essay topics for a christmas carol

A Christmas Carol

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How Scrooge Changes

How is scrooge presented as being selfish, the point behind the paragraph ao1 - big picture (plot) ao2 - zooming in (language) ao3 - context, during the opening of the novel, scrooge is presented as a selfish, closed character who only thinks of himself. the first section of the novel takes the form of a long piece of description where dickens highlights just how selfish scrooge is. he’s described as being “squeezing,” “wrenching,” and “grasping.” all these active verbs suggest different ways that he takes things. squeezing suggests that he holds things close to himself and won’t let them go. “wrenching” means to take things; to snatch them. this might refer to how he runs his business, snatching back what’s his own, as though he’s a selfish spoilt child who won’t share. “grasping” means to reach desperately for something, which isn’t something we’d associate with someone as wealthy as scrooge. equally, he’s described as being “solitary as an oyster.” this wonderful simile perfectly illustrates just how closed off scrooge is: he has a hard shell to keep himself away from the rest of the world. throughout the rest of stave 1 we see more examples of his selfishness: he refuses to go to fred’s house, arguing that christmas is a “humbug;” he refuses to give to the portly gentleman’s charity, saying that the poor should go to workhouses, prisons or simply die if they can’t afford to live and he resents giving bob cratchit the day off for christmas, thinking himself “ill-used.” scrooge clearly thinks only of himself. he doesn’t “make merry” at christmas, and he “can’t afford” to make anyone else merry either. here, dickens uses scrooge to shine a light on the selfishness of the victorian upper classes, who would happily sit by their firesides eating rich food while their poorer brothers froze in the dirt outside. it is also worth remembering, however, that the issue of poverty is not one that is consigned to victorian england; it’s very much alive today, and we would all do well to look outside of our bubbles to see those who suffer in the world around us ., the text above would represent one paragraph from an essay about scrooge being presented as selfish. the second paragraph would look at how scrooge learnt to be less selfish, while the last would focus on how scrooge was presented by the end. each paragraph would have a point, some language analysis (ao2), some key moments of plot (ao1) and a reference to context (ao3)., the extract, during the opening of the novel, and in the extract, scrooge is presented as a “tight-fisted hand at the grindstone.” this is to say that he doesn’t like sharing – he is tight fisted – while the “grindstone” image represents him at work. this image suggests that he drives people hard at work but doesn’t pay them much for it. and this is certainly true of scrooge. dickens also uses a string of verbs to describe his miserly hero: “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, clutching;” all of them imply that he is taking things and holding on to them. he’s described as “hard and sharp as flint” – which implies that he is difficult and even dangerous – “from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire” which implies that one thing flint does well is something scrooge is incapable of, because fire is warm and looks after others. most interestingly, however, scrooge is described as “edging his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance.” this is an interesting image as it implies a certain strange compassion from scrooge. in fact, he isn’t just rude or obnoxious, it’s as though he recognised that he is socially and emotionally dysfunctional and now “warns” other humans to keep away., by the end of the book, however, he has changed and he does this by realising a few very important things., firstly, he understands that people and emotions are more important than money. at the beginning of the book scrooge things money equates to happiness – he says that “i can’t afford to make idle people merry,” suggesting that happiness can only be provided through financial means. during his visits with the ghost of christmas past, however, he sees his old manager fezziwig throwing a party and comments that “the happiness he gives is quite as great as if it had cost a fortune.” here, he shows the beginnings of an understanding that happiness isn’t just financial. throughout stave 3, also, scrooge sees people enjoying christmas without any money. he is taken across the country from the poor tin-mines in cornwall to the most distant lighthouses and even across the sea to where he sees people singing and laughing and making merry despite being on meagre means. he also sees the cratchitts enjoying christmas with next to nothing – with their chipped glasses and broken custard cups holding the drinks as well as “golden goblets.” dickens repeatedly uses references to gold in the book, and at one point bob mentions that tiny tim is “as good as gold and better.” here, bob is clearly celebrating the key theme of the book: that people and human relationships are more important than money. by the end of the book, with the third spirit, scrooge seems changed. he says “lead on, time is precious to me.” here he recognises that time – which is irreplaceable – is actually the most valuable commodity on earth and he seems changed., also, scrooge is changed by the compassion he sees other’s treating him with. when belle speaks to him, she does so with “tenderness” – suggesting that even at this moment of deepest sadness, she feels sorry for him, and not resentful. also, bob toasts him over their dinner, raising a glass to celebrate him. through this scrooge is forced to reflect on the fact that he is supported and loved despite his behaviour. his nephew, fred, also insists on defending him – albeit that he playfully teases him in the group’s game – when he says that he insists inviting scrooge to dinner every year – “for i pity him.” again, the compassion and sympathy felt by others would have affected scrooge and softened him, melting his cold and bitter heart, rather than making him angry and isolated. finally, scrooge allows himself to become absorbed in society when he becomes tiny tim’s “second father.” this final statement shows clearly that scrooge is now a fully-fledged member of society, and even though he had no relationship with his own family, he has an adopted, extended family that he can be a part of., it’s also worth noting, that the first person scrooge feels compassion for is himself. in the school room, when he “wept” to see his “poor forgotten self” scrooge shows sympathy for his own plight. it could well be that his father – the father that fanny didn’t have to feel “afraid” of anymore – was the source of scrooge’s anger and resentment. in this respect, you could easily argue that scrooge was deserted by those who were closest to him and, in turn, deserted those around him; however, by the end, an extended family of society have proven that they care for scrooge and can forgive him, and in this way he learns to feel compassion again., a christmas carol and death, a churchyard. here, then; the wretched man whose name he had now to learn, lay underneath the ground. it was a worthy place. walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds, the growth of vegetation’s death, not life; choked up with too much burying; fat with repleted appetite. a worthy place, the spirit stood among the graves, and pointed down to one. he advanced towards it trembling. the phantom was exactly as it had been, but he dreaded that he saw new meaning in its solemn shape., “before i draw nearer to that stone to which you point,” said scrooge, “answer me one question. are these the shadows of the things that will be, or are they shadows of things that may be, only”, still the ghost pointed downward to the grave by which it stood., “men’s courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead,” said scrooge. “but if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. say it is thus with what you show me”, the spirit was immovable as ever., scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went; and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, ebenezer scrooge., the extract is from the end of stave 4 and explores scrooge’s final realisation of his fate as the ghost of christmas yet to come points to his grave. overall, death is a prevalent theme in the novella, one which haunts scrooge at every turn, enough to finally transform him for the better., at the beginning of the novel, scrooge’s encounter with the terrifying spectre of death, his old business partner jacob marley sows the early seeds of receptiveness to a new way of life. at first, scrooge refuses to believe that anything dead could return, joking ‘there’s more gravy than the grave about you’ however, the chilling horror of marley’s appearance ‘i wear the chains i forged in life’ –which are constructed of financial elements: purses, and sales ledgers, suggest an unhealthy obsession with money and the way one’s profession will manifest itself and weigh you down after death. also, the clear warning to scrooge ‘mankind was my business’ and the image he shows outside scrooge’s window of dead people desperately trying in vain to change their ways and reconcile themselves with their families, is a message that once one is dead, there is no opportunity for redemption and change. in this section, dickens draws on his knowledge of the gothic genre –churches, door knockers that turn into the face of marley, and marley’s stories from beyond the grave that to chill the victorian reader to the core. of course, they would also be only too aware of the potential of hell, something that dickens was sceptical of, but a huge proportion of his readership would have believed in., another aspect of death that strikes a chord with scrooge early in the novella is when the ghost of xmas past reveals the scene when his sister, fan came to take him home from the boarding school for christmas. this is clearly a treasured memory for scrooge and the reader learns of what a strong bond the two had. ‘fan, fan, dear fan’ and she reminds him ‘father has changed’. the ghost reminds scrooge of the fact she has died and has only one surviving relative, her son, fred. scrooge instantly feels guilty about how he treated fred at the beginning when he received his usual invite to xmas dinner. dickens conveys here how a memory of a death has a significant impact on scrooge’s gradual transformation into a more caring person., in the extract, the reader is presented with the final scene from the ghost of xmas future and scrooge’s terror reaches a dramatic peak. the setting is described as ‘a worthy place’ with this adjective from dickens’ narrator serving to identify the bleak spot as one which scrooge heartily deserves. pathetic fallacy is used to convey the place with lines like ‘overrun by grass and weeds –the growth of vegetation’s death’ indicating how the unwanted weeds, a clear metaphor for death, have destroyed any flowers, and made the location one that resembles the fate that potentially awaited scrooge: one where no-one would tend his grave. it is even ‘walled in by houses’ and at the start the reader learns ‘the furniture was not the same’ in his office. this suggests that in death, everything continues on as normal –someone will take scrooge’s place as a loan shark, and no-one will notice or visit his grave as it is hidden from view., the mood of this piece builds in dramatic tension as scrooge desperately implores the ghost to speak and to reassure him that ‘if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. say it is thus’ but the short sentence ‘the spirit was as immovable as ever’ conveys how dickens allies death with silence and that perhaps it is not god or anyone else who will change our life’s path, only by reaching within one’s self that a genuine transformation can occur., further evidence of scrooge’s doom laden panic as he faces up to the reality of his own death is found in the verb ‘trembling’ as he approaches his own grave, the question ‘am i the man who lay upon the bed’ and the repeated exclamations ‘no, spirit oh, no’ overall, it is an extract that encapsulates the horror of facing up to one’s death, and the added fear for scrooge that no-one will remember him. it is the final catalyst in making him change his ways., the cratchits, cratchits extract, intro / “happy, grateful pleased” vs scrooge at school “not afraid” // “shut out the darkness” vs fred welcoming scrooge // “in a glow” vs belle’s family // grave / as good as gold, charles dickens wrote a christmas carol during the victorian times, when the gap between rich and poor was very big. in the novel dickens shows that money is not as important as family when it comes to happiness. he was inspired partly because his father had been taken into debtors’ prison when he was younger, something that would have left dickens understanding just how much more important family was than money., the first paragraph of this extract deals with the cratchits, who are not wealthy – as shown by their “scanty” clothes – but are happy. dickens uses four key adjectives to describe them: “happy, grateful, pleased” and “contented.” these adjectives show that despite the fact that they didn’t have any of the things that victorian society would have valued, they are still capable of being happy in a range of different ways. this contrasts directly with scrooge’s younger years, where he was “forgotten” by his family and left in school. scrooge is rescued by his younger sister, fanny, who comes to tell him that he is welcomed back because their father doesn’t make her feel “afraid” anymore. this adjective gives us a suggestion that their father may have been abusive to them, and would go some way towards understanding why scrooge rejects family so firmly later in his life., despite fanny’s death – another desertion that would have affected scrooge – her spirit lives on through her son, scrooge’s nephew fred, who repeatedly invites scrooge to his house for christmas dinner. scrooge repeatedly refuses with his famous “bah humbug” line, but fred insists that he will keep inviting him for “i pity” him. the fact that fred pities scrooge for being rude, shows just how far family will go to remain loyal to each other. this idea is also shown in the extract, where the families prepare to close their curtains so they can “shut out the darkness.” in many ways, these curtains could be seen as metaphoric blinds that help keep families together; they keep out the outside and sometimes even blind each other to our failings in order that the family unit is kept happy., the second paragraph also describes some “handsome girls, all hooded and fur-booted” who enter a house “in a glow.” here, dickens makes the point that family is not just for poor people, but is something that unites us all (like the “trip to the grave” that fred mentions in a speech earlier in the book.) the fact that they are “in a glow” suggests that they aren’t just happy, but are actually glowing – a symbol of light that is used repeatedly through christmas carol. also, the preposition “in” suggests that they are within this glow, protected by it, in the same way that families protect us all. in one of the most heart-breaking scenes in the book, scrooge is taken to see his former girlfriend with her new family, a family that could have been his own, had scrooge not chosen worship his “golden idol” above her., in the end though, it is the lack of respect given to his death that really changes scrooge for the better. once he’s seen his own “neglected” grave, he understands the true cost of being alone and understands the reasons why tiny tim’s father calls him, proudly, “as good as gold – and better”.

