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Charles Dickens and names

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crom | 21:22 Wed 18th Apr 2007 | Books & Authors
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Where did Dickens get the name 'Pumblechook' in Great Expectations? does it mean to pummel and chop wood?
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Don't no where they came from but he gave his charecters some funny names , such as Mr Creakle in David Copperfield, the Rev Crisparkle in Edwin Drood & Wackford Squeers in Nicholas Nickleby to name a few. When I was reading Dickens at school I didn't really enjoy then,but since re-reading them I've generally changed my opinion & come to realise why Dickens is such a popular author
A lot of his names of characters are aptronyms .A word coined by someone (I forget who) to reflect the character of the person or indeed the job they do.
According to Brewers it means to Pummel or pommel ..to beat or thrash .Pumblechook was a bully to Pip when he was a boy but of course he became a real toady when Pip came into money ! So perhaps it's a play on words by Dickens and he did base a lot of his characters on people he knew . .A lot of his names do reflect the characters really well . Have at look at this site ..it's very informative and interesting .
http://www.fidnet.com/~dap1955/dickens/charact ers.html
Charles Dickens Links and Resources

http://charlesdickenspage.com/

http://www.victorianvanities.com/Dickens/index .html

http://www.lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~matsuoka/Dicke ns.html

http://www.webenglishteacher.com/dickens.html# chrcar

http://dickensfordummies.homestead.com/BookLin ks.html

http://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit/bin/litcrit.out .pl?au=dic-25

http://l.webring.com/hub?ring=charlesdickens

Victorian Social History: An Overview

You might take a look at this link, I�m sure it will be very helpful in your quest, If I can be of further assistance, then please don�t hesitate to contact me.

http://www.victorianweb.org/history/sochistov. html

Who is Boz?

http://www.perryweb.com/Dickens/work_boz.shtml

Good luck.

Kevin, Liverpool, England.
Alphabetical list of more than 400 Dickens' characters:

http://www.fidnet.com/~dap1955/dickens/charact ers.html

Charles Dickens Links and Resources

http://charlesdickenspage.com/

http://www.victorianvanities.com/Dickens/index .html

http://www.lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~matsuoka/Dicke ns.html

http://www.webenglishteacher.com/dickens.html# chrcar

http://dickensfordummies.homestead.com/BookLin ks.html

http://www.ipl.org/div/litcrit/bin/litcrit.out .pl?au=dic-25

http://l.webring.com/hub?ring=charlesdickens

Victorian Social History: An Overview

You might take a look at this link, I�m sure it will be very helpful in your quest, If I can be of further assistance, then please don�t hesitate to contact me.

http://www.victorianweb.org/history/sochistov. html

Who is Boz?

http://www.perryweb.com/Dickens/work_boz.shtml

Good luck.

Kevin, Liverpool, England.
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thanks crokepark you strike again wouldn't like to have a look in phrases and sayings would you and answer a little problem on psychology? I am floundering and any help gratefully received.

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