Dickens Character Study

This worksheet supports students in Grades 6-8 as they practice character analysis, comparison, textual evidence, and close reading through adapted excerpts from Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. By examining how Charles Dickens introduces and develops his protagonists, students analyze appearance, emotions, personality traits, and growth while strengthening their understanding of author’s craft and structure.

Key Learning Objectives

• Character Analysis (Grades 6-8) – Examine how Dickens develops characters through description, feelings, actions, and dialogue.
• Comparing & Contrasting Texts – Identify similarities and differences between two protagonists across separate works.
• Using Textual Evidence – Support observations with specific details drawn directly from each excerpt.
• Literary Craft & Structure – Explore Dickens’ stylistic approach to portraying hardship, resilience, and personal growth.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource – Designed by educators to align with middle-grade ELA standards and classic literature study.
• Structured Comparison Chart – Helps students organize information clearly and visually.
• Multi-Text Analysis – Encourages deeper thinking by working across two related texts.
• Flexible Classroom Use – Suitable for independent work, partner activities, small groups, or assessment.

This printable worksheet builds strong comprehension and analytical skills by guiding students to compare characterization across two of Dickens’ most well-known novels. It strengthens evidence-based reasoning, organizational skills, and literary interpretation while helping students recognize how authors craft characters to convey theme and meaning. Whether used in a classroom or a homeschool setting, this resource supports thoughtful engagement with classic literature and comparative reading skills.

This worksheet is part of our author studies worksheet collection.