In this extract, we see how the Cratchit family are happy despite their poverty. The novella was published in 1893 which was in the middle of the Industrial Revolution, so many people were moving into cities, leading them to become overcrowded and therefore poverty-stricken. This poverty is evident here in the quote ‘ the family display of glass’ which we then learn consists of ‘two tumblers’ and a ‘custard cup without a handle’. The word ‘display’ shows just how little they own, as they seem proud to showcase these small dilapidated objects off, as this is all they have. However, they seem content as such trivial matters don’t change how they feel towards each other. Dickens compares the cups to ‘golden goblets’ which to me suggests that the Cratchits feel enriched simply by each other’s company, which is worth more to them than anything materialistic.

Earlier in the same scene, we learn first how vibrant the scene is among this family when Dickens personifies even the potatoes, saying they were ‘knocking’ to get out of their pan, as if the joyous atmosphere was so desirable to be amongst that even inanimate objects wanted to be part of the festivities. In the extract, we are told that the chestnuts cracked ‘noisily’ which conveys the same ideas, building a feeling of community despite the poverty in the scene.

The Ghost of Christmas present first takes Scrooge to see the Cratchits Chirstmas, which makes him realise the importance of family at this time, then continues this theme of company by showing him other scenes brought to life by Christmas spirit. For example, when the ghost takes him to a lighthouse, the poor workers there are described as having ‘horny hands’. This suggests that they have struggled through great hardships and have suffered more in their life than Scrooge ever would, and yet their show of unison when they all sing together at Christmas let them disregard their struggles for a time. By comparing the Cratchits and these workers, Dickens shows how the poor could overcome their lack of materialistic value and settle for things of emotional value.

One member of the Cratchit family who strongly highlights the struggles of the poor is Tiny Tim. In this extract his hand is described as a ‘withered little hand’ suggesting it has prematurely withered like a flower with no light. As the word ‘withered’ has connotations of a flower, to me, this could perhaps be seen as a metaphor for how something beautiful has been hindered and killed by the tight fistedness of the rich in society which is something that Dickens was strongly trying to convey in this novella. Light is often a symbol of hope so this flower could be shrivelled due to a lack of light, which is the lack of generosity from the upper classes. Dickens may have untended ‘withered little’ as a juxtaposition, as we would normally associate ‘withered’ with age and ‘little’ with childhood. This contrast highlights how wrong it is that an innocent child should be so shunned by society due to his wealth and status, and this demonstrates Dickens’ frustration over the inequality.

Dickens uses a similar adjective to describe the hands of the children Ignorance and Want. The word ‘shrivelled’ is used here, which compares these children, who are also victims of the struggles of poverty [sic] to Tiny Tim. It creates a similar image of premature decay to highlight the neglect of lower classes in society. The boy in this scene represents Ignorance and the ghost of Christmas Present tells Scrooge to ‘most of all beware the boy’. This strongly conveys Dickens’ message about poverty and the poor, as he is trying to tell society that ignoring the struggles and problems of the poor will be their downfall .

This is demonstrated in Stave 4 when Tiny Tim dies, and the Cratchits say that when Bob had Tiny Tim on his shoulders he walked ‘very fast indeed’. When we have a weight on our shoulders, the phrases normally implies a burden and a worry. However here I think that Tiny Tim represents the burden that the rich think the poor put upon society. Here, Dickens could be saying that if we only realised the potential of the poor they may actually prove helpful and contribute to society, however they are seen only dead weight on the shoulders of society due to the ignorance of the rich.

A Christmas Carol and Family

Question: How does Dickens present family as important to society in A Christmas Carol?

