Each day we'll savour the
pleasure of reading chapters aloud, then in a tolerant, relaxed atmosphere,
we'll discuss our wide-ranging opinions on Dickens' stories, philosophy,
misogyny, fatherhood, marriage, unfaithfulness…. And then, using drama
techniques including bits of film, we will roleplay and perform Dickens'
vignettes, for our delectation!
The course divides into 3 main parts:
1.Reading aloud
2. a. Discussing Dickens's stories: Bleak House, Our Mutual Friend
(with reference to Gt Expects & Oliver T).
b. Discussing Dickens' life.
3.Roleplaying vignettes
Monday
Welcome and Introductions; forming the
group
Short Introduction - DICKENS: the man
and his work.
Introducing BLEAK HOUSE
Reading aloud 2 - 4 chapters
Characters and Discussion
Roleplaying and watching
Dickens' writing, characters,
creativity
Tuesday
Bleak House: 2 - 4 more chapters
reading aloud
Roleplaying 3 separate vignettes from
BH
Dickens the creative genius:
Discussion
Wednesday
Our Mutual Friend : an introduction;
reading aloud 2 - 4 chapters
Characters - main, and minor
Dickens the writer: torture in love;
despair, madness
Discussion: Dickens the lover; his own
circumstances and his work
Discussion of characters' similarities
and contrasts
Short vignettes roleplay
Thursday
Our Mutual Friend - reading aloud 2 -
4 chaps
If I was Mrs Dickens… Dickens's
family, and his misogyny, bad behaviour
Short vignettes roleplay
Friday
Overview of the week's Dickens stories
and characters
Roleplaying and final reading
aloud
Final discussion and summing-up of the
week
Background reading
Claire Tomalin: Dickens - A Life. Pub. Penguin 2012 Peter
Ackroyd - Dickens. Pub. Vintage 1990.(2012)