Bleak House Lesson Plan

The Court of Chancery

Kind of Activity:

Group Work

Objective:

Students will read historical details about the Court of Chancery and analyze how Dickens portrays the institution in his novel.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.2, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.3

Structure:

Have students read "Law Meets Literature: Bleak House and the British Court of Chancery," an article that explains the function, corruption, and reform of the Court of Chancery in Dickens's time. When students are done reading, put them in small groups, assigning each group one or two of the following questions:

1. What was...