Dicken’s presents family as incredibly important in his allegorical novella ‘A Christmas Carol’ as Dicken’s own father was put in prison when he was young, having a profound effect on him. Scrooge juxtaposes other characters as he rejects the possibility of his own family, we see joy in the Cratchitt’s (despite their poverty) and finally Fred’s kindness is also shown towards his family.

In Stave 2 Scrooge rejects his fiancée by not protesting that he will love her and care for her. Belle uses the metaphor “a golden idol has replaced me” when she “releases” Scrooge from his engagement to her. This suggests that money and wealth are infinitely more important to him than his own family. The Ghost of the Past is instrumental in showing Scrooge what could have been when Belle is described as a “comely Matro” by the omniscient narrator to suggest that she has aged well, is happy and content due to her family. Furthermore, she is “surrounded by children” which shows her large family and how this could have been Scrooge’s fate if he had not loved wealth as much. Family was comforting in the Victorian society as the Welfare State was not in existence meaning families has to look after their elderly relations or they would end up in workhouses (which was the worst fate for the poor). In Stave one Fred is also introduced to us as Scrooge’s nephew and also rejected by him with the repetition of “Good Afternoon” showing how dismissive Scrooge can be when there is no financial gain. Fred shows kindness and caring towards him, but he rejects his offer of “Christmas Dinner” and to “dine with us” suggesting Scrooge likes his isolation and lonely, money-filled life.

Throughout the extract the family is seen as paramount to the happiness of the Cratchitt family. Bob is crushed with disappointment when he thinks Martha is not coming for Christmas dinner suggesting love, tenderness and a family bond towards his child. The adjective in “sudden declension in his high spirits” shows how disappointed he is. Tiny Trim and his siblings are extremely caring towards each other when the younger one “spirit him off” so he can “hear the pudding sing” which seems a simple pleasure, but shows that the little things in life matter and that siblings kindness is important, especially as Tiny Tim is the “cripple” and represents Christian goodwill and charity. Perhaps, Dickens was showing the effects of poverty through the presentation of the symbolic Tiny Tim who encourages the people in church to see him as Christmas is about Jesus and he “made beggars walk and blind men see” showing that although Tiny Tim is crippled he is the heart of the family and represents the way people should be towards each other. Christianity is a recurring theme in the novella and Dicken’s may have been highlighting the juxtaposition in the teachings of the bible and the actions of the wealthy in Victorian London and how Christian values were often bent to suit the opinions and thoughts of the wealthy. Dicken’s appears to be criticising through the charitable and kind and loving Cratchitt’ s the way family is rejected by Scrooge, due to his avarice, while those with the least are celebrated and celebrating Christianity and Christian values. It is ironic that Scrooge covets money and wealth more than he covets family and humanity. Further focus on the love and happiness reflected in the Cratchitt household is the way they all join together and share in the chores “in high procession” is used by Dickens to reflect the joyful atmosphere that is created in the small household when the “goose” is brought in for carving. The enthusiasm with which the goose is met is contagious and all the Cratchitt household join in the celebration of the goose “one murmur of delight” describes vividly the whole family gasping in joy at the sight of the food they have for Christmas dinner, despite the clear evidence of poverty that abounds in the household. Mrs Cratchitt is “brave in ribbons” which metaphorically describes the way she has made do and mended her dress to make it appear more festive as a piece of ribbon would have been a relatively cheap way of dressing up, while a new dress would have been an unquestionable expense and out of reach for the family. Although, poor she shows pride in her appearance and wants to look her best for the festivities and not disappoint Bob, her loving husband. Family here is shown as important as they all collectively share in the hardship and even though they are poor they don’t complain or grumble, they just focus on making the best of their situation. Symbolically, the Cratchitt family are the antithesis of Scrooge and his cruel hearted rejection of his own family.

Earlier in the novella, when the Ghost of the Past took him to the boarding school, we see a glimpse of humanity and caring towards family when “Little Fan” arrives to “take him home”. He exclaims that she is “quite a woman” showing his admiration, love and affection for her and his sadness at the reminder that she “died a young woman” which implies that perhaps, like many women at the time, childbirth was too much for her and she died. Dickens doesn’t explicitly state that childbirth was the cause of her death but there is the implication that Fred, Scrooge’s nephew, is a painful reminder of his loving sister to Scrooge and this could be why Scrooge continues to harden his heart against Fred. Alternatively, his hardened nature and his inability to love could be a mechanism that he has used over the years as he became more and more isolated and less interested in sharing experiences with other people. Scrooge’s behaviour, therefore could indicate fear and an unwillingness to open himself up to loss again, as in Stave 2 it is incredibly evident that Scrooge does have a heart and is capable of love and Fan, his sister, has experienced this love and attention from Scrooge. Scrooge’s nephew Fred is also an excellent example of how family should stick together through all the pain and heartache life can throw at people. Fred arrives at the “counting-house” on a bleak, dark and foggy Christmas Eve in stave one with the pathetic fallacy reflecting the inner sadness and miserly nature of Scrooge. Fred is cheerful and welcoming towards his grumpy uncle, who rejects the offer of Christmas dinner and in Stave 3 we see Scrooge become the butt of the joke during a game of “Guess Who”. Scrooge watches amused and seems to ironically miss the fact that he is being compared to an animal of some sort “Uncle Sccccrooooogggeee” is used in the game, too much hilarity as an example that no-one can guess initially. Scrooge watches on with the Ghost of the Present wistfully and plays along with the games, even though he can’t be seen or heard by Fred and the other guests. Although, they are being slightly unkind and poking fun at Scrooge there is some clear evidence of affection for him, due to the fact that he is family. In this scene family is again seen to be normal, caring and loving and everyone is together, looking out for each other and enjoying each other’s company. Dickens presents Fred’s Christmas as a larger and more opulent affair than the Cratchitt’ s but the day seems to represent a wider sort of family gathering with friends and nieces invited to the festivities as well, suggesting that we are all part of the same human race and that there are more similarities between us than differences.

Towards the end of the novella Dickens introduces us to the idea that Scrooge has changed and has reflected on how family is important and why he should join in and become a part of the family, both the Cratchitt family and his own nephew Scrooge. At the end of the novella Tiny Tim utters the phrase that is synonymous with his good nature “God bless us everyone!” which summarises the change that overcame Scrooge. Tim lived because Scrooge changed and became a better man. Scrooge vowed after seeing the Ghost of the Future, the death of Tiny Tim and the death of himself that he would “live in the past, the present and the future” showing that he understood the importance of being a better person. His first act of kindness after this proclamation is to send a “Turkey to the Cratchitt family” which was a huge gesture and showed that he valued their family and really did not want to see Tiny Tim die, he asks the Ghost of the Future “Will Tiny Tim live?” and this rhetorical question reveals that he already knows the answer to this. Without Scrooge’s epiphany and change Tim will die, so Scrooge shows that he recognises how pivotal to happiness Tiny Tim is by sending the food to them. Due to the way family is presented throughout the novella it is obvious that Scrooge begins to understand that family keeps people together and makes them more humane. In the end Scrooge goes to Fred’s house and is invited in. He also becomes “like a second father” to Tiny Tim and shows that he understands the importance of being a better person and the role that having a family plays in this.

Evidently, Dickens felt that family was centrally important to the novella as he places the Cratchitt family in the heart of it. They are show to us in Stave 3 during the Ghost of the Present’s revelations to Scrooge and arguably the scene with the Cratchitt family helps to change Scrooge from being a unkind, miserly and covetous man to a more charitable, kind and loving man. The presentation of family was extremely important in showing Scrooge that he could be a much better man.

ANOTHER ONE

They were a boy and a girl. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate, too, in their humility. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out, and touched them with its freshest tints, a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds. Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked, and glared out menacing. No change, no degradation, no perversion of humanity, in any grade, through all the mysteries of wonderful creation, has monsters half so horrible and dread.

Scrooge started back, appalled. Having them shown to him in this way, he tried to say they were fine children, but the words choked themselves, rather than be parties to a lie of such enormous magnitude. "Spirit, are they yours?" Scrooge could say no more.

"They are Man's," said the Spirit, looking down upon them. "And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!" cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. "Slander those who tell it ye. Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse. And abide the end." "Have they no refuge or resource?" cried Scrooge. "Are there no prisons?" said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. "Are there no workhouses?"

In A Christmas Carol, Dickens continually returns the readers’ focus on the children in Victorian society. The recurring character and the famous child in the novella is “Tiny” Tim Cratchit who becomes a metonym for thousands of faceless proletariat children neglected by a ruthless self-serving capitalist society. However, the shocking introduction of the minor characters of Ignorance and Want allows Dickens to create a political diatribe against the greed, selfishness and neglect of working-class children. These children contrasted against the earlier childhood version of Scrooge, serve to expose the dichotomy between the poor and rich in a deeply unequal and uneven society.

In this passage, Ignorance and Want become a metaphorical paradigm of society’s abandonment of the poor and the consequence of their inability to take social responsibility for poverty. The children have a primarily allegorical purpose evidenced in the focus of their physical features. The boy and girl are old before their time as Dickens says their faces are absent of “graceful youth” and the neglect of their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing is emphasised in the image of their “pinched” and “twisted” features. These adjectives heighten the idea of their youth being robbed and their childhood destroyed by physical hardships particularly given “twisted” is synonymous with something that is misshapen and grotesque. Their faces are described as being the antithesis of childhood innocence as Dickens uses hyperbolic language and describes how “devils lurked” in their faces and “glared out menacingly”. The use of hellish imagery accentuates the impression that their existence has been made unbearable by poverty and in turn has tainted and corrupted their view of the world as well as wrecked their own goodness and innocence. The children’s hostility, distrust and hatred of the Christian society meant to protect them is manifested in the verb “glared”, which is emblematic of their disillusionment and discontent. Dickens uses animal imagery to describe the children as “wolfish” which bolsters the impression of working-class children’s metamorphosis from innocent creatures to starving and exploited children hardened by their suffering. The colour “yellow” is symptomatic of sickness and ill health and furthers the idea of their physical and mental decay within a laissez faire society (where no welfare state or support to lift working class children out of absolute poverty exists). The philosopher John Locke theorised man is born a blank slate and our nature is changed by nurture; this idea is evidenced in the way in which societal neglect changes the nature of the children. It is clear that Dickens subverts the image of childhood innocence and sharply juxtaposes Ignorance and Want’s damaged childhood to the wealthy Scrooge’s happier memories of his powerful education (in which his imagination came alive by his schooling), in order to create pathos for working class children and force his contemporary Victorian readers to examine their conscience, particularly their lack of support for the “ragged” poor and homeless children in society.

Dickens believed how a society treated its children, revealed their social mores. He makes it evident that society is to blame for the suffering and dehumanisation of working-class children especially as the spirits uses the short declarative “They are man’s” to indicate societal responsibility and its moral failing. The hypocrisy of a Christian society is exemplified in the way in which the ghost mocks Scrooge and repeats his infamous questions back to him: “Are there no prisons?” and “Are there no workhouses?” The callousness of society and its evasion of social responsibility to take care of the most vulnerable is emphasised in the repetition of the nouns “prison” and “workhouses” which reminds contemporary readers that they marginalised and disenfranchisedinnocent working-class children by socially excluding them and denying them a good quality of life.

Dickens more importantly uses the recurring character construct of Tiny Tim to dispel the damaging societal stereotype that the working class are deserving of their poverty. In Stave 3, Tiny Tim is romanticised by Dickens to symbolise the beauty and goodness of working-class children who deserve society’s love and charity. He is poor but shows immense courage and huge generosity of spirit. When Tiny Tim uses the biblical story of how Jesus helped the blind and poor, and hopes the bourgeoise remember the poor during Christmas, he becomes a symbol of Jesus and once again exposes the hypocrisy of a Christian society that claims to help the poor but instead neglects them. Though Tiny Tim is dying, he shows courage and endless love and devotion to his family, best demonstrated when he says “God bless us everyone” as he sits next to his dad. Tiny Tim does not ask for anything for himself, but he is the antithesis to Scrooge because he is altruistic and puts others before him. In an increasingly amoral Victorian society, Tiny Tim provides comforting moral guidance on how to live a good life. However, Tiny Tim becomes a symbol of the abandonment of working-class children as he is powerless to improve his situation and is shown to die, leaving his family “still” and destroyed by their grief. His death symbolises how the bourgeoise have the power to change his fate and that of thousands of other vulnerable children but fail to do so, leaving innocent families broken by the death of their babies. The focus on the grief of the family after Tiny Tim dies creates intense pathos and is deliberate as Dickens reminds his readers of their shocking contextual reality - that one in five children in Victorian society did not live to see their fifth birthday.

The fairy-tale reversal in Tiny Tim’s death in Stave 5 is a piercing reminder that a progressive and utopic society is possible, but only if the bourgeoisie (represented by Scrooge) learn to love its children and take social responsibility by improving their poverty-stricken situations and therefore preventing their needless deaths. In this stave, Scrooge becomes a “second father” to Tiny Tim. This lexical phrase is highly symbolic because while it literally shows Scrooge has become more responsible and compassionate, it is an important metaphorical reminder that working-class parents desperately need the support of society to help raise their children and provide a good quality of life for them. The lexical choice “Second” is synonymous here with something that is additional and surplus and so consequently is a strong reminder of the importance of a more responsible and engaged society that is not ignorant or myopic of working-class suffering and exploitation. To reinforce this idea, In Stave 3, Dickens briefly uses the childhood character of Martha Cratchit to remind his readers of the exploitation and premature growing up of Victorian children. In this stave the children are working in the kitchen and Martha arrives home late as she has been working. She is responsible for bringing the goose. She is embraced by her mother. The image of Mrs Cratchit embracing her working child reminds readers how adult breadwinners simply could not support their family and relied upon them sacrificing their childhood. There is no doubt that these moments have great verisimilitude for modern readers, particularly given how two thirds of children living in poverty in the UK have working parents, painfully reminding new readers how the exploitation of the poor is as real as ever.

Finally, the gaiety of Fred's family dinner, contrasted against the hardship of the merry but compromised Cratchit family, is a strong reminder of the terrible and tragic disparity between the lives of the working class and wealthy in society, a context greatly affecting the Cratchit children. To conclude Dickens uses the recurring characters of children to explore society’s lack of responsibility towards its children but also its power to change the fate of these children simply by showing greater compassion and ensuring social justice happens.

https://money.com/ebenezer-scrooge-defense-charles-dickens-christmas-carol/

A Christmas Carol

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Theme of Redemption in "A Christmas Carol"

Categories: A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens

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Model Grade 9 ‘ACC’ essay: Christmas as a Joyful Time

Starting with this extract, explore how far Dickens presents Christmas as a joyful time. (30 marks)

Throughout Dickens’ allegorical novella, his aim is to passionately highlight how such a joyful season can create positive role models for Scrooge. The constant succession of images relating to joy around Christmas may well have been utilised to demonstrate how readers too can learn and improve from the inspirational characters during the novella.

Primarily, within stave 1 of the novella, Dickens utilises the characterisation of Fred as the embodiment of the Christmas spirit with all the positive virtues associated with Christmas. This is evidenced when Fred is described as coming in ‘all in a glow’ with ‘his face ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled.’ Here the use of the noun ‘glow’ connotes light and warmth which is strongly linked to hope and purity. This highlights the contrast between Fred and his uncle Scrooge, who was described as ‘hard and sharp as flint.’ Structurally, introducing Fred immediately after Scrooge focuses the reader’s attention on the clear variation between the two and all of the positive qualities that Scrooge lacks. Furthermore, Fred highlights the belief that Christmas is a time for unity within the social hierarchy although it ‘never puts a scrap of gold or silver’ in his pocket and he frowns upon his uncle, completely consumed in the greed for money. Dickens may have done this to foreshadow Scrooge’s transformation into a better man as a result of the inspirational role models around him during the novella. Alternatively, Dickens may have used Fred and Scrooge together to challenge the situation in Victorian Britain during the Industrial Revolution. Scrooge highlights all of the negative traits of upper class men during this time and Fred is a caring and benevolent character, who cares for people lower down on the social hierarchy.

