Charles Dickens is a staple in high school and college literature courses, considered a masterful storyteller and part historian. He made Scrooge a part of Christmas tradition and filled the world with colorful characters like David Copperfield, Ebeneezer Scrooge, and Miss Havisham.

But why, exactly, is he looked upon so fondly? What makes up the Dickens charm? Take a look now at a general overview of the man and his life, then, on separate paper, answer the questions that follow each site. Explore and enjoy!

I. Dickens the man:

a. Where and when was Dickens born?

b. Describe Dickens's childhood socioeconomic status.

c. What type of schooling did Dickens receive?

d. Who did Dickens marry? When?

e. Besides writer, what other jobs did Dickens hold?

II. Dickens the author:

a. How many novels did Dickens write?

b. What theme was present in many of his works? Why was that theme important to him?

c. What gave Dickens the idea for A Christmas Carol?

d. In terms of his writing, why was Dickens so highly admired/praised?

e. How did the tone of Dickens's writings change as he grew older?

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