Dickens and Romantic Realism

• What literary style does Dickens's work exemplify?


  Romantic realism
• How does Dickens blend elements in his work?


  He blends heightened imagination with detailed observations of contemporary life
• What are the key elements of Dickens's romantic realism?


  • Evocative settings
  • Memorable characters
  • Social commentary
  • Transformation of ordinary realities into poetic and mythical narratives
• What effect does Dickens aim to achieve through his writing?


  He aims to transform ordinary realities into something poetic, mythical, and deeply humane
• What does Dickens maintain fidelity to in his works?


  He maintains fidelity to the struggles of everyday life
• What is the title of the work discussed in the preface by Dickens?

  Bleak House
• What artistic aim did Dickens acknowledge in his preface to Bleak House?

  To reveal the "romantic side" of the ordinary world
• How did Dickens seek to transform everyday events in Bleak House?

  By finding beauty, mystery, and meaning within the familiar
• What themes does Dickens explore in Bleak House through his artistic aim?


  • Social realism
  • Poetic insight
  • Transformation of ordinary events into compelling narratives
• What does Dickens aim to reflect through his narratives in Bleak House?


  Both social realism and poetic insight
• What does Dickens mean by the "romantic side" of familiar things?


  It refers to finding beauty and meaning in everyday life
• What term did Dickens use to describe his approach to urban life?


  The "poetry of fact"
• How does Dickens portray urban life in his works?

  With a blend of realism and emotional resonance
• What does the city symbolize in Dickens's vision?

  It embodies symbolic meanings and emotional undercurrents
• What dual aspects of human existence does Dickens highlight in his portrayal of the city?


  Both the beauty and misery of human existence
• How does Dickens use weather symbolically in his works?


  He employs fog, rain, and darkness to reflect mood and foreshadow events.
• What does the fog in Bleak House symbolize?


  It mirrors the confusion and corruption of the legal system.
• How does Dickens evoke emotional responses in his readers?


  He uses atmosphere, settings, and actions rather than directly describing emotions.
• What qualities do Dickens's villains often embody?


  They sometimes take on devilish qualities, reflecting mythical evil.
• Which character in The Old Curiosity Shop exemplifies Dickens's devilish villains?


  Quilp
• How does Dickens portray villains in David Copperfield?


  He employs melodramatic villains like Uriah Heep, emphasizing exaggerated evil.
• What is the contrast between characters like Bill Sikes and other villains in Dickens's works?

  Sikes represents a darker, more straightforward menace. No redeeming qualities
• How does Dickens depict virtuous characters, especially women and children?


  He often portrays them as angelic, embodying Christian virtues.
• Who are examples of virtuous characters in Dickens's works?

  Little Nell and Tiny Tim
• How does Dickens recast the mundane world in his narratives?


  He presents it in humorous or sentimental terms, making bleak circumstances accessible.
• What techniques does Dickens use to create a heightened emotional landscape?


  His use of humor, pathos, and caricature contributes to this effect.
• What humanitarian themes are present in Dickens's works?


  He champions the marginalized, urging empathy and social reform.
• Who are the vulnerable members of society that Dickens highlights in his novels?


  The poor, the homeless, and the exploited.
• What is the main message of Dickens's humanitarian impulse in his works?


  To convey a deep concern for society’s most vulnerable members.
• How does Dickens often portray London at night?


  He emphasizes shadows, silence, and hidden lives, creating an atmosphere of mystery and danger.
• What social issues does Dickens highlight in his novels?


  He highlights the plight of the urban poor, including homelessness, hunger, and injustice.
• How does Dickens transform ordinary places in his narratives?


  He uses imaginative settings to turn them into symbolic landscapes, such as damp alleyways as spaces of danger.
• What motif does Dickens use to depict London?


  He depicts London as a labyrinthine city filled with winding streets and hidden courts.
• What does the labyrinth motif reflect in Dickens's work?


  It reflects both the physical complexity of the city and the moral ambiguities of its inhabitants.
• How does Dickens explore social relations in his narratives?


  He explores the tangled web of social interactions and hierarchies among different classes.
• What does London represent in Dickens's early novels like Oliver Twist?


  It represents corruption and danger, while the countryside offers a temporary refuge.
• How does Dickens's focus change regarding urban life in his later works?


  He focuses more on urban redemption than on escape to the countryside.
• What does the Thames symbolize in Dickens's work?

  It symbolizes the flow of life, the movement of people, and the passing of time.
• How does Dickens provide a sense of place in his stories?

  He meticulously describes distinct London neighborhoods, grounding his narratives in urban realities.
• What dual aspects do Dickens's depictions of neighborhoods reflect?

  They reflect both social realism and symbolic meaning.