Context

• When was Charles Dickens born?

  7th February 1812
• When did Charles Dickens die?

  8th June 1870
• What is Dickens credited with in literature?

  Being one of the greatest Victorian writers
• In what year did Dickens write 'A Christmas Carol'?

  1843
• What was Dickens' initial career before becoming a novelist?

  He was a journalist
• How did Dickens' journalism influence his writing?

  It made him more socially aware
• What social issue does 'A Christmas Carol' explore?

  Poverty within society
• How is 'A Christmas Carol' related to Dickens' life experiences?

  It reflects his social consciousness
• What type of family was Dickens born into?

  Middle-class family
• What happened to Dickens' father that affected his education?

  He was put in debtors' prison
• How does Dickens' family background influence his portrayal of the Cratchit family?

  His own home life inspired their depiction
• What was Dickens' experience at Warren's Blacking Factory?

  He endured appalling working conditions
• How did Dickens' factory experience shape his views?

  It gave him a firsthand view of poverty
• What does Scrooge's childhood reveal about his character?

  It shows how his experiences shaped him
• How is Scrooge portrayed during his childhood?

  As a lonely boy reading by a fire
• What are the impacts of Dickens' journalism on 'A Christmas Carol'?

  • Highlights social issues
  • Makes the novella accessible to the public
  • Reflects Dickens' beliefs on society
• Who is Fanny in relation to Dickens?

  His sister
• What does Fanny symbolize in 'A Christmas Carol'?

  Goodness
• Who is Tiny Tim in relation to Dickens' life?

  His sister's crippled son
• What role does Tiny Tim play in Scrooge's character development?

  He helps Scrooge discover empathy
• How does Dickens view education in 'A Christmas Carol'?

  As a recurring theme linked to Ignorance
• What does Dickens criticize about workhouses in 'A Christmas Carol'?

  They are harsh and unforgiving
• When did the Industrial Revolution occur?

  18th-19th century
• What was a major consequence of the Industrial Revolution?

  Migration from countryside to cities
• How did the Industrial Revolution affect production methods?

  Shifted from agriculture to machines
• What impact did the Industrial Revolution have on the textile industry?

  Moved production to large factories
• How did the Industrial Revolution affect the working class?

  Reduced demand for workers
• How does Dickens portray the inequalities of the Industrial Revolution?

  Through the struggles of the Cratchits
• What societal impacts did the Industrial Revolution have?

  • Overpopulation in cities
  • Formation of slums
  • Spread of diseases
  • Exploitation of child labor
• How does Scrooge refer to the working class?

  As the "surplus population"
• What does Dickens suggest about society's response to poverty?

  It needs collective action to address it
• What was 'The New Poor Law' introduced in 1834?

  Required poor to go to workhouses
• How does Scrooge react to the mention of workhouses?

  He expresses happiness about their existence
• What is a common belief about charity during Dickens' time?

  It could worsen poverty by rewarding behavior
• What did Thomas Malthus believe about poverty?

  It was a natural result of population growth
• How does Dickens use Scrooge's character to reflect societal attitudes?

  He embodies the apathy of the rich
• What does Scrooge's hyperbolic speech reveal about his character?

  His ignorance and disdain for others
• How does Dickens aim to affect contemporary readers with Scrooge's character?

  By making them question their own ignorance
• What are the main themes related to poverty in 'A Christmas Carol'?

  • The impact of poverty on society
  • The need for collective action
  • The role of charity and workhouses
  • The consequences of ignorance
• What does Scrooge express happiness about in the novella?

  Prisons and union workhouses in full vigor