Secondly, within the extract, Dickens utilises the characterisation of Fezziwig to suggest a clear contrast in the two employers. This is evidenced when Fezziwig ‘laughed all over himself, from his shoes to his organ of benevolence.’ The use of the abstract noun ‘benevolence’ suggests the joy and love Fezziwig has for Christmas time. Fezziwig’s kind, caring personality is another role model and catalyst for Scrooge’s transformation. Furthermore, Dickens presents Christmas as a joyful time through Fezziwig’s Christmas party. ‘Fuel was heaped upon the fire’ and the warehouse was transformed into a ‘snug, and warm’ ballroom filled with light. The use of the adjective ‘warm’ connotes kindness and comfort. The detail here in Fezziwig’s scene overwhelms the senses; his generosity is physical, emotional and palpable. As an employer he is the foil of Scrooge and presents all of the positive virtues that Scrooge lacks. Dickens may have done this to highlight a different side to capitalism. Alternatively, presenting Fezziwig as the embodiment of Christmas suggests the importance of Christmas and all of its positive qualities on everyone in society.

Thirdly, within the novella, Dickens utilises the Ghost of Christmas Present to personify Christmas itself. When the ghost appears it has set up an impressive feast of lights and food. This is evidenced when Scrooge’s room is filled with ‘the crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there, and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney.’ The scene is hyperbolic and creates a clear contrast with the frugal state of Scrooge’s past Christmases. The use of the light imagery here provides a clear and undeniable tableau of the joyful Christmases Scrooge can afford but chooses to shun. Dickens may have done this to portray Christmas as a bright and familiar celebration which everyone should celebrate in harmony. A modern reader may feel hope that Scrooge will use his wealth to celebrate Christmas with all of the festivities that Christmas should include and celebrate it with the people that care for him, like his nephew Fred.

Finally, in ‘A Christmas Carol’ Dickens reinforces the theme of Christmas spirit through the Cratchit family. Dickens utilises Bob Cratchit to symbolise the true spirit of Christmas and the importance of family. This is evidenced at the Cratchit’s dinner where nobody remarked that it was ‘a small pudding for a large family’. The adjective ‘small’ emphasises the Cratchit’s lack of luxury and yet their enthusiasm in the scene is palpable. This highlights that this ‘small’ pudding was seen as an indulgence to them which is something Scrooge takes for granted. Furthermore, the Cratchit’s ‘four roomed house’ is filled with an overwhelming sense of energy and excitement, which exists as an antithesis of Scrooge’s ‘old…dreary’ abode. This is evidenced as the youngest Cratchit children ‘danced about the table’ this suggests the sense of energy despite their lowly status in society on this festive day. Dickens may have done this to suggest the importance of Christmas to all members of society. Although the Cratchit family are less fortunate than Scrooge or Fred their Christmas is filled with the love they have for each other. A reader may feel delighted to see this family enjoying Christmas day, contented with what they own and hope that Scrooge will see this family as a role model for his transformation.

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Secondary English teacher in Herts. View all posts by gcseenglishwithmisshuttlestone

Mr Salles Teaches English

A Christmas Carol Prediction AQA 2024

In 2024 I think the question will be about the effects of poverty (possibly including the Cratchits)

This essay is from my guide to essay writing on A Christmas Carol.

You can read it for free here: click .

The extract focuses on the suffering of the poor. Scrooge meets the wretched and miserable children with the Ghost of Christmas Present, who introduces them: “This boy is Ignorance”, “this girl is Want”. Scrooge’s reaction is revealing, he “tried to say they were fine children, but the words choked themselves, rather than be parties to a lie of such enormous magnitude” . Scrooge believes that the children represent greed, which is why he “choked”. He cannot support them, so “Scrooge could say no more”. Dickens, through the Ghost, wants to show Scrooge that the children are totally self-interested and obsessed with money, and so are just like him.

This reminds him of how he angrily refused to allow Bob Cratchit even one more lump of coal in Stave 1. We also remember his refusal to donate to the charity men, asking “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” This reveals injustice and greed in society . Instead, Scrooge had counted his wealth, coin by coin. This revealed the consequences of his refusal, where he stubbornly holds on to his wealth so that the poor continue to suffer.

In this extract Scrooge asks if the poor can be helped, “have they no refuge or resource?”. Consequently , the spirit mocks him by using Scrooge’s own words to ask “are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” Scrooge therefore regrets his sinful thoughts and actions.

Dickens also uses the “wolfish” children to represent Scrooge’s actions. Calling them “Ignorance” and “Want” shows Scrooge how his actions appear to others, as full of greed and misery. This causes Scrooge to regret his damaging behaviour.

The suffering of the poor is also presented elsewhere in the novel. In Stave 1, Scrooge walks his neighbourhood full of the poor and vulnerable who are happily celebrating Christmas. However , he rushes by angrily, ignoring their attempts at friendly conversation. Next, he denies his poor, loyal employee, Bob Cratchit, a day off for Christmas. Moreover, although he is wealthy, he pays Bob very little. This reveals his coldness and causes Bob’s life to be less full of happiness.

In addition, his nephew Fred interrupts Scrooge counting his money. He joyfully wishes Scrooge “Merry Christmas”, and invites his uncle to join him for a family Christmas. Despite Scrooge’s arrogant refusal, Fred keeps trying, asking “are you sure?” Scrooge reply is a harsh “Bah! Humbug!”, shouted as loudly as a storm. Then he repeats this. Although Fred responds fearfully with “I’m sure you don’t mean that”, Scrooge forces him to leave. Scrooge now realises that his anger and negativity have been damaging.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is a mysterious figure , a “silent shape” who has a black hand “painted on its head”. It makes Scrooge obey and follow it into a future filled with death. He discovers Tiny Tim will die from illness and sees the Cratchits crying mourning tears for him. In CONTRAST, no one grieves at Scrooge’s graveside. His lack of pity for the poor mean they return his lack of empathy and steal his clothes from his abandoned corpse.

The dominant THEMES of the novel are family and desire for power.

Original 612 words

Thesis Statement No Explanations 20 Quotes 15 1-3 word quotes 6 NAMED METHODS 2 Society/era/patriarchal/Victorian/contemporary/ Malthusian/ Poor Laws etc 1 Dickens 2 Exploratory Could*, Might*, May*, Perhaps*, Probably* 0 Conclusion No Paragraphs 8 Words per paragraph 77

My Comments

This student is earning marks through sheer effort.

The interpretation of ‘choked’ is hilarious. It is based on the student thinking that ‘want’ means greed, rather than poverty. So, the interpretation is completely and utterly wrong.

The examiner is generous about this – they don’t just ignore it, they pretend that it is actually a plausible interpretation because of the later interpretation of Ignorance and Want in paragraph 4. The idea that they are symbols of Scrooge’s own ignorance and desires is plausible – even though I think it is totally wrong – we still have to give it credit.

This shows you the advantage of linking symbolism to Dickens’ purpose.

Another skill the student has is to immediately jump from the extract to several other parts of the novel. They link these together well, which definitely shows a clear understanding.

You should also look at how the word ‘society’ forces the student to write about Dickens’ purpose, and this forces the examiner to give it good marks.

However, we get the sense that this student has no idea that this is what is earning the marks – the rest of the essay is just quote analysis and retelling the plot. There is no sense that Scrooge or any of the other characters are constructs, there to illustrate Dickens’ ideas.

So, this student has got the grade through sheer effort – writing loads, referring to different parts of the novel, one analysis of symbol, and one of society and Dickens’ social message.

Everyone can do that. Everyone should therefore be able to get at least grade 6.

Examiner Comments

The first 4 paragraphs show a clear grasp of Dickens’ ideas.

The student uses a range of references from the extract.

They relate all of these to Dickens’ purpose and ideas.

The answer focuses on a clear understanding of Dickens’ purpose in creating the children Ignorance and Want.

The answer deals with several moments from the novel, so it is a clear and purposeful response to the full task.

To improve, the student should avoid simply retelling the story or plot.

Instead, they should link everything to Dickens’ ideas and purpose.

Mr Salles Teaches English is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts which help you get top grades, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

You can read all my guides free for 30 days here.

This is what Tilf.io said:

The extract focuses on the suffering of the poor. Scrooge meets the wretched and miserable children with the Ghost of Christmas Present, who introduces them: “This boy is Ignorance”, “this girl is Want”. Scrooge’s reaction is revealing, he “tried to say they were fine children, but the words choked themselves, rather than be parties to a lie of such enormous magnitude”. Scrooge believes that the children represent greed, which is why he “choked”. He cannot support them, so “Scrooge could say no more”. Dickens, through the Ghost, wants to show Scrooge that the children are totally self-interested and obsessed with money, and so are just like him.

(This paragraph shows some understanding of the text, but there is a misinterpretation. The children 'Ignorance' and 'Want' are not meant to represent greed or self-interest; they symbolize the consequences of society's neglect of the poor. It's important to accurately reflect the symbolism Dickens uses to convey his attitudes towards the poor.)

This reminds him of how he angrily refused to allow Bob Cratchit even one more lump of coal in Stave 1. We also remember his refusal to donate to the charity men, asking “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” This reveals injustice and greed in society. Instead, Scrooge had counted his wealth, coin by coin. This revealed the consequences of his refusal, where he stubbornly holds on to his wealth so that the poor continue to suffer.

(You've made a good connection between Scrooge's actions and the broader societal attitudes towards the poor.

However, try to delve deeper into how Dickens uses these instances to critique the lack of compassion in society and the harsh realities of poverty.)

In this extract Scrooge asks if the poor can be helped, “have they no refuge or resource?”. Consequently, the spirit mocks him by using Scrooge’s own words to ask “are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” Scrooge therefore regrets his sinful thoughts and actions.

(You've correctly identified the irony in the Ghost's response to Scrooge's question.

To strengthen your analysis, consider discussing how Dickens uses this moment to highlight the inadequacy of societal institutions like prisons and workhouses in addressing the needs of the poor.)

(Again, there is a misunderstanding here. The 'wolfish' children are not a representation of Scrooge's actions but rather the dire consequences of societal neglect and the potential future if ignorance and want are not addressed. It's crucial to interpret these characters in the context of Dickens's social commentary.)

The suffering of the poor is also presented elsewhere in the novel. In Stave 1, Scrooge walks his neighbourhood full of the poor and vulnerable who are happily celebrating Christmas. However, he rushes by angrily, ignoring their attempts at friendly conversation. Next, he denies his poor, loyal employee, Bob Cratchit, a day off for Christmas. Moreover, although he is wealthy, he pays Bob very little. This reveals his coldness and causes Bob’s life to be less full of happiness.

(This paragraph effectively highlights Scrooge's indifference to the poor and his employee's plight.

To enhance your response, consider how Dickens uses these examples to criticize the lack of empathy and the social divide between the wealthy and the poor.)

(You've captured the contrast between Fred's warmth and Scrooge's coldness well.

To link this back to the question, discuss how Dickens uses the character of Fred to represent a more compassionate and inclusive attitude towards others, which is the antithesis of Scrooge's initial views.)

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is a mysterious figure, a “silent shape” who has a black hand “painted on its head”. It makes Scrooge obey and follow it into a future filled with death. He discovers Tiny Tim will die from illness and sees the Cratchits crying mourning tears for him. In CONTRAST, no one grieves at Scrooge’s graveside. His lack of pity for the poor mean they return his lack of empathy and steal his clothes from his abandoned corpse.

(This paragraph effectively contrasts the different reactions to death in the novel.

To further address the question, consider how Dickens uses these contrasting reactions to critique the social isolation that comes from a lack of compassion and charity towards the less fortunate.)

The dominant THEMES of the novel are family and desire for power.

(While family and the desire for power are indeed themes in the novel, for the purpose of this question, it's important to focus on how Dickens conveys attitudes to the poor.

Discuss how these themes relate to the treatment of the poor and the social responsibility of the wealthy.)

Overall feedback: Your response shows some understanding of the novel and its portrayal of the poor. However, there are several misinterpretations of key symbols and characters that need to be addressed. Ensure that your analysis aligns with Dickens's intentions and the social commentary he is making about the poor. Focus on how he uses characters and events to convey his attitudes towards poverty and societal responsibility.

What went well: You have identified key moments in the novel that relate to the suffering of the poor and have made some connections between Scrooge's actions and broader societal attitudes.

Even better if: To improve, ensure that your interpretations of the text are accurate and reflect the author's intended symbolism. Expand on how Dickens uses these instances to critique societal attitudes and the treatment of the poor. Additionally, make sure to consistently link your analysis back to the question, focusing on how Dickens conveys attitudes to the poor through the narrative and character interactions.

If you found Tilf.io helpful, why not try it for free. Get your exam practice essays marked.

This is from my Ultimate Guide to A Christmas Carol

How Does Dickens Want Us to Think About the Poor?

Although Dickens writes the novel as an entertainment, he wants the story of Scrooge’s moral awakening to “haunt” the reader, and so lead to a change in how his readers think about the poor.

Dickens shows his opposition to The Poor Laws, which created “workhouses” , by making Scrooge support them : “Are they still in operation?” . Scrooge also supports the criminalisation of the poor, “Are there no prisons?” and believes these are necessary to “decrease the surplus population” . Then Dickens creates Tiny Tim to show us what “the surplus population” looks like, and he uses Tiny Tim’s impending death to transform Scrooge’s view.

Scrooge’s words refer to Thomas Malthus’s economic theory and the cruelty of social policy. Because only male property holders could vote, Dickens targets his book at them, pricing it at an expensive five shillings, a third of the “fifteen shillings” a worker like Bob Cratchit earns. Dickens invites these readers, who would employ domestic servants, into the warmth of the Cratchits’ family Christmas, so that they too can understand the social effects of low wages.

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104 Christmas Essay Topics & Examples

Looking for Christmas topic ideas to write about? Being the most loved holiday in English-speaking countries, Christmas is definitely worth studying!

🔝 Top 10 Essay Titles
🏆 Best Essay Examples
📍 Good Topic Ideas
💡 Exciting Essay Topics

❓ Christmas Essay Questions

In your Christmas essay, you might want to discuss the most controversial traditions connected to the holiday, describe a Christmas decoration that you consider the most beautiful, or write a narrative about an impressive Christmas sermon you once visited. Here we’ve gathered good & funny Christmas essay titles and added some Christmas essay examples to inspire you even more.

🔝 Top 10 Christmas Essay Titles

Christmas: etymology of the word
History of Christmas
My favorite Christmas tradition
Christmas in non-Christian areas
Traditional Christmas decorations
Celebrating Christmas in different countries: compare & contrast
Nativity play as a part of Christmas celebration
Most popular Christmas songs
My favorite Christmas food
Different dates of Christmas all over the world

🏆 Best Christmas Essay Examples

Christian Festivals: Calendar and Events Jesus is often referred to as the light of the world and therefore the lit candles are symbolic of him as the light of the world.
Christmas and Easter: Two Contrasting Holidays Thus the current commercialization of the two holidays in order to make it more open as a celebration to people across the board.
Anthropology. Eating Christmas in the Kalahari by Lee The story highlights the attitude of the particular national society of Bushmen to the arrogance and social inequality in the modern world.
“Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens Literary Analysis The lead character in the story is Ebenezer Scrooge; the ghosts that led Scrooge to repentance and redemption include the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Yet to Come.
A Christmas Carol by Dickens It starts with a summary of the plot, then examines the main characters and the themes and concludes with the personal opinion on the novella.
A Christmas Carol of Dickens: Never Too Late for a Change of Heart Then, the second Ghost of the Christmas Present guides Scrooge to the houses of both Fred and Bob. Finally, the Ghost of the Christmas future shows Scrooge the flashforward of the next Christmas.
Economic Aspects in “A Christmas Carol” Movie The movie ‘A Christmas Carol’ depicts how it is critical for one to play a part in the production of goods and services.
“How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Theodor Geisel It is important to note that the book is a story about the conflict between introversion and extroversion that results in the victory of extroverted people who are the basis of the human society.
The Analysis of Christmas as a Cultural Context of Consumption One of the countries in which the customs of the original winter holidays were incredibly diligently combined with the Christian holiday was Germany.
Performance of Retail Businesses in Christmas Season The dissertation undertakes a study that compares the sales/ marketing strategies and the performance of the retail businesses during the Christmas season in UK.
Christmas Celebration in New York City I was mesmerized with the arrangements and the atmosphere of the city which was full with a colorful holiday spirit as everyone enjoyed the celebrations to their fullest.
Applying Models to Recent Christmas Ad Campaigns It was differentiated from other companies with the presence of the best sportswear companies and the choice of activities with a number of acrobatic tricks and effective moves.
Christmas Celebrations in Spanish Culture The Virgin Mary is Spain’s patron saint and this is the reason behind the Christmas officially beginning in the 8th of December with the Immaculate Conception feast.
Views About Christmas Time Review Ted Byfield and Almas Zakiuddin share their thoughts about the celebration of Christmas and how people change during that time of year.
Christmas Tree Trimming Project Analysis In project management, it is important to accurately evaluate the budget earned on different steps of work proceeding to analyze the schedule variance and the stage of the project completion.
Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas” However, the choice of black cats in animation is a common experience with Tim in his shows and ‘Nightmare before Christmas’ is no exception.
“The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” Play: Actors Game The desire of the actors to present this play to the public is probably connected not only with the necessity to do their work but also to convey more intimate information to the audience.
The Play “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” The purpose of this production is to deepen the understanding of the story and its themes. The diversity of characters, an interesting and unusual plot, and the variety of settings are factors that contributed to […]
“Christmas in August” a Movie by Hur Jin-Ho However, the heavy-handed emotional and dramatic elements in the genre create a sort of stereotype around the films and the expectations that the audiences have.
“The Nightmare Before Christmas” by Tim Burton The main character is the leader of the place where he lives, and he is bored with the regular way of celebrating Halloween.
Vino Veritas Online Wine Shop’s Pre-Christmas Plan Understanding the external environment of Vino Veritas will make it possible to understand the forces that this firm has to deal within the market.
Salford Christmas Land Project and Event Management The major theme of the Christmas event will be diversity, which is a topical question in the city council as well as the community.
Christmas Balls Making in the Art Classes In anticipation of the holidays, it is expected that the students will be eager to create objects related to Christmas, and this eagerness will serve as the activator of the motivated behavior that will enhance […]
Hunting a Christmas Tree by Barbara Dean This story is an amazing combination of natural beauty, human pretentiousness, and despair that may spoil even the most beautiful events in a human life like Christmas.”Hunting a Christmas Tree” is Dean’s personal position on […]
The Concept of Celebrating Christmas in Kalahari This way of living was different from what the narrator was accustomed to because he rarely shared his food supplies with members of the community.
Impact of Technology on the Way People Celebrate Christmas Christmas in those parts of the world that celebrate it, represent a time when families and acquaintances remember one another, meet and celebrate the birth of Christ and the approaching end of a year.
Mechanical Solidarity in Eating Christmas in the Kalahari When discussing the concerned subject matter, I will promote the idea that it is precisely the primitive people’s endowment with the sense of a mechanical solidarity, which allows them to maintain the integrity of their […]
A Manmade Christmas Tree The lines used by the artist are obscure, but the shape of the work of art resembles a conventional form of a Christmas tree.
Washington Cathedral Classical Music Christmas Concert The pieces were performed beautifully; actually, I got a sense of satisfaction and deep rumination of the Christmas season because of the expressive execution of the pieces by the band and the choir.
Chicken Run and The Nightmare Before Christmas As a result of the escape, Ginger is kept in a secluded place and the only option left for the poor bird is to fly over the fence.
Thanksgiving vs. Christmas There are a variety of ways to understand the importance of these two but the best way perhaps is to see it from the eyes of a child.

📍 Good Christmas Topic Ideas

The Origin of Christmas Celebrations in Christianity
Character Analysis Of Scrooge In A Christmas Carol
The Character of The Grinch in the Movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The Personality of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol
Origin Of Christmas Traditions
The True Meaning of the Christmas Celebration
The Effective Advertising and Marketing Methods of Coca-Cola During the Christmas Season
A History of the Origins of Christmas Lights
Moravian Food and Christmas Cookies
Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas
A Christmas Carol: Difference Between Muppets and Original
The Significance of Santa Clause in Christmas History and Culture
The People, Events, and Christmas in the Victorian Era
The Three Spirits in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

💡 Exciting Christmas Essay Topics

A Childhood Belief on the Spirit of Christmas and Its Celebration
A Characteristic Of Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ Novel A Christmas Carol
The Spirit of Christmas in Family Gatherings, Radio, Movie, and the Climate
A Description of Christmas as a Christian Holiday That Celebrates the Birth of Jesus Christ
The Commercialization of Christmas
Ebenezer Scrooge’s Emotional State in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
The Popularity of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Comparison of the Differences in the Author’s View of Ethics in A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and The Moonstone by
Wilkie Collins
The Comprehensibility of Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’
The Amazing Transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol
There Is Something Undeniably Special about Christmas
Celebrating Christmas in 18th Century England and China Today
Seasonal Altruism: How Christmas Shapes Unsolicited Charitable Giving
A Criticism of the Victorian Era in a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Consumer Behavior At Christmas Of Portsmouth : Food
The Importance of Christmas Celebration
Christmas Tree and Vegetarian Option
The Evolution Of Communication At Christmas
Has Christmas Become Too Commercialized?
What Was Christmas Originally Called?
What Effect Does All the Christmas Media Promotion Have?
How Do Nigerians Celebrate Christmas?
Should Christians Celebrate Christmas and Easter?
How Did Religion and Secular Practices Become Part of Christmas?
What Is the Effect That Christmas Has on Society?
Has the Meaning of Christmas Changed Over Time?
What Would Jesus Think of Christmas Today?
Why Is Christmas Celebrated on December 25?
When Was the First-Ever Christmas Celebration in the World?
What Are the Other Names for Christmas?
When Was Christmas Established as a Federal Holiday in the USA?
Should Schools Allow Students to Have Christmas Parties?
What Is the True Meaning of Santa Claus?
Can There Be Christmas Without Santa Claus?
What Is the Origin of Christmas?
How Is “Old Christmas” Celebrated?
Why Is Christmas Celebrated?
Who Celebrates Christmas First?
What Symbolizes Christmas?
Why Does Santa Wear Red?
What Is the Main Message of Christmas?
Who Named Christmas?
What Do Christmas Colors Mean?
Where Did Christmas Trees Come From?
What Is the Joy of Christmas?
Who Invented Christmas Lights?
What Does Word Christmas Mean?
Why Do We Say Merry Christmas?
Belief Questions
Dreaming Essay Titles
Church Paper Topics
Festival Essay Ideas
History Topics
Family Titles
Thanksgiving Research Ideas
Cultural Relativism Questions
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

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A Christmas Carol

Part of English Literature

Plot summary - AQA

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, an old man who transforms his miserly ways after four ghostly visits one Christmas Eve.

Plot summary quiz

Revise and learn about the plot of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens with this activity.

Characters - AQA

Three ghosts take Scrooge through Christmases past, present and future. Characters Bob Cratchit, his son Tiny Tim, and Scrooge’s nephew Fred, all influence Scrooge in his journey of transformation.

Characters activity

Revise and learn about the characters of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens with this activity.

Themes - AQA

The main ideas in a text are called themes. In A Christmas Carol these include Christmas, redemption and social injustice. Dickens also deals with the themes of family and forgiveness.

Themes quiz

Revise and learn about the themes of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens with this activity.

Form, structure and language - AQA

Dickens uses vivid language, elements of classic ghost stories and a clear five-part structure to present this Christmas story.

Form, structure and language quiz

Revise and learn about the form, structure and language of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens with this activity.

Sample exam question - AQA

The following question will help you prepare essays and practice for exams. Try re-writing each example in your own words, making improvements as you go.

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A Christmas Carol Model 2024

Subject: English

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Last updated

17 May 2024

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2024 A Christmas Carol model answer on the lessons Scrooge learns about life - this model essay or answer is designed to hit the requirements for Grade 9 for AQA English Literature Paper 1. Includes an answer that weaves together language and structure analysis, context and detailed and perceptive insights into Victorian society, how the lessons Scrooge learns are presented, and Scrooge’s growing awareness of social injustice is in turn used by Dickens to communicate messages on social transformation.

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A Christmas Carol Revision

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A Christmas Carol Essays
A Detailed Look at The Role of Emotions in "A Christmas Carol". Essay grade: Good. 2 pages / 983 words. Hook Examples for "A Christmas Carol" Essay A Dickensian Journey into the Heart: Step into the enchanting world of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," where emotions run deep.
A Christmas Carol Essay Topics
A Christmas Carol. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
A Christmas Carol: Themes, Redemption, and Dickens's Craft
Themes of the Novel. One of the central themes of A Christmas Carol is the importance of compassion and generosity. Throughout the novel, Dickens emphasizes the value of kindness and empathy, highlighting the transformative power of these virtues. The character of Scrooge serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating the consequences of selfishness ...
A Christmas Carol Critical Essays
Analysis. In A Christmas Carol, an allegory of spiritual values versus material ones, Charles Dickens shows Scrooge having to learn the lesson of the spirit of Christmas, facing the reality of his ...
AQA English Revision
The Essay. During the opening of the novel, and in the extract, Scrooge is presented as a "tight-fisted hand at the grindstone." ... Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol during the Victorian times, when the gap between rich and poor was very big. In the novel Dickens shows that money is not as important as family when it comes to ...
A Christmas Carol by Dickens
The Ghost of Christmas Present is a joyful and vibrant character, wearing a green robe and symbolizing joy and happiness. The third Ghost is the most fearsome one; he wears a black cloak and remains silent during their journey. Although the ghosts have distinct personalities, their common characteristic is their role as the messengers.
How to Write a Perfect A Christmas Carol Essay
How Do I Start My A Christmas Carol Essay? Writing a whole essay in 50 minutes is a considerable challenge, so this advice may sound strange, but instead of putting pen to paper, don't start your essay yet. Spend at least 10 minutes making an essay plan. The number one most effective way to get the highest marks is to plan your essay first.
A Christmas Carol Themes
A Christmas Carol was published as a Christmas story, and takes the form of a Christian morality tale containing a moral lesson that the highly religious and traditional English population of Dickens' time would enjoy. Its structure, with five "staves" instead of chapters, is a metaphor for a simple song, with a beginning, middle and end.. Dickens uses the idea of singing to connect the ...
A Christmas Carol Essays and Criticism
In a word, humour, in a book, makes you good-humoured. But A Christmas Carol does not give me content, and it does not make me good-humoured; I'm afraid it only irritates me. I have the queerest ...
A Christmas Carol
10 essay samples found. A Christmas Carol is a novella by Charles Dickens that explores themes of redemption, the consequences of greed, and the importance of social compassion through the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. Essays on this novella might delve into Dickens' critique of social disparities, the character development of Scrooge, or the ...
Guide on Writing 'A Christmas Carol' Essay
'A Christmas Carol' essay creative topics A potent element in writing an essay is choosing a new and creative topic. When writing an essay "A Christmas Carol" which is enormously well-known and widely written about, this might be difficult. We have prepared some new, unique, and innovative "A Christmas Carol" essay topics to consider.
A Christmas Carol: Themes (Edexcel GCSE English Literature)
Family and Relationships. Dickens explores many ideas relating to family and relationships within A Christmas Carol. Dickens presents this concept in very positive terms through many characters, for example, the Cratchits and Fred, and emphasises the fundamental importance of family to people's lives. Knowledge and evidence: Marley and ...
A Christmas Carol Topics for Discussion
Topics for Discussion. 1. To what extent is Scrooge a comic character? What makes him funny? 2. Is Tiny Tim an effective character in this story? Would he be believable outside of the world ...
Theme of Redemption in "A Christmas Carol"
Published: Sep 7, 2023. Redemption is a central theme in Charles Dickens' beloved novella, "A Christmas Carol." The story follows the transformative journey of the protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, from a miserly and heartless individual to a compassionate and benevolent man. This essay delves into the significance of redemption in the narrative ...
A Christmas Carol
Paper 1 is worth 64 marks and accounts for 40% of your overall GCSE grade. Your essay is worth 30 marks in total. Section B of Paper 1 contains the question and you are required to answer the one available question on the novella. Your question will also include a printed extract of about 35 lines from the novella.
Model Grade 9 'ACC' essay: Christmas as a Joyful Time
Furthermore, Dickens presents Christmas as a joyful time through Fezziwig's Christmas party. 'Fuel was heaped upon the fire' and the warehouse was transformed into a 'snug, and warm' ballroom filled with light. The use of the adjective 'warm' connotes kindness and comfort. The detail here in Fezziwig's scene overwhelms the ...
A CHRISTMAS CAROL ESSAY PLANS Flashcards
Essay plan- supernatural in Christmas carol. 5 terms. avainB2. Preview. A CHRISTMAS CAROL FAMILY QUOTES. 14 terms. cosmias. Preview. A Posteriori Arguments for God. 27 terms. mamagamer043. Preview. Handmaids Tale and Frankenstein Theme Comparisons. 18 terms. ... Topic 1 - The Role of Education. 34 terms. BenNicholls023. Preview. Ideology Media ...
A Christmas Carol Prediction AQA 2024
In 2024 I think the question will be about the effects of poverty (possibly including the Cratchits) This essay is from my guide to essay writing on A Christmas Carol. You can read it for free here: click. 19 marks The extract focuses on the suffering of the poor. Scrooge meets the wretched and miserable children with the Ghost of Christmas Present, who introduces them:
104 Christmas Essay Topics & Examples
A Christmas Carol of Dickens: Never Too Late for a Change of Heart. Then, the second Ghost of the Christmas Present guides Scrooge to the houses of both Fred and Bob. Finally, the Ghost of the Christmas future shows Scrooge the flashforward of the next Christmas. Christmas Celebration in New York City.
A Christmas Carol
The main ideas in a text are called themes. In A Christmas Carol these include Christmas, redemption and social injustice. ... The following question will help you prepare essays and practice for ...
A Christmas Carol Model 2024
png, 256.98 KB. zip, 16.52 KB. 2024 A Christmas Carol model answer on the lessons Scrooge learns about life - this model essay or answer is designed to hit the requirements for Grade 9 for AQA English Literature Paper 1. Includes an answer that weaves together language and structure analysis, context and detailed and perceptive insights into ...
What are some introductory sentences for an essay on A Christmas Carol
For example, you could begin any essay on this text with the following sentence: Since its publication in 1843, A Christmas Carol is a text that has captured the essence of Christmas like no other ...

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A Christmas Carol Prediction AQA 2024

In 2024 I think the question will be about the effects of poverty (possibly including the Cratchits)

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How Does Dickens Want Us to Think About the Poor?

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104 Christmas Essay Topics & Examples

❓ Christmas Essay Questions

🔝 Top 10 Christmas Essay Titles

🏆 Best Christmas Essay Examples

📍 Good Christmas Topic Ideas

💡 Exciting Christmas Essay Topics

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol Model 2024

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A Christmas Carol Revision

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