Describe like Dickens
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Challenge 2 - Describe like Dickens
This is a photo of a special memorial in Rochester Cathedral. It is dedicated to a very famous author, Charles Dickens, who lived not far away at Gads Hill place. When the Cathedral re-opens, come and find his memorial.
Dickens’ very last, unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, featured a cathedral in a city called Cloisterham. Many people think that Cloisterham is Rochester!
One of the story’s characters, Mr Grewgious, peeps through the main door of the Cathedral and says,
“Dear me, it’s like looking down the throat of Old Time.”
In another part of the story Dickens describes the inside of the Cathedral at sunset,
“Old Time heaved a mouldy sigh from tomb and arch and vault; and gloomy shadows began to deepen in corners; and damp began to rise from green patches of stone; and jewels, cast upon the pavement.....from stained glass by the declining sun, began to perish...”
What wonderful descriptions!
Since this challenge is going to be launched near Dickens’ birthday (he was born on 7th February 1812), we thought we’d let his work inspire us.
In this challenge we’d like you to “describe like Dickens”. Choose your favourite part of the Cathedral (take a peep by looking at our Virtual Tour if that helps) and see if you can write a poem or a sentence or two about it. Paint a picture with your words!
If you need some extra inspiration, then click on this link to download our “Describe Like Dickens” starter sheet.
You can post your descriptions on our Facebook page or email them to educationofficer@rochestercathedral.org
About Create and Discover 21
Welcome to Rochester Cathedral’s brand-new venture, CD21!
CD21 stands for Create and Discover ’21. Throughout 2021 we’ll take you on a journey of discovery around Rochester Cathedral and set 21 creative challenges as we go. CD21 is open to everyone! You can take part as a family, an individual, use it as part of home learning, or just as a bit of fun.
Each fortnight we will set you a creative challenge inspired by something found in the Cathedral – an arty-craft inspired by an artefact! When the Cathedral re-opens, pop in and see if you can spot these beautiful objects in the building and find out a little more about them.
You won’t need any special equipment to take part, just ordinary things you have at home. Newspaper, old cardboard boxes, sticky tape or glue, pencils or crayons – just use what you can find.
We’d love you to share images of your finished work on our Facebook page (younger folk, please ask an adult to do this for you).
