E-Book Content
B L O O M’ S HOW TO WRITE ABOUT Charles Dµckens a M Y s . wat k i n Bloom’s How to Write about Charles Dickens Copyright © 2009 by Amy S. Watkin All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information contact: Bloom’s Literary Criticism An imprint of Infobase Publishing 132 West 31st Street New York NY 10001 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Watkin, Amy S. â•… Bloom’s how to write about Charles Dickens / Amy S. Watkin; introduction by Harold Bloom. â•…â•… p. cm. — (Bloom’s how to write about literature) â•… Includes bibliographical references and index. â•… ISBN 978-0-7910-9850-9 (acid-free paper) 1. Dickens, Charles, 1812–1870— Criticism and interpretation. 2. Criticism—Authorship. 3. Report writing. I. Bloom, Harold. II. Title. III. Title: How to write about Charles Dickens. IV. Title: Charles Dickens. V. Series. â•… PR4588.W43 2009 â•… 823'.8—dc22â•… 2008005713 Bloom’s Literary Criticism books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk quantities for businesses, associations, institutions, or sales promotions. Please call our Special Sales Department in New York at (212) 967-8800 or (800) 322-8755. You can find Bloom’s Literary Criticism on the World Wide Web at http://www.chelseahouse.com Text design by Annie O’Donnell Cover design by Ben Peterson Printed in the United States of America Bang MSRF 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 This book is printed on acid-free paper. CONTENTS Series Introduction Volume Introduction How to Write a Good Essay How to Write about Charles Dickens v vii 1 43 The Pickwick Papers 55 Oliver Twist 72 Nicholas Nickleby 92 A Christmas Carol 110 David Copperfield 127 Bleak House 144 Hard Times 162 A Tale of Two Cities 186 Great Expectations 202 Our Mutual Friend 220 Index 239 SERIES INTRODUCTION B loom’s How to Write about Literature series is designed to inspire students to write fine essays on great writers and their works. Each volume in the series begins with an introduction by Harold Bloom, meditating on the challenges and rewards of writing about the volume’s subject author. The first chapter then provides detailed instructions on how to write a good essay, including how to find a thesis; how to develop an outline; how to write a good introduction, body text, and conclusions; how to cite sources; and more. The second chapter provides a brief overview of the issues involved in writing about the subject author and then a number of suggestions for paper topics, with accompanying strategies for addressing each topic. Succeeding chapters cover the author’s major works. The paper topics suggested within this book are open-ended, and the brief strategies provided are designed to give students a push forward on the writing process rather than a road map to success. The aim of the book is to pose questions, not answer them. Many different kinds of papers could result from each topic. As always, the success of each paper will depend completely on the writer’s skill and imagination. v How to Write about Charles Dickens: Introduction by Harold Bloom O nly Shakespeare surpasses Dickens at peopling an entire world. In regard to the novel, I can think of Balzac as the peer of Dickens. To write about the greatest English novelist at his most vital, you need to explore his gallery of women, men, and children. As a creator of people, Dickens works more in the mode of Ben Jonson than of Shakespear