context

• In what year was A Christmas Carol written?

  1843
• What major event was occurring in Britain during the time A Christmas Carol was written?

  The Industrial Revolution
• What were some of the consequences of the Industrial Revolution in London?

  Overcrowding, disease, and crime
• Where was Charles Dickens born?

  In a coastal region of Kent
• What financial issues did Dickens's father face?

  He was financially irresponsible and accumulated huge debts
• At what age did Dickens's family move to Camden in London?

  9 years old
• What happened to Dickens's father in 1824?

  He was arrested and sent to debtors' prison
• How did Dickens support himself after his father was imprisoned?

  He worked 10 hours a day with other child laborers
• What was Dickens's weekly wage while working in the shoe blacking warehouse?

  Six shillings
• What lasting effect did the treatment of workers have on Dickens?

  It influenced his writing about vulnerable children
• How does the theme of family manifest in A Christmas Carol?

  It shows the effect of loneliness on the spirit
• How many children did Dickens have?

  Ten children
• What was the purpose of the new Poor Law introduced in 1834?

  To ensure the poor were housed, clothed, and fed
• What was the public perception of the new Poor Law?

  Some welcomed it, while others opposed it
• What did Richard Osler call the workhouses?

  Prisons for the poor
• What were the conditions like inside the workhouses?

  Deliberately harsh to discourage those not in need
• How did the threat of the workhouse affect workers?

  It allowed bosses to treat workers inhumanely
• How does Scrooge represent unscrupulous bosses in A Christmas Carol?

  He threatens Cratchit with losing his job for speaking
• What percentage of England's population was living in poverty at the time of A Christmas Carol's publication?

  About 25 percent
• Who was Thomas Malthus?

  An English economist
• What is the Malthusian trap?

  Population growth leads to more poverty after temporary improvements
• How does Scrooge's attitude reflect Malthusian beliefs?

  He dismisses charity and suggests the poor should die to reduce population
• How did the rich live in contrast to the poor during Dickens's time?

  They lived in opulent mansions and hired servants
• What was Scrooge's lifestyle like?

  He was frugal and tight-fisted, eating gruel on Christmas Eve
• What food did Scrooge eat on Christmas Eve?

  Gruel
• What holiday traditions were emerging in 1843?

  Christmas cards and decorations began to appear
• Who was featured in a holiday picture published in 1848?

  Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
• How was Christmas changing during Dickens's time?

  It was transitioning from a quiet religious holiday to a community celebration
• What Christmas tradition did Dickens honor?

  Telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve
• What does Marley represent in A Christmas Carol?

  A soul trapped in purgatory due to past sins
• What message is Dickens conveying by combining pagan and Christian beliefs?

  He challenges Victorian behavior and culture to instill a more humane way forward
• What does Marley warn Scrooge about his fate?

  He will face incessant torture of remorse if he doesn't change
• What is the overall challenge Dickens presents to mankind in A Christmas Carol?

  To change its ways for a more humane future
• What are the key themes in A Christmas Carol?

  • The importance of family
  • The effects of loneliness
  • The critique of social injustice
  • The transformation of character
• What are the social conditions depicted in A Christmas Carol?

  • Poverty and its impact on families
  • The harsh realities of workhouses
  • The disparity between the rich and poor
  • Child labor and exploitation
• What role does Christmas play in A Christmas Carol?

  • A time for reflection and change
  • A community celebration
  • A contrast to Scrooge's initial isolation
  • A catalyst for character transformation
• What significant law was introduced in 1834?

  The 1834 Poor Law was introduced.
• How were the conditions in the workhouses described?

  They were horrendous, grueling hubs of squalor with dangerous conditions.
• How many people died in the workhouses between 1846 and 1851?

  250,000 people died in the workhouses during that period.
• What does Scrooge's ignorance about the workhouses represent?

  It represents the ignorance of the Victorian upper class regarding poverty.