What was the pen name used by the famous English novelist Charles Dickens in some of his early writings?

Introduction / Context:
Many authors write under pen names, especially early in their careers. Knowing these pseudonyms is a common requirement in literature-based general knowledge. Charles Dickens, one of the most famous Victorian novelists, also used a pen name in some of his early journalism and sketches. This question asks you to identify that pen name from among several literary pseudonyms and initials.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The real author is Charles Dickens.
• We are asked to identify one of his early pen names.
• Options include Boz, Ba Jin, BB, Cassandra and George Eliot.
• Only one option correctly matches Dickens.

Concept / Approach:
Charles Dickens wrote early journalistic pieces and stories under the pen name “Boz”. Other names in the options are pseudonyms of different writers: Ba Jin is a Chinese novelist, George Eliot is the pen name of Mary Ann Evans, and Cassandra and BB are associated with other authors. The approach is to recall that “Boz” is uniquely tied to Dickens in standard literary trivia.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember that Dickens published a series of pieces called “Sketches by Boz”. Step 2: Connect the name “Boz” directly with Dickens in your mind. Step 3: Recognise that George Eliot is another well-known pseudonym, but it belongs to Mary Ann Evans, not Dickens. Step 4: Identify Ba Jin as a prominent Chinese writer and see that this has nothing to do with Dickens. Step 5: Conclude that “Boz” is the only pen name from the list actually used by Charles Dickens.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, recall book titles: “Sketches by Boz” is a widely cited collection that appears in exam guides and introductions to Dickens. This phrase firmly associates “Boz” with him. None of the other names typically appear alongside Dickens in reading lists or literature histories, which confirms that they are red herrings in this context.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ba Jin: Pen name of Li Yaotang, a Chinese novelist and essayist, not related to Dickens.
BB: A pen name used by D. J. Watkins-Pitchford, an English naturalist and author; again, not Dickens.
Cassandra: A pseudonym linked to other writers; not a standard pen name for Dickens.
George Eliot: Pen name of Mary Ann Evans, author of “Middlemarch” and other novels, not of Dickens.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes pick George Eliot because it is a very famous pseudonym and they may not remember exactly which author it belongs to. Another mistake is to overthink unfamiliar options like Ba Jin and BB, assuming that less familiar names might fit Dickens. The safest tactic is to permanently memorise the pairing “Sketches by Boz → Charles Dickens”. Once that association is secure, such questions become straightforward.

Final Answer:
Charles Dickens used the pen name Boz in some of his early writings.