Exercises about Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

 Exercise 1

Read the text and list the main events of the morning

• Children and Nicholas have breakfast.
• Children have lesson.
• Mrs Squeer explains to Nicholas his teaching method.
• Nicholas listen to Mr Squeer's lesson.
• Nicholas learns to children.
• Children and Nicholas have dinner.
• Scholls begins again.

Exercise 2

Focus on characters

The pupils are different from those of an ordinary school, because they are quiet and sad, they aren't happy, they don't play and learn anything. On the contrary they have to work and to serve the teacher (they clean windows, weed the garden, rub the teacher's horse and draw water up).

In the text there are evident the children's physical efforts at school.

2.       How does Mr Squeers define his teaching method? What is his actual aim? Why do you think he gives an explanation to Nicholas? What do his words reveal about him and his qualifications as teacher?

Mr Squeer defines his teaching method a practical philosophy. His actual aim is to learn without using books. I think he gives an explanation to Nicholas in order to explain and to sing the praises of his teaching method. His words reveal his experience and his safety about his personality and teaching.

3.       Do Mr Squeers' wife, son and school reflect his personality?

Mr Squeers's wife, son and school reflect his personality. Mrs Squeers takes part in her husband's work, while his son is disagreeable compared to the other pupils, instead he feels superior than other children and he spites them.

4.       Does Nicholas' opinion about what is going on come out at all?

Nicholas' opinion doesn't come out, because he is agree with Mr Squeers and he doesn't contradict him.

Exercise 3

Focus on characterization and narrative technique

Would you say Mr Squeers is a well-rounded character or a flat character?

Mr Squuers is a flat character, because only a part of his personality is evident.

What kind of narrator tells the story? Which character/s do you think he sides with? Give reasons for your answer.

The third person omniscient intrusive narrator tells the story. I think he sides with Nicholas, because Mrs Squeer's personality and behavior description is like a criticism.