A CHRISTMAS CAROL

• LB GRAPES: CONTEXT

  L=LITERARY CONTEXT

  B=BIOGRAPHICAL CONTEXT

  G=GEOGRAPHICAL

  R=RELIGION

  A=AUDIENCE RESPONSE

  P=POLITICAL VIEW

  E=ERA

  S=SOCIAL CONTEXT
• L=LITERARY CONTEXT>

  • GOTHIC Novella, follows popular gothic traditions. - using supernatural/ghosts/setting.
  • traditions of romanticism- longing for simpler times
  • books made for social reform/ referencing other literature.(Hamlet/Arabian Nights)
• B=BIOGRAPHICAL

  • Dickens was the eldest son which meant he had alot of responsibility- came from a poor family.
  • he had a sister called 'francis/franny' which is based on scrooge's little sister "fan" (possibly)
  • his dad went to prison and at 12 yrs old dickens was sent to work.

  overall, he has sympathy 4 the poor and knows of child labour.
• g=geographical>

  • set in Victorian London- overpopulated and full of factories/influx of the poor.
  • bad 4 environment
  • London was known for the "Fog"- Motif of blindness
• r=Religion>

  • traditions: celebrating family at Christmas/ decorating trees/ crackers/ being giving.
  • Christian morality taught: Giving, Forgiving, Repentance, Atonement
  • scrooge adopting Christian values
• A=AUDIENCE RESPONSE>

  • Incredibly popular book
  • a story everybody knows
  • sold 6000 copies in the 1st week after publishing.
• P=POLITICAL VIEW>

  • POOR LAW> sent poor to workhouses which held bad treatment of poor and split their families up (essentially like prison)

  this poor law only benefitted the rich.

  • MALTHUSIAN VIEW> "surplus population" interpretated wrong- poor education=misery=self-fulfilling prophecy
  • Dickens fought 4 SOCIAL REFORM.
• E=ERA> (LINKS W SOCIAL CONTEXT)

  • 19th century - Victorian period > Industrial Revolution & exploitation of the poor, women and children.
  • queen Victoria's reign
• S=SOCIAL CONTEXT (OVERLAPS W ERA)

  • Even though there's a queen - Patriarchal society.
  • dickens challenged Gender stereotypes.
  • Dickens criticised Capitalism growth & physiognomy

  (physiognomy means how you looked, portrayed your character/personality)