context

Cards (47)

  • Who is the author of "A Christmas Carol"?
    Charles Dickens
  • What year was "A Christmas Carol" published?
    1843
  • What era was "A Christmas Carol" written in?
    Victorian era
  • What major event caused many to move to cities during Dickens' time?
    Industrial Revolution
  • What issues did London face during the Victorian era?
    Overcrowding, disease, and crime
  • Where was Charles Dickens born?
    Kent
  • What financial issues did Dickens' father face?
    He was financially irresponsible and accumulated debts
  • How did Dickens' family situation change when he was 9?
    They moved to Camden due to financial instability
  • What happened to Dickens' father in 1824?
    He was arrested and sent to prison
  • What job did Dickens have at age 12?
    He worked in a shoe blacking warehouse
  • How much did Dickens earn weekly at his job?
    Six shillings
  • What impact did Dickens' childhood experiences have on his writing?
    He wrote about the treatment of vulnerable children
  • What theme is constant in "A Christmas Carol"?
    Family and the effect of loneliness
  • How many children did Dickens have?
    Ten children
  • What was the new poor law introduced in 1834?
    It ensured the poor were housed in workhouses
  • What was the purpose of workhouses according to some Victorians?
    To reduce the cost of looking after the poor
  • What was the public's reaction to the new poor law?
    Some welcomed it, others opposed it
  • What were conditions like inside workhouses?
    Deliberately harsh to deter the non-desperate
  • What was a common job for children in workhouses?
    Picking oakum or breaking stones
  • What threat did the workhouse represent to workers?
    Unemployment, sickness, or old age could lead there
  • How does Scrooge represent unscrupulous bosses?
    He threatens Cratchit for agreeing with his nephew
  • What percentage of England's population lived in poverty at the time of "A Christmas Carol"?
    About 25 percent
  • Who was Thomas Malthus?
    An economist who wrote about population and poverty
  • What is the Malthusian trap?
    Population growth leads to more poverty
  • How does Scrooge respond to charity requests?
    He turns them away, citing prisons and workhouses
  • What lifestyle does Scrooge lead?
    Frugal and tight-fisted, eating gruel
  • What was the significance of Christmas in the 1840s?
    Transitioning from a religious holiday to a community celebration
  • What Christmas tradition did Dickens honor?
    Telling ghost stories on Christmas Eve
  • What does Marley represent in the story?
    A spirit trapped in purgatory for past sins
  • What challenge does Dickens present to mankind?
    To change its ways for a humane future
  • What are the key themes in "A Christmas Carol"?
    • Family and loneliness
    • The treatment of the poor
    • The importance of charity
    • Transformation and redemption
  • How does Dickens use his personal experiences in his writing?
    • Reflects on childhood hardships
    • Critiques social injustices
    • Highlights the importance of family
    • Advocates for the vulnerable
  • What are the societal conditions depicted in "A Christmas Carol"?
    • Poverty and class disparity
    • Harsh conditions in workhouses
    • Child labor exploitation
    • The contrast between rich and poor
  • What role does Christmas play in the narrative of "A Christmas Carol"?
    • Represents community and togetherness
    • Symbolizes transformation and hope
    • Highlights the spirit of giving
    • Reflects on personal redemption
  • dickens as a social commentator who explored poverty throughout his work
  • reflects hardships experienced by dickens in his youth - cratchits as a representation of his own family
  • his father was a clerk like bob cratchit
  • irresponsible financial desicions led to his father going to debter's prison
  • dickens endured the appauling conditions of the workhouses first hand
  • dickens had a sister named fanny like scrooge