Lab Activity | CLiC Dickens Project

 HELLO, 

         This blog task is prepared in response to the lab activity assigned by Dr. Barad Sir.  In this task we have to explore CLiC Dickens Project and it's CLiC activity book, and have to do small activity based on that booklet.  Click here for the project.

I will be doing couple of thematic activities.  

Activity 1. The Creation of Fictional Characters 

This activity emphasis on that the character that are depicted in literature are representation or near representation of actual human beings. We imagine those characters as if they have thoughts, feelings and experience just like real peoples. The point is that just as we understand these fictional characters are the same way we understand people around us. 

In this activity the example is takes on Mr. Dick from David Copperfield. How that character is portrayed in the novel, at what time that character comes. Mr. Dick writes an autobiography called a "Memorial" but keeps getting distracted by a picture of King Charles I. This distraction is meaningful because "Dick" is short for "Richard," and it connects to King Charles I. This suggests that Mr. Dick could represent a part of Charles Dickens, showing how characters in books can reflect their authors in interesting ways. No one talks about Mr. Dick unless he is there, and also there is narratorial focus on Mr. Dick's face and mouth. We will see this thing in the activity.

Picking up the Character

After going through CLiC concordance, we get to know that Mr. Dick is referred in the novel 229 times.

After doing this activity, I find that Mr. Dick is someone who is not a man of action, or a strong agency. He is associated with weak verbs that does not denote relatively strong action. For example, "Laugh", "Recovered", " Shook", and "Accompanied"...etc. 

Picking out the characterization 

After searching Mr. Dick from non-quotes, we find that Mr. Dick is referred 178 times, which is under 200, and from which we can analyze any particular pattern in the characterization on Mr. Dick. 

Mr. Dick in "David Copperfield" is depicted as whimsical and scattered, often repeating lines and phrases and showing variable thought processes. However, he has surprising moments of sharpness, especially in interactions with Aunt Betsey, who alternates between frustration and appreciation of his insights. This dynamic adds depth to both characters.

Isolating the reporting clause

More than half of the times Mr. Dick is mentioned in the story, it’s to report what he said. If you include other words that describe speaking, like "returned," "suggested," "rejoined," "asked," and "cried," you’ll see that Mr. Dick gets to speak for himself a lot in the story.

Exploring the narrative comments on the character

This shows short list of sentences about 12. Almost all of these mentions also include details about his body language, feelings, or thoughts. For example, looking, thinking, in a hurry, and shaking. 

Face and features of the character

Searching facial expressions and features we can get to know about how character is portrayed. 

Eyes and mouth referred one time

Head is sixteen times 

Face referred three times

What is the Learning ?

From what I understand, this task is part of studying language or linguistic. By examining these details, we can learn about Mr. Dick's character. Even though I haven’t read the novel or know much about this character, we can understand who he is just by looking at how he is described in the text.

Activity 2: Growing up in Great Expectations

This activity suggests that, noble men and women largely belongs to the educated upper middle class. Then what about those young men and women who are not that much fortunate, who are uneducated poor, destitute and orphan people. Still orphans are the popular figure in the nineteenth century literary fiction. 

in this activity the example given of Pip, an orphan protagonist from Dicken's novel "Great Expectation". Pip narrated his story from adult point of view. 

Parenting in Great Expectations

In "Great Expectations", Pip is repeatedly advised to be grateful, yet he continually experiences feelings of regret. He often in the novel refers the phrase that he is brought 'up by hand'. And there are fourteen times where he uses this phrase. 

By examining these phrases in larger context we get know know about how Pip is brought up by his sister Mrs. Gargery. She takes pride in her parenting of Pip with 'by hand', which means that Pip is brought up in strict and physically disciplined manner. Many time situation comes when Pip is portrayed in negative light by other character but as being an orphan child he can not do anything. 

Moreover, Mr. Pumblechook also seems to praise the strict and disciplined methods of Mrs. Gargery in raising Pip. Pip goes through a very uncomfortable and thorough cleaning and dressing process done by his young guide, who treats him like he needs strict discipline. After being scrubbed, soaped, and put into stiff, formal clothes, Pip is handed over to Mr. Pumblechook, he then pompously reminds him to be grateful, especially to those who raised him with strict methods.

Gratitude and regret in Great Expectations

Pip is feeling happy and thankful to his sister Joe Gargery, because he remembers that how his sister loved him when he was yet a children and also whenever Joe uses old endearing names for Pip, he is overwhelmed by gratitude. Pip is grateful for the love and familiarity Joe offers him. Pip is grateful for Herbert's care and kindness. Despite his own painful injuries and the difficulty of moving around, Herbert devotes an entire day to attending to him. Herbert's compassionate and attentive nursing during his recovery, which provides him both physical relief and emotional comfort.

Pip is grateful for the consistent kindness of Mr. Pumblechook's yearly gifts and the festive cheer of Christmas gatherings. He also appreciates Herbert’s tender care during his recovery. He is also grateful because he feels blessed that Estella, despite his humble background, is destined for him, and he is overwhelmed by the idea of such an esteemed person being a part of his life.

Why Pip is being (un)grateful

Pip is remorseful because he feels deeply ashamed of his ingratitude towards Joe, especially when contrasted with the deceitful and pompous Mr. Pumblechook. Pip is remorseful because he sees that Miss Havisham's self-destructive actions and isolation have led to her profound suffering and madness, which evokes Pip's deep compassion. He is also remorseful because he fears the consequences of his fight with the pale young gentleman, worrying that he will be punished for the injuries he caused and the evidence left on his clothing.

Pip mourns deeply over Estella's impact on his life, acknowledging her influence on both his good and bad impact. He chooses to remember the positive, and, overwhelmed by the moment, decides to walk to London to escape his distress and avoid facing others peoples. 

Learning Outcome

Following this activity, we can observe a significant change in Pip's perspective. His way of thinking and understanding things has changed drastically. As an adult, Pip can now see and understand other characters more clearly, compared to his childhood views. For example, as a child, he admired Mr. Pumblechook, but as an adult, his admiration for him gradually wanes. Thus, by examining words like "grateful" and "ungrateful," we can gain insights into how Pip's views of characters evolve over time.

Thank you.