Yes, we have had extracts in the Readers from these books.
What lessons are they? The Pickwick Club on the Ice, in the Third Book; David Copperfield's First Journey Alone, and The Indignation of Nicholas Nickleby in the Fourth Book.
Some day you must read these stories. David Copperfield tells us a great deal about Dickens' early days. The Pickwick Papers is full of humour in scenes such as that depicted in The Pickwick Club on the Ice, and has some fine characters in it, and Nicholas Nickleby gives a vivid picture of the brutality existing in some schools in England at the time the book was written.
THE LADY OF THE LAKE
(Fourth Reader, page 270)
The pupils will have read the account of the stirring combat between Fitz-James and Roderick Dhu. They will be curious to know the circumstances that led up to this combat and also the conclusion of the story.
The aim of the teacher is to lead the pupils to appreciate the construction of the story, the fine character sketches, and the descriptions of natural scenery, as well as to give them an impression of Highland life. The pupils will take delight in the rapid movement of the verse and in the deeds of valour.
Some passages should be dwelt upon at greater length by the teacher, and others more lightly touched upon, so that the connections of the various parts will be understood. A close and tedious consideration of all the lines would not show a good critical taste, as some passages are very fine, while others have only ordinary merit.
The teacher should disclose the identity of Fitz-James as James V of Scotland and should explain the cause of the exile of the Douglas Family. He should also sketch the life of rebellion and consequent outlawry led by some of the Highland clans before they were reduced to submission.
CANTO I