ABSTRACT

Literature is a mirror of real life which can reflect all aspects of people’s lives and writers always reveal their attitudes towards the social problems to the public by their works. In his twenty plus novels, Charles Dickens, one of the greatest novelists of critical realism in the 19th century, pointed out all kinds of social problems which appeared in the early Victorian Era. Among them is the issue on children’s education which occupied the centre ground in most of Dickens’ novels. Based on a comparatively detailed analysis of the relevant novels of Charles Dickens and the background of the then society, this paper attempts to explore the problems of the children’s education and the corresponding causes from three aspects, namely, family education, school education and social education.

Key words: children’s education; the early Victorian Era; Charles Dickens; novels

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-1

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-3

Chapter Three FAMILY EDUCATION AS REFLECTED IN DICKENS’ NOVELS.5

3.1 Distortion of Moral Values-5

3.2 Negative Influences on Children’s Character Building.6

Chapter Four SCHOOL EDUCATION AS REFLECTED IN DICKENS’ NOVELS.8

4.1 Low Quality of Teachers-8

4.2 Inadequate Education System9

Chapter Five SOCIAL EDUCATION AS REFLECTED IN DICKENS’ NOVELS.11

5.1 Negative Social Influences.11

5.2 Negative Influences Exerted by the British Upper Class.12

Chapter Six CONCLUSION14

WORKS CITED.16