activ8english: WHAT THE DICKENS!

Charles Dickens

This term you are going to study the work of one of the most famous English writers: Charles Dickens. We will be reading his novel "Oliver Twist" and researching the characters, investigating life in 19th century London and watching a film version of this exciting story.

First look at: Oliver Twist (Film Education), click on "Learning Resources" and "People", where you will find information about six of the main characters.

OLIVER TWIST PROJECT

Here is some source material to investigate “Oliver Twist”, its author and the Victorian age.

1. Charles Dickens – biography:

http://www.notablebiographies.com/De-Du/Dickens-Charles.html

2. Oliver Twist – summary:

http://www.penguinreaders.com/pdf/downloads/pr/teachers-notes/9781405865258.pdf

3. Oliver Twist – characters:

Oliver/Mr. Bumble/Mr. & Mrs. Sowerberry/The Artful Dodger/Fagin/Bill Sykes/Nancy/Mr. Brownlow/Monks

FAGIN: He is a criminal who attracts young homeless children by offering them a place to live. He teaches the children to steal handkerchieves and wallets - they learn to be pickpockets. Fagin also sells the things that the boys steal. He is rich, but he hides his money and never spends it. He is really difficult to catch because he is dishonest and sly. He's an old man who is very ugly awith red hair and he has a big nose. He wears a long dirty coat and hat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fagin http://www.filmeducation.org/olivertwist/learningresources/fagin.html

THE ARTFUL DODGER: Dodger is a pickpocket, he steals expensive handkerchieves and wallets from respectable people. He is the leader of the gang of child criminals, trained by the old man called Fagin. He is Oliver Twist's friend in London and he introduces Oliver to Fagin. The Dodger's real name is Jack Dawkins. Dodger is responsible for introducing Oliver to Fagin. He is very clever and independent. He wears adult clothes. He isn't very tall, he has a common face with ugly eyes. He is a juvenile (about 13 or 14 years old)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artful_Dodger

4.The Victorian Age - http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/Homework/victorians.html Look at this page for some basic information about the Victorian Age; there are also links to information about Queen Victoria, about the poor in the 19th. century and other information.

You can find images of Victorian London on this page: http://www.google.es/search?hl=es&rlz=1T4ADBS_esES318ES320&biw=1440&bih=785&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=victorian+london+images&oq=victorian+london+images&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=20345l25181l0l27955l9l9l0l0l0l0l1162l5723l0.3.1.6-2.3l9l0

5. Dickens’s London:

http://www.fidnet.com/~dap1955/dickens/dickens_london_map.html Map of Dickens’ London

http://www.dickens-and-london.com/index.htm Difficult page on London areas connected to Dickens.

6. Children in Victorian London –

http://college.saintebarbe.pagesperso-orange.fr/victoria/children.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/victorian_britain/ BBC page on Victorian London and children in the Victorian age.

http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/C32CB1CE-444D-4DDF-A158-985E73665512/0/Children_in_Victorian_London.pdf London Museum document on Victorian children.

http://www.nettlesworth.durham.sch.uk/time/victorian/vindust.html Child labour in Victorian England (Primary school page)

http://www.nettlesworth.durham.sch.uk/time/victorian/vschool.html Page about Victorian schools.

7. Queen Victoria –

http://college.saintebarbe.pagesperso-orange.fr/victoria/life.htm