Hard Times (1854), dickens has constructed an almost entirely mechanized world of people, ideas and environments. This suggests that the natural and corresponding counterpart always needs to fight for its self-preservation among characters’ perceptions and within settings. The philosophy mirrors the mechanical characteristics of industrialisation and hence expresses the great importance of mechanical perceptions such as objective utilitarianism and factual statistics. Importance i. Hard Times has also been described as a novel which asks most clearly to be read not as a mere fictional world but as a commentary on 4 a contemporary crisis ii. The novel is therefore not only supposed to be a pleasant and entertaining read. iii. It is a work of fiction which contains a serious depth and has an underlying gravity which is important to be aware of. iv. It is both criticism of industrialism and an attempt to raise awareness among people about how they think. v. Hard Times has the effect of tempting the reader to reflect upon his or her situation and how they believe they live their lives, as well as how they imagine their relationships with others are.

1. CHARLES DICKENS
PRESENTED BY
Qurat-ul-ain Akhter
English UGS

2.  INTRODUCTION CHARLES DIKENS
 Charles Dickens Quote
 HISTORICAL TOUCH
 HARD TIMES (For These Times)Over View
 ABOUT HARD TIMES
 SUMMARY
 CHARACTER TREE
 MINNOR CHARACTER OF NOVEL
 THEMES
 MAIN DEVICES USED IN THE NOVEL

3. Charles Dickens

4. 1. Born on February 7 1812 in Portsmouth.
2. Son of a clerk in the Navy -Pay Office
3. No happy child hood.
4. Father debts
5. 1824: father in prison and dickens being sent to
work in a blacking warehouse traumatic
6. Married to Catherine Hogarth until 1858
7. Died in 1870: buried in poet corner at Westminster
Abbey
8. A writer and a social critic.
9. He had many successful works such as: David
Copperfield, Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, Hard
times etc
10.Charles’s Dickens main themes generally
concentred on famine, poverty, corruption, family
or in short social problems

5. CharlesDickensQuote
“Dothewisethingandthe
kindthingtoo,andmake
thebestofusandnotthe
worst.”

6. HISTORICAL TOUCH
Industrialization in England (18th century)
i. Change from agrarian economy to one
dominated by industry.
ii. Technological progress.
iii. Social concerns.
iv. Labour relation.
v. Working class.

7. HARD TIMES (For These Times)
Over View:
 GENRE: Victorian novel; realist novel; Satire;
dystopia, denunciation novel
 SETTING: mid 19-th century Victorian England. Coke
town, an imaginary industrialised town
 POINT OF VEIW: The narrator speaks in the third
person and has limited omniscience
 PROTAGONIST: Louisa Gradgrind , Thomas gradgrind.
 TONE: The Narrators tone varies drastically, ironic,
mocking and even satirical use to explain(Bounderby
Harthouse and Mr. Sparsit).
 And when describing Rachael, his tone is pathetic,
evoking sympathy.

8.  It is a denunciation novel that accuses the industrial life
and its effects on the have -nots.
 Its aim consists of the danger of making people like
machine.
About Hard times:
Summary
Charles Dickens's novel Hard Times, which is a
social criticism, is divided into three sections.
These sections act as thematic titles.
The novel is divided into three sections.
Sowing, Reaping, Garnering.

9. CHARACTER
TREE

10. Mr. Sleary, Bitzer, Mr. M'Choakumchild,
Slackbridge, Mrs. Pegler, Jane Gradgrind,
Signore Jupe, Mr. E. W. B. Childers, Mr.
Kidderminster, Adam Smith Gradgrind and
Malthus Gradgrind.

11. • fancy vs
facts.
• Mechanization
of human.
• Negative effect
of industrial
society
• Surveillance
and
knowledge
• Fidelity.

12. MAIN DEVICES USED IN THE NOVEL
Repetition
Exaggeration
Irony
Simile and Metaphor
Synecdoche
Dialogue
Tricolon (A series of three words,
clauses, or phrases).
Tricolon (A series of three
words, clauses, or phrases).
In order to strengthen his novel, Charles dickens used
powerful devices such as:

13. THANK YOU