The Lamplighter by Charles Dickens
The Lamplighter, by Charles Dickens: A young man named Paul, who has been raised by his grandfather, a lamplighter, discovers that he is the son of a wealthy merchant. He seeks to find his true identity and place in society.
By Charles Dickens · First published 1854 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Drama, Coming-of-Age · 8,860 words
First lines
‘IF you talk of Murphy and Francis Moore, gentlemen,' said the lamplighter who was in the chair, ‘I mean to say that neither of 'em ever had any more to do with the stars than Tom Grig had.'
‘And what had _he_ to do with 'em? ' asked the lamplighter who officiated as vice.
What this Textopian page supports
The Lamplighter is listed on Textopian as a novel by Charles Dickens, dated 1854 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Charles Dickens
- Date: 1854 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Historical Fiction, Drama, Coming-of-Age
- Length: 8,860 words
- Structure: 1 section, 153 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Lamplighter by Charles Dickens
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Lamplighter?
- How does this novel by Charles Dickens fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Historical Fiction first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Historical Fiction — The Lamplighter takes place in the early 19th Century, which is historically significant and is the basis for Dickens’ story, therefore classifying the book as Historical Fiction.
- Drama — The book is characterized by its dramatic sequences and human struggles, which fits into the Drama genre.
- Coming-of-Age — The book depicts the main character's growth from a neglected child to a dignified woman, essentially making it a Coming-of-Age tale.
Tags
Victorian · literature · novel · coming of age · social issues · class struggle · redemption · friendship · family · identity · morality · adventure