Ragged Dick

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. During the mid- to late-19th century, many families living in New York City experienced a considerable amount of poverty. In which ways does poverty generally affect households? Consider factors such as education, employment, and social mobility.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Answer question invites students to consider the themes of The Rise Of The Self-Made Man and The Importance Of Appearances in the historical context of the novel. Alger’s narrative highlights the effects of structural poverty on children in mid- to late-19th century New York City; however, he frames the discussion of poverty as a situation that a person can rise above, as opposed to a cyclical and permanent system. Alger’s protagonist Dick represents this “Self-Made Man,” in that he is successfully able to resist the temptations of activities stereotyped as impoverished (e.g., gambling, not saving income, etc.) by adopting a strong work ethic (e.g., budgeting money, gaining literacy, etc.). Initially, Dick is lucky since he stumbles into a position of fortune when he is befriended by a wealthier youth and given a new set of clothes; however, Dick uses this situation to catapult himself into a higher social milieu, as opposed to squandering the opportunity.