great expectations

when was charles dickens born

feb. 7, 1812

where was charles dickens born

portsmouth, england

why did dicken’s dad go to prison

failed to pay off debts

what was dickens not chosen for by his parents

to go to university

where did dickens first work

shoe polish factory

three main themes dickens writes about

poverty, social class, political injustice

when was great expectations published

1860

how did dickens publish his writing

with serialized publication

what weekly journal did dickens create

all the year round

when did dickens die

1870; 58 years old

when did queen victoria rule great britain

1837-1901

who succeeded queen victoria

king albert edward

two laws victoria passed

reformation of poor law (helped poor people), repeal of the corn law (cheaper food prices)

what did people think of victoria

great leader, but selfish and stubborn

two contributions made by victoria

end of slavery, constitutions in australia and canada

role in economy of classes

upper class; owned land, earned income from investments, did not work for wages, inherited wealth

middle class; business owners, shopkeepers, clerks, jobs not too physically demanding

working class; manual labor, industrial work, relied on wages to survive

societal expectations of classes

upper; charitable work, maintain high societies, manage estates, maintain societal status

middle; value hard work, education, respectability, ambition to rise in status

working; work hard, be obedient, provide for family, little chance to move up in class

prerequisites for each class

upper; born into aristocracy, inherited wealth, made money through investments

middle; earned money through non-manual labor, education/skill work, family background less important than occupation

working; born into low-income families, work from young age, little education

societal rituals of each class

upper; multi course dinners, afternoon calls, calling cards, grand meals, hunting parties, hosting guests, all essential to social life

middle; smaller scale, modest dinners, visited hours, calling cards, daily life family centered, reinforced ideas of morality and stability

working; few formal rituals, sunday main day for events, family meals/walks, visiting relatives, community gatherings, showing refinement mattered less but emphasized good manners

industrialization impact on class system

expansion in jobs for middle class, allow them to get richer and move up in class

made middle class value hard work, education, and financial planning

behavior expectations/etiquette for men

gentlemen (polite, honorable, self controlled), “courteous, considerate, and socially at ease”, avoid being selfish, act in accordance with moral standards

behavior expectations/etiquette for women

same expectations as men but stricter, lives entirely centered on home (kept family morals, set Christian example)

definition of gentleman

originally someone born into nobility/jobs, later any boy who went to public school, later based on one character/conduct

how could someone by taken away their title of gentleman?

acting out in public

education in victorian england

designed to shape beliefs and manners so they could be gentlemen, learned to accept hardship without complaining and take their place in society, older boys supervised+disciplined younger boys, taught to show loyalty, team spirit, fair play

created boys to join parliament, run empire, become military officers/businessmen

stiff upper lip meaning

the emotional reserve/stoicness of a gentleman

what was a social climber

someone who used social connections to climb the ranks of society and usually thought only of themself

main idea of great expectations

what makes someone a gentleman, what is a true gentleman