Biography of Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

• What years did Charles Dickens live?


  1812–1870
• How did Dickens's childhood experiences influence his writing?


  • Experienced poverty during formative years
  • Shaped themes of hardship and social criticism in his works
• What was Charles John Huffman Dickens's occupation?

  Clerk in the Navy Pay Office
• What financial issues did John Dickens face?


  He struggled with managing finances, leading to family hardship
• What happened to John Dickens in 1822?


  He was incarcerated in a debtors' prison
• How did Charles Dickens cope while his family was in prison?


  He lived outside and continued working
• At what age did Dickens start working at Warren’s Blacking Factory?


  At age 12
• What was Dickens's role at Warren’s Blacking Factory?


  He labeled bottles
• What lasting impact did Dickens's factory work have on him?


  It developed his lifelong concern for labor conditions and child exploitation
• Why was Dickens's mother reluctant to remove him from factory work?


  She was hesitant even after John Dickens was released from prison
• Where did Dickens receive his education after factory work?


  Wellington House Academy
• What was notable about Wellington House Academy?


  It was known for its harsh discipline and subpar education
• What job did Dickens hold from 1827 to 1828?


  Law clerk
• How did Dickens's work as a law clerk influence his writing?


  It gave him insight into legal processes and the working class
• What skill did Dickens master that helped him in his career?


  Shorthand
• What type of reporting did Dickens do as a freelance journalist?

  He covered parliamentary debates and court cases
• How did Dickens's journalistic skills influence his fiction writing?

  • Shaped narrative style
  • Enhanced realism in his stories
• Who influenced Dickens with humor, picaresque style, and vivid characterizations?

  Tobias Smollett
• How did Tobias Smollett influence Dickens's early works?


  He shaped the satirical tone of some of Dickens's early works.
• Which novel by Henry Fielding is mentioned as influential to Dickens?


  Tom Jones
• What narrative elements from Fielding's novels influenced Dickens?


  Intricate plots, social satire, and omniscient narration.
• What aspect of Daniel Defoe's writing did Dickens admire?


  Realism and attention to detail.
• Which work of Defoe is specifically mentioned as an influence on Dickens?


  Robinson Crusoe
• How did Defoe's work influence Dickens's writing style?


  It inspired Dickens's vivid descriptions of characters' inner lives and struggles.
• Which author wrote Gil Blas, which fascinated Dickens?

  Alain-René Lesage
• What elements from Gil Blas influenced Dickens's writing?


  The blend of adventure and comedy.
• What storytelling structure from Arabian Nights impacted Dickens?


  The magical storytelling and episodic structure.
• How is the influence of Arabian Nights reflected in Dickens's works?


  In the whimsical and episodic nature of some of his early works.
• What playwright's influence is noted throughout Dickens's career?

  Shakespeare
• In what ways did Shakespeare influence Dickens's writing?


  Through language, dramatic characterization, and exploration of human nature.
• Which Dickens novels reflect Shakespearean themes of identity, redemption, and tragedy?


  Great Expectations and A Tale of Two Cities.
• What was Dickens's first job as a journalist?

  Reporting on parliamentary debates for The Mirror of Parliament
• How did Dickens's experience as a journalist influence his fiction?

  It gave him a sharp eye for social details and a knack for capturing characters
• What was the title of Dickens's first literary success?


  Sketches by Boz
• What type of content did Sketches by Boz provide?


  Humorous and insightful portrayals of London life
• What magazines did Dickens work for as an editor?


  Bentley’s Miscellany, Household Words, and All the Year Round
• What significant work did Dickens serialize in Bentley’s Miscellany?


  Oliver Twist
• What was the purpose of Dickens's editorial work?


  To explore topical issues, refine storytelling, and shape readership tastes
• Which two major weekly periodicals did Dickens found and edit?

  Household Words and All the Year Round
• What novels were first published in Household Words and All the Year Round?

  A Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations