Starter quiz
- Which of the following statements is false in relation to 'A Christmas Carol'?
- Scrooge is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve.
- Tiny Tim is the youngest son of Bob Cratchit.
- Scrooge dies at the end and his wealth is inherited by the Cratchits. ✓
- The Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge the struggles of the Cratchits.
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- What is a philanthropist?
- a person who writes books for a living
- a person who donates money or time to help others ✓
- a person who runs a business for profit
- a person who advocates for political change
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- What is a slum?
- A wealthy, well-kept neighbourhood.
- A rural area with farms and open land.
- An overcrowded urban area with poor living conditions. ✓
- A large industrial factory.
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- Which of these happened as a result of the Industrial Revolution?
- decrease in urban population
- improved working conditions for all
- increase in pollution causing widespread health problems ✓
- less reliance on machinery in factories
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- Which of the following words is an example of an adjective?
- golden ✓
- running
- quietly
- box
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- Which of the following words is an example of a verb?
- ocean
- danced ✓
- steadily
- soft
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Exit quiz
- What is dialogue?
- a type of narrative summary in a novel
- a conversation between two or more characters in a story ✓
- a description of a character's inner thoughts
- a chapter heading in a book
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- What is stigma?
- a positive reputation or high status
- an official recognition or award
- a type of physical illness or injury
- a negative mark