Reading Strategies
- Background information: When reading any book, especially Dickens, it is helpful to look up background information about the author and the setting of the story. Background information can help readers better understand the novel.
- Summarize: If you are reading advanced material, like Dickens's work, knowing how to summarize can be really helpful. Each paragraph should introduce a new idea; after you finish one come up with what the point of that section was. Dickens's uses a lot of words to get across one idea. It is also helpful to read chapter summaries found online to make sure you understand what has been going on. Useful websites include Shmoop and Sparknotes but there are many other resources.
- Talk to the Text: This method is helpful if you have a paper copy of the book that you don't mind writing on. In talk to the text you actively write your thoughts, connections, and questions write in the text.
- Look it up: When you come across a word you do not know look it up in a dictionary. If the text mentions an object you've never heard of look it up in the encyclopedia. If an event is mentioned or a person that you do not understand search for it in google. The internet is a great resource but there are others for instance the local library, or your teachers.
- Audio tapes: Say reading isn't your forte or maybe you have been reading the book but aren't quite getting it. Try listening to it. You can download audio versions of various books or check them out from the library. Have someone read it to you or read it out load yourself.
- Reread: The more you read something better you will understand it and the more you will get out of it.
Dickens's Writing Techniques
- Symbolism
This quote shows how Dickens uses wine as a symbol for blood.
- Indirect Characterization
In this excerpt from A Tale of Two Cities Dickens shows the nature of the Marquis rather than describing him as a cruel, greedy individual. Dickens uses this method to let his readers know his characters in many of his books.
- Foreshadowing
Also from A Tale of Two Cities the entire wine scene foreshadows the French Revolution that is coming. This excerpt also used above tells the reader that soon blood will be split on these streets instead of wine.