Victorians were given here.
10. When Scrooge is asked to donate money to the poor, he refuses and asks, “Are there no prisons? And Union workhouses?” What is a Union Workhouse? Check out the information below to get information about workhouses
WHAT WAS A WORKHOUSE?
If you were poverty-stricken, or an unwanted orphan, or an impoverished widow, if you were too old to work, or if you were on the tramp, or you were sick or deranged, you could end up in the dreaded union workhouse. The workhouse, sometimes referred to as the Bastille, was a ruthless attempt in 19th century England to solve the problem of poverty.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE IN THE WORKHOUSE?
Life was meant to be much tougher inside the workhouse than outside, and the buildings themselves were deliberately grim & intimidating - they were designed to look like prisons. They were full of illness & disease brought about by over-crowding & the starvation diet.
When you were admitted to the workhouse, you were stripped, searched, washed & had your hair cropped. You were made to wear a prison-style uniform.
Women were at all times kept separate from the men, including their husbands. Children were kept separately from adults - even from their own parents.
A well known story tells how a labourer gave notice to leave the workhouse with his wife & children - only to be told: "You cannot take your wife out. We buried her three weeks ago".
In one instance, a girl aged 15 years died in the workhouse.
Section V
Go to: http://www.logicmgmt.com/1876/schoolday.htm
11. Look at the list of 10 rules, (write down 5 that are funny/interesting), which were found in a typical Victorian classroom. In your opinion, which rule should still be used in schools today? Explain why.
Section VI
Go to: http://charlesdickenspage.com/reading_dickens.html
12. Who read Charles Dickens' works in the nineteenth century?
13. Why, as we read Dickens today, is it challenging?
14. Plum Pudding is a treat mentioned in A Christmas Carol. What are their main ingredients? What did they make it in?
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/superb-english-plum-pudding-20010
15. Back in the Victorian era, their coins were called: pound, shilling, and pence. Scrooge paid his worker “fifteen shilling a week.” What could you buy with that? Is that a lot of money?
http://www.logicmgmt.com/1876/living/money.htm
16. In the book, Scrooge is afraid to move the “bed curtains” for fear he will see another spirit. What are “bed curtains”?
http://victoriandecorating.blogspot.com/2007/02/victorian-bedroom.html