Starter quiz
- What is poverty?
- excessive wealth and luxury
- lack of basic necessities and financial resources ✓
- moderate income and comfortable living
- temporary financial hardship
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- The Victorian era took place between the ...
- 1837-1901 ✓
- 1800-1850
- 1850-1920
- 1901-1914
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- What is a novella?
- a short story under 20,000 words
- a full-length novel over 50,000 words
- A long poem with narrative elements
- A short novel or long short story between 20,000 and 50,000 words ✓
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- Match each term to the correct definition.
- working class⇔People employed in manual or industrial jobs with lower wages. ✓
- midde class⇔Professionals with moderate incomes and education. ✓
- upper class⇔Wealthy individuals with significant assets and social influence. ✓
- What is a revolution?
- a gradual change over time
- a sudden, radical change in society ✓
- a routine daily activity
- a peaceful negotiation
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- What is compassion?
- strictly focusing on personal success
- enforcing rules without sympathy
- ignoring others' struggles
- feeling concern and empathy for others' suffering and wanting to help ✓
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Exit quiz
- What caused the 'pea souper' fogs in Victorian London?
- ocean mist and heavy rain
- factory pollution and burning coal ✓
- forest fires
- volcanoes
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- What was Charles Dickens’ aim in writing 'A Christmas Carol'?
- to celebrate Christmas traditions
- to show how to write a ghost story
- to encourage compassion for the poor ✓
- to criticise Christmas celebrations
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- What was one major impact of the Industrial Revolution on London?
- population decline
- improved public health
- overcrowding ✓
- less traffic
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- Which of these words would you use to describe Victorian London?
- tranquil
- unsanitary ✓
- equal
- foggy ✓
- bustling ✓
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- Which of these elements from 'A Christmas Carol' link to the wider context of Victorian London?
- the description of how Marley's face in the door knocker
- his depictions of the Cratchit children working at Christmas ✓
- the scene where Scrooge is visited by the charity workers ✓
- the scene where all the bells start ringing in Scrooge's house
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- What element of the setting does Dickens use to draw links between the ghostly element of 'A Christmas Carol' and the social issues caused by the Industrial Revolution?
- descriptions of busy shoppers
- descriptions of dirt and grime in London slums
- descriptions of each ghost's appearance
- descriptions of the fog ✓
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Worksheet
Presentation
Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Victorian London was noisy, overcrowded and diverse, with people from various cultural backgrounds and social classes.
- The Industrial Revolution transformed the city, worsening pollution and widening the class divide.
- The poor lived in cramped, unsanitary conditions, with little support available to improve their lives.
- Dickens campaigned for social reform and the novella encouraged middle-class readers to show compassion for the poor.
- Descriptions of the setting foreshadow how this ghost story exposes the harsh realities of poverty in Victorian London.
Common misconception
The Industrial Revolution brought great prosperity to the Britain; factories helped to provide wealth equality because it provided jobs to help poor people out of poverty.
The Industrial Revolution did bring great prosperity but unfortunately the wealth was not shared across all social classes. Industrial wealth improved the lives of business owners but poor people suffered due to low wages and overcrowding.
Keywords
Unsanitary - lacking cleanliness or hygiene, leading to potential health risks
Industrial revolution - a period of major industrial and technological advancements, transforming economies and societies
Ominous - suggesting something bad or threatening is about to happen
Philanthropist - a person who donates money or resources to promote the welfare of others
Foreshadows - hints at or predicts a future event in a story