Page 33 - DENG104_ELECTIVE_ENGLISH_I

Elective English–I Gowher Ahmad Naik, Lovely Professional University

Notes
Unit 3: Charles Lamb-Dream
Children : A Reverie-A Detailed Study

CONTENTS
Objectives

Introduction
3.1 Biography
3.2 Youth and Schooling

3.3 Dream Children : A Reverie
3.4 Summary
3.5 Keywords

3.6 Review Questions
3.7 Further Readings

Objectives

After reading this unit, you will be able to:
• Discuss the life and works of Charles Lamb;
• Explain Dream Children : A Reverie.

Introduction

Charles Lamb was an English essayist, best known for his Essays of Elia and for the children’s
book Tales from Shakespeare, which he produced with his sister, Mary Lamb. Lamb has been
referred to by E.V. Lucas, his principal biographer, as the most lovable figure in English
literature. Lamb was honoured by The Latymer School, a grammar school in Edmonton, a
suburb of London where he lived for a time; it has six houses, one of which, “Lamb”, is named
after Charles.

3.1 Biography

Charles Lamb was the youngest child of John Lamb, a lawyer’s clerk. He was born in the Inner
Temple and spent his youth there, later going away to school at Christ’s Hospital. There he
formed a friendship with Samuel Taylor Coleridge which lasted for many years. After leaving
school in 1789, he went to work for the South Sea House, whose subsequent downfall in a
pyramid scheme after Lamb left would be contrasted to the company’s prosperity in the first
Elia essay. In 1792 he went to work for British East India Company, the death of his father’s
employer having ruined the family’s fortunes. Charles and his sister Mary both suffered periods
of mental illness, and Charles spent six weeks in a psychiatric hospital in 1795. He was,
however, already making his name as a poet.
In 1799, John Lamb died and Charles became guardian to Mary, whose mental instability
prevented her from looking after herself. Lamb continued to work as a clerk for the East India

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