About the Dickens Day of Writing

The Dickens Project is the premier center in the United States for the study of Charles Dickens and nineteenth-century studies. Founded in 1981 and based at UC Santa Cruz, the Project is an international consortium comprising nearly 40 universities and colleges, including universities in Britain, Canada, Australia, and Israel.

As part of our mission to promote the study of Victorian texts, we strive to assist young scholars in examining the cultural relevance of nineteenth-century literature to the twenty-first-century world. The Dickens Day of Writing will focus on “Gone Astray,” a Dickens essay that examines the experience of a young boy as he wanders through Victorian England, striking a delicate balance between the innocent wonderment of the boy’s point of view and the older narrator’s more mature, gently ironic perspective on his younger self. This essay dives into fantasy as a source of imaginary power and how the experiences of youth stay with us into adulthood.

The Dickens Day of Writing is both a writing retreat and a writing competition designed to support junior and senior high school students in their futures as college students and professionals. By reflecting on a short essay by Charles Dickens, the students will reinforce skills learned in the classroom, such as critical reading, analytical reasoning, argumentative writing, creative production, and cultural history, to prepare them for life beyond high school.

Learning Objectives:

• to strengthen literary analysis skills
• to develop strong critical thinking skills
• to prepare students for timed writing tests
• to foster social engagement between students and their communities

Benefits and support for teachers and schools:

• honoraria to participating teachers
• an annotated edition of “Gone Astray” by Charles Dickens and lesson plans
• writing support for students

Benefits and support for students:

• exposure to the culture of a major research university to support college preparation work
• the publication of their Dickens Day of Writing essay in a printed volume
• the chance for extra timed writing test preparation
• writing support to develop strong writing skills