During today's lesson, I introduced the life of Charles Dickens, his best known novels, and the Victorian Era. I discussed how Dickens' childhood experience working in the blacking factory scarred him for his life and resulted in his championing the rights of the poor, especially children. We discussed some institutions of the Victorian Era including debtor's prison, the Poor Laws, the workhouse, and the Transport Law as well as the scientific advancements of the time. I further provided definitions and characteristics of the literary terms "bildungsroman" and literary "Romanticism. "Last, I noted Dickens' use of satire and detailed descriptions. HW r ch 1 and 2/ans study guide.