Charles Dickens' Victorian World WebQuest

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Like most of us, many of Charles Dickens' beliefs and much of his work was influenced by the world into which he was born. By browsing the websites below and answering questions about the Victorian world (named for Queen Victoria who ruled Great Britain at the time), you will understand more about the issues he wrote about in his stories.
Unlike a Web Search, for a WebQuest you are given the websites to use to find the answers. Make sure you type in the correct website address (or URL) in the address line (or click the links here!) If you click the link, it will open in another window --- when you are done with it just close it to get back to this page.

Start WebQuest

Go to one of these pages to get information on Charles Dickens' life:

http://www.fidnet.com/~dap1955/dickens/fast-facts.html   OR
http://www.perryweb.com/Dickens/life_events.shtml

Charles Dickens lived from _____ to _____ .
When he was about 12 years old, he had what many experts call "a defining episode in his life." His father was imprisoned for ________ and Charles was sent to work at __________________________________ .
He spent much of his life and set many of his stories in the city of ___________________ .
Not sure which city? Go to
http://www.fidnet.com/~dap1955/dickens/dickens_london.html .

Charles Dickens was very concerned about living and social conditions in England in the 1800s. He especially was worried about the hard life poor people had. His character Scrooge felt that the government had solved "the poor" problem when he responded to requests for charity by saying, "Are there no workhouses?"
Go to http://www.judandk.force9.co.uk/workhouse.html
Read "What Was A Workhouse?"
Who were sent to the workhouses? ___________________

Scroll down to the section "A Very Short History of the Workhouse".

What year was the Poor Law Amendment Act passed? ____________
After that, could people needing assistance stay in their own homes? ________

Scroll down to the section "What Was It Like in the Workhouse?"
    List 2 reasons you would not like to live there yourself :
  1. __________
  2. __________

Workhouse diet was very poor and inadequate. Go to http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/victorianbritain/caring/source3.htm and click on the button "Full Transcript" in the top right corner to open the easily-readable version.
What was fed to the 150 inmates for Sunday's breakfast? ___________
What was fed to them for dinner (that's what they called lunch!)____________
How about supper? ____________
Any meat or vegetables? _________

Scroll to the very bottom of the page . . .
Who gets to share the 2 pounds of butter? _________
During the Industrial Revolution, it was assumed that poor children would work to help support the family . . . and, not only would they work, but often at dangerous jobs for many hours a day.
Go to http://www.victorianweb.org/history/hist8.html
and read about Child Labor.

In the second paragraph, How many hours a day does it say many children worked? _____
Were Laws meant to limit the amount of time children worked effective? (DID most children work
fewer hours after the laws were passed?)_______

Not only were poorer families expected to work long hours for little pay, they did not live in healthy environments. In 1800s England, with the growing industrial economy, many people moved to the citied in hope of getting factory jobs. At that time, people didn't realize the need for clean water and good sewage systems in cities.
Go to http://www.learningcurve.gov.uk/victorianbritain/healthy/default.htm

What 2 diseases killed many people in Victorian England - one even killed Queen Victoria's husband!
  1. __________
  2. __________
Want to know more about Victorian England? A good site to start with is :
British National Archives - Learning Curve : Victorian Britain

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