Tour Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey--the place where Charles Dickens was laid to rest.

Hard Times/Utilitarianism Unit Study for 9th or 10th grade

See Week 1 for information on credits, goals, and materials list for this study.

Week 3

Weekly Reading Assignments

Week 1: Book the First, Chapter I through Chapter V
("The One Thing Needful" through "The Key-Note")
Week 2: Book the First, Chapter VI through Chapter IX
("Sleary's Horsemanship" through "Sissy's Progress")
Week 3: Book the First, Chapter X through Chapter XIV
("Stephen Blackpool" through "The Great Manufacturer")
Week 4: Book the First, Chapter XV through Book the Second,
Chapter II ("Father and Daughter" through "Mr. James Harthouse")
Week 5: Book the Second, Chapter III through Chapter VI
("The Whelp" through "Fading Away")
Week 6: Book the Second, Chapter VII through Chapter X
("Gunpowder" through "Mrs. Sparsit's Staircase")
Week 7: Book the Second, Chapter XI through Book the Third, Chapter II
("Lower and Lower" through "Very Ridiculous")
Week 8: Book the Third, Chapter III through Chapter V
("Very Decided" through "Found")
Week 9: Book the Third, Chapter VI through Chapter IX
("The Starlight" through "Final")

Assignments

This is the week to introduce your student to Jeremy Bentham (b. February 15, 1748, London--d. June 6, 1832, London). He was an English philosopher and economist, among other things. Again, the point is not to overwhelm your student, but just to have him go as far as he has interest to, and as far as you need him to to earn credit hours! You can talk about philosphy again, and it might be a good time to delve deeper into what philosophy truly is, perhaps with a book from the library. As a side note, Jeremy Bentham started studying Latin at an early age (perhaps 4!), and it has been written of Charles Dickens himself that he was taught Latin as a child by his mother. Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill were friends, and they probably gathered to discuss issues of the times. Jeremy Bentham had a definite place in the world of his day with respect to his contribution to the thoughts of the day, but his works have been criticized as being mere criticisms of the government rather than true philosophical offerings based on logic and realistic concepts. The student may place Jeremy Bentham on his timeline.

Have the student use a standard college dictionary to write the definition for:

Note to teacher

This issue of Stephen Blackpool's unhappiness can be a prime opportunity to talk about the life-long implications of choosing a spouse.

On To Week 4!

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