Great Expectations Project
Task
The goal of this journey is to learn about Charles Dickens and Victorian
England to better understand the context of Great Expectations.
The Objectives:
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You will be able to work with others to successfully complete a joint task
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You will be able to navigate the internet for research
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You will be able to orally present your topic to the class
You will be assigned to a group and given a specific topic on Victorian
England to research. As a group you will be required to become experts on
your topic and present an oral presentation to the class to teach them
about your topic of study.
The Final Product:
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A 5-7 minute oral presentation on topic studied.
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A visual aid (i.e. a poster, PowerPoint, Prezi, Google presentation,
etc.)
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Individually, submit answers to questions.
The topics and groups are as follows:
Group 1: Biographers
Group 2: Anthropologists
Group 3: Social Workers
Group 4: Union Representatives
Group 5: Prison Wardens
Group 6: Committee of Women Studies
Workdays: (in library)
DUE:
Group 1: Biographers
Your job is to explore Charles Dickens’ life.
Guiding Questions:
1. What experiences were the most influential on his life?
2. What genre of literature did he write?
3. How was his work published and illustrated?
4. What are some basic biographical facts about his life that the class should know?
(Date and place of birth, date of death, family, exc.) What else is interesting about
Dickens’ life?
Resources:
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http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/index.html
http://charlesdickenspage.com/
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/dickens.htm
http://www.perryweb.com/Dickens/
Group 2: Anthropologists
Your job is to examine the difference between the social classes of the Victorian Period.
Guiding Questions:
1. Define social class. Explain the social breakdown of the classes during the Victorian
era.
2. What did the Victorian education system look like? Distinguish between education for
the wealthy and education for the poorer classes. What influence did social class have
on the individual’s education and upbringing?
3. Look at the manners and etiquette of the Victorians era. How did Victorian men and
women behave in upper class society? Define a true gentleman according to Victorian
society guidelines.
4. What kind of social classes do we have in our society? How do these classes
influence how we live and the opportunities we have?
Resources:
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http://www.english.uwosh.edu/roth/VictorianEngland.htm
http://www.victorianweb.org/history/Class.html
http://www2.ucsc.edu/dickens/OMF/litvack.html
http://www.shelbycs.org/ms/media%20center/victorian%20england/
http://logicmgmt.com/1876/etiquette/etiquette.htm
Social classes in United States
Group 3: Social Workers
Your job is to look at abusive personal and family relationships in the Victorian England.
Guiding Questions:
1. Examine the relationship pressures that were common in the Victorian Era. Provide a
few examples.
2. How does social class relate to domestic violence? Look at this issue in light of the
Victorian era and then compare it with today.
3. What types of abusive personal and family relationships exist today?
4. What are the characteristics of abusive relationships?
Resources:
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http://www.shelbycs.org/ms/media%20center/victorian%20england/
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/dickens/poorlaw.html
http://www.hiddenlives.org.uk/articles/poverty.html
http://www.victorianweb.org/history/crime/banerjee1.html
Victorians and Crime
Group 4: Union Representatives
Your job is to examine what child life was like in Victorian England.
Guiding Questions:
1. What was the state of child labor in the Victorian era? What role did social class have
in child labor?
2. How is child labor still an issue today?
3. Who is affected by current child labor situations?
4. In the Victorian era, what types of public health or child care agencies existed?
Resources:
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http://www.shelbycs.org/ms/media%20center/victorian%20england/
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/college.saintebarbe/victoria/children.htm
http://www.victorianweb.org/history/hist8.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/victorian_britain/
http://www.hiddenlives.org.uk/articles/poverty.html
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/IRchild.main.htm
Group 5: Prison Wardens
Your job is to examine the Victorian justice system, its criminals, and its punishments.
Guiding Questions:
1. In Victorian England, who was in charge of creating laws?
2. How did the society attempt to solve its social problems in its justice system?
3. Describe the state of the prison system in Victorian England. How were debtors
treated?
4. Look at the present day prison system. How is it similar to the Victorian England, how
is it different?
Resources:
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/crime_01.shtml
http://vcp.e2bn.org/justice/page11361-types-of-punishment-imprisonment.html
http://www.shelbycs.org/ms/media%20center/victorian%20england/
http://history.powys.org.uk/school1/presteigne/debt1.shtml
Group 6: Committee of Women’s Studies
Your job is to research the lifestyles of women in the Victorian Age.
Guiding Questions:
1. Compare and contrast the education of men and women in the Victorian era.
2. Women had what roles and responsibilities?
3. What kind of restrictions did women face?
4. How did social class affect a woman’s opportunities?
Resources
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http://www.shelbycs.org/ms/media%20center/victorian%20england/
http://www.victorianweb.org/gender/socialhistov.html
http://www.english.uwosh.edu/roth/VictorianEngland.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/womens_work_01.shtml
Social classes in United States