The Pickwick Club discussion

In our latest discussion of Great Expectations, Jean pointed out that Dickens often made use of typical phrases which were remembered by his readers and which helped them to keep their bearings from instalment to instalment. This gave me the idea for a new Dickens quiz: I'm giving you a typical catchphrase from a Dickens character, and you should guess who the character that uses it is. Once you've got the right answer, you might give us the next catchphrase.

So, for starters, which Dickens character often uses the phrase "not to put too fine a point upon it"?

Oh, what fun! Although I do have a terrible memory, I think "not to put too fine a point upon it" was the catchphrase of Captain Cuttle in Dombey and Son? I may be wrong, but I'm trying to go off my memory here.

(In case I am wrong, I'll wait to provide the next phrase until I get a head nod from Tristram :)

Hi Linda. I'm afraid it was not the Captain. It was, to give some little help, a very meek husband.

Ah, well shoot! I will give someone else a shot at it then. :)

Familiar, annoyingly so! Joe, from GE?

Snagsby? Bleak House?

Lynne, you are right. over to you!

Liking this :) Waiting with bated breath ...

From which Dickens novel do we get the expression "devil-may-care"?

Oh, that one does not ring a bell at all, Lynne! Must be a Dickens I have not read yet. Of course, I could be wrong as evidenced by my excellent memory in my attempt to answer the first puzzle. :)

It is surprising just how many expressions Dickens is responsible for. Hint---a book from the first half of his career.

I still have the first 6 books to read, so I don't think I've read that one yet.

Lynne wrote: "From which Dickens novel do we get the expression "devil-may-care"?"

It's from the Pickwick Papers in the story of the goblins who stole a sexton. A nice little Christmas story - of course. If it was used before that I don't remember it.

Here's one:

cloak and dagger

Kim, could it be our friend Rigaud / Blandois, and I forgot his other name, from Little Dorrit?

This is a great idea. When done you should roll up questions and answers into a Goodreads quiz. Or is there already one? Hmmm...

I think I used one catchphrase for a question in the Everlasting Book Quiz, a very easy one for any Dickens fan.

I don't know if it was in Little Dorrit but that would be a good place for it. I only found it in the goblin story. Then again I didn't look in LD yet.

Then, as I did not get the right answer, I think it's your turn again, Kim ;-)

I'm sorry I can't resist:

Bah Humbug

Kim wrote: "I'm sorry I can't resist:

Bah Humbug"

I'm leaving that one for the Pickwickian it was meant for. ;)

I don't really know the correct answer, either, but I've got a hunch that Everyman would know. :-)

Kim wrote: "Lynne wrote: "From which Dickens novel do we get the expression "devil-may-care"?"

It's from the Pickwick Papers in the story of the goblins who stole a sexton. A nice little Christmas story - of ..."

Sorry to be so late to the party---Kim is correct. It is Pickwick Papers.

Where is E-Man? He needs to take a guess in this lovely game!

Hmmmm, since Everyman apparently has not found this thread or has never heard the words "Bah, humbug" before, I make so bold as to go on with a new question:

Which Dickens character used to point out that there "are strings in the human heart that had better not be wibrated"?

I just read Barnaby Rudge---is it Tappertit?

Absolutely, Lynn.

Am I supposed to come up with another quote?

Are there rules here, or can we just jump in? Jumping in, until I'm told otherwise. :-) Who often said, "It's of no consequence."

Thanks for jumping in, Mary Lou!!! I was drawing a blank. Was it from Bleak House?

Nope - earlier novel.

Lynne wrote: "Where is E-Man? He needs to take a guess in this lovely game!"

Uh, no he doesn't. He's a very serious person. He has no fun and games in his life. Ever. Any. Just always serious, serious, serious.

So, at least, says my son. And he should know, shouldn't he?

Mary Lou wrote: "Are there rules here, or can we just jump in? Jumping in, until I'm told otherwise. :-) Who often said, "It's of no consequence.""

Mary Lou, that's really very tricky - although it sounds so familiar.

Everyman wrote: "Lynne wrote: "Where is E-Man? He needs to take a guess in this lovely game!"

Uh, no he doesn't. He's a very serious person. He has no fun and games in his life. Ever. Any. Just always serious, ser..."

Just how much does your son know about your checkered past? I bet you have old friends who know some stuff that would make it difficult for you to run for office! Serious, serious, serious sounds like a Dickens character!

Tristram wrote: "Mary Lou wrote: "Are there rules here, or can we just jump in? Jumping in, until I'm told otherwise. :-) Who often said, "It's of no consequence.""

Mary Lou, that's really very tricky - although i..."

Tale of Two Cities?

It is one of my favorite characters. Mr. Toots in Dombey and Son.

Mine isn't exactly a catchphrase but it certainly runs through my head at times. Who said:

Papa, potatoes, poultry, prunes, and prism are all very good words for the lips: especially prunes and prism.

Oh oh oh it's that awful woman in Little Dorrit who has designs on Amy's father ...

Mrs General :D

You got it. Now it's your turn. :-)

Oh blimey :( OK ... Maybe one for the newbies?

"Wot larks!"

Lynne wrote: "I bet you have old friends who know some stuff that would make it difficult for you to run for office!."

If I told you, I'd have to kill you.

[g]?

Jean wrote: "Oh blimey :( OK ... Maybe one for the newbies?

"Wot larks!""

No fair using one from our current book!

And another clue there from Everyman ... but this one's only for members who've joined in the last few months or so :)

These are great fun! You all have great memories. I couldn't remember a catchphrase if my life depended on it! :O

Jean, I might try to solve this one ;-) Was it Joe Gargery?

LOL You have the chair Tristram :)