Listening Activity: Bleak House, Charles DICKENS.

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Browsing Literature:

Welcome To Junior School Drama Workshop:

Bleak House. Charles DICKENS.

Vocabulary activity:
Match the words in column A with their equivalent explanation in column B:
Column A Column B.
1- asylum. a- without home.
2- Passion b- well known.
3- Popular c- brain damage
4- Crowd d- hospital for mentally sick people.
5- Homeless e- a lot of people.
6- Stroke f- great love for something.
Answers:
1………
2-………
3-………
4-………..
5-……...
6-………

Brain Storming: Pre- questions:
1- How often do you read English stories?
2- What are the English writers/ novelists you do know?
3- Look at the picture .Do you know this man? (Charles DICKENS).
4- Have you ever read one of his stories?

Historical Backround :
Charles Dickens is a great English novelist of the 19th century, the Victorian period. His writings are marked with revolutionary spirit over the social evils, injustice and hypocrisy. As a young boy, he was forced to leave school and work in a factory. His father was a clerk in the navy pay office. He ended up in financial troubles.
Dickens worked in many jobs .He was a law office clerk, a newspaper editor and reporter in parliament. He married Catherine Hogarth and had ten children. His famous works include:
Oliver Twist , Great Expectations, Our mutual Friend , A tale of two cities , David Copper field , Bleak House ….

Before listening : Pre- activities :

A- Study these words and give your own examples :
Siblings : brothers and sisters.
e.g: I have five siblings . ( I have five brothers and sisters).
To work hard : to make great efforts
e.g : Ali always gets good marks in English because he works hard.
Mocked by : laughed at
e.g: The little girl is mocked by her friends because of her ragged clothes.
It’s not good to laugh at people.
Clerk : a person employed to do general office work.
e.g. : Steve works as a clerk in a bank.

While – listening:
Listen to the story and underline the correct answer :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/bleakhouse/animation.shtml
1- Charles Dickens was born on :
a- January 6th , 1812
b- February 7th , 1812
c- March 8th , 1812
2- His parents are called :
a- James and Elizabeth Dickens.
b- Jane and Elizabeth Dickens.
c- John and Elizabeth Dickens.
3- How many siblings does Charles have:
a- 6 siblings.
b- 7 siblings.
c- 8 siblings.
4- Charles father pointed at the big house remarking that:
a- Charles can work in that house, if he works hard.
b- Charles can buy the house, if he makes great efforts.
c- Charles can live in that house, if he works hard.
5- Charles’ family did not have a lot of money; Charles worked in a blacking factory labelling pots because:
a- He wants to be rich.
b- He wants to pay school fees.
c- He wants to help and support his family.
6- When John entered prison , Charles visited him :
a- Every Saturday.
b- Every Sunday.
c- Every Monday.
7- In 1831 , Charles worked in :
a- Tourism.
b- Journalism.
c- Parliament.
8- In 1835 Charles got married to Catharine Hogarth , how many children did they have ?
a- 8 children.
b- 9 children
c- 10 children.
9- Charles' writings make him very popular. Rumours claim :
a- He becomes a criminal and entered prison.
b- He becomes crazy and entered asylum.
c- He becomes a senator and works in a parliament.
10-Charles Dickens bought “Gad hill House” when he was :
a- 42 years old.
b- 43 years old.
c- 44 years old.
11- Charles had a relationship with Ellen Ternan .She is :
a- a singer .
b- an actress .
c- Journalist.
12- “Our Mutual Friend “ is :
a- Charles’ dearest friend.
b- His wife’s friend.
c- The title of his fictional book
13-Before his death , Charles Dickens suffers from:
a- Heart attack.
b- A stroke.
c- A stomach-ache.
14- Charles finished his novel “ The Mystery Of Edwin Drood “ :
a- True.
b- False.
c- We don’t know.
Post – Listening :

Pair work : Complete the chart with your partner :
- Charles worked a lot in his childhood and did not have a free time!
- What are the activities you do in your free time ( out of school) ?

You : Your partner:
e.g : I Play football . e.g: He/ she reads a book.
………………............ .........................................

Group Work: Use your Dictionary and find a synonym for these words , them put them in a coherent sentences:
a- Bleak: …………….
b- Fame: ………….
c- Raven: …………..
d- Sail: ………….
e- Injured: …………
f- Success: …………
g- Label: ………..
Search :
Use the internet and find at least 4 writers who wrote about the Victorian Period and state their major books / writings.

Writer : Major writings/ books.
1-………….... a- .........................
2-……………….. b-..........................
3-……………… c-..........................
4-……………… d-.........................

Discussion : In groups of four , discuss the following questions :
Share your ideas and choose a reporter to report your findings:
1- Is it important to work hard in life ? Why?
2- Charles Dickens had a sad , difficult childhood! How about you?
3-What is the lesson you learnt from this story?
4- If you want to recommend this story to a friend what will you tell them? ( Write a short paragraph about it).

Homework :
1- Use the internet and Draw Charles’ family tree.
2- Draw a picture of the house of your dreams.
( Answers will be posted on the same page , next week).
Good luck.