Montreal Dickens Fellowship Study Questions: “ The Pickwick Papers”
Westmount Public Library
January 8, 2012 2:30- 4:30
Chapters 22-28
- Mr. Pickwick’s embarrassing encounter with the lady in the yellow curl papers represents the epitome of Victorian delicacy. This may be the closest Dickens gets to writing about sex! Comment.
- Compare and contrast Sam Weller and Job Trotter as servants.
- In portraying the Ipswich magistrate as self-important, incompetent and gullible, Dickens endears himself to his readers. Discuss.
- Dickens’ bad guys always get punished. Describe how you feel about Jingle and Job Trotter’s punishment. Were you satisfied?
- Do you think Sam could have or should have tried to persuade Mrs. Bardell about the folly of her lawsuit by pleading Mr. Pickwick’s case?
- Comment on Dickens’ attitude toward religion and foreign aid in light of his obvious disdain for Stiggins and the “Good Shepherd”.
- Christmas at Dingly Dell is an iconic description of the pre-Victorian Christmas. How does it compare and contrast to Christmas festivities today?
- Mr. Pickwick and Gabriel Grub seem to be total opposites yet both grow and gain wisdom through their experiences. Compare and contrast these two character.