The Dickens House: A TeachersFirst Webquest

pzl-pcs.gif (2364 bytes) Welcome to the Dickens House
A Web activity for Grades 6-9

Author: E.Bergstresser - Gifted Program Teacher - PA

Time needed : one 40-45 minute class period.

For the Teacher:

This Internet-based activity was originally designed as a creative way for students to learn some biographical background as part of a unit of study about Charles Dickens. Since so many of Dickens’ characters and social themes are known to be inspired by real life experiences, this background is particularly helpful, no matter which pieces of literature your classes are studying.You can even ask your students to draw their own possible connections with works you are reading. The house tour gives a quick vignette of everyday life in Victorian England, helpful for students trying to picture scenes of comfortable London homes from David Copperfield to Great Expectations.

Click here to download the Adobe Acrobat version of this activity. You can get the Acrobat reader from the TeachersFirst Toolbox.

Prepare yourself for a trip to Victorian England and to walk in the footsteps of Master Charles Dickens! As you walk through the four levels of the Dickens House, be very perceptive, for there are many secrets and fascinating facts to be discovered in every room!
: Take your time as you wander through each floor, and join us for a treasure hunt of the information. Answers to the following questions will be revealed to you. Please record your responses below. You may enter the house on any level. Enjoy your stay at 48 Doughty Street!

Enter the Dickens House for your tour.

As you take your tour, look for the answers to these questions:

1. In which room did Dickens write most of Oliver Twist?

2. Who was Mary Horvath and what happened to her? In which room?

3. What was the copper in the basement used for? In which Dickens novel is a copper mentioned?

4. What novel was Dickens writing at the time of his death?

5. What school did Dickens attend at the age of 13 or 14?

6. What did he do before he entered school?

7. In Dickens study on the first floor, there is a cabinet which contains something Dickens insisted be on his desk when he wrote. What is it?

8. What was the still room used for?

9. What item, on display in the morning room, was laid upon Dickens’ body the day he died? What was the date of his death?

10. During what years did Dickens live at 48 Doughty street?

Answer key

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