Ragged Dick

Ragged Dick

• Genre: Juvenile Fiction; Coming-of-Age
• Originally Published: 1868
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile HL660L; Young Adult and Adult
• Structure/Length: Novel divided into chapters; approximately 120 pages; audiobook length approximately 5 hours and 9 minutes.
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: Ragged Dick is a classic novel by Horatio Alger that tells the story of Richard "Dick" Hunter, a poor and unhoused bootblack (shoe-shiner) in New York City during the mid-19th century. The central conflict revolves around Dick's struggle to escape poverty and improve his life through hard work, determination, and moral character. Through a series of encounters and opportunities, Dick aspires to rise above his humble circumstances and achieve success in the city. The novel explores themes of social mobility, self-improvement, and the American Dream, and it is often considered a prime example of the "rags to riches" genre in American literature.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of poverty, homelessness, social mobility, and lack of empathy for children’s housing and food insecurity

Horatio Alger, Author

• Bio: Born 1832, deceased 1899; American author known for his prolific output of juvenile fiction and novels for young readers; Alger is celebrated for his stories of young protagonists overcoming adversity and achieving success through moral virtue and hard work.
• Other Works: Luck and Pluck series, including titles like Luck and Pluck (1869) and Sink or Swim (1870); Horatio Alger's novels often follow a formula of young characters rising from humble backgrounds to achieve success.

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Rise Of The Self-Made Man
• The Rewards Of Virtue
• The Importance Of Appearances

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the historical and sociological contexts regarding childhood poverty and social mobility in mid- to late-19th century American society.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Rise Of The Self-Made Man, The Rewards Of Virtue, and The Importance Of Appearances.
• Draft and present a creative screenplay that demonstrates an understanding of characterization, setting, and plot elements, based on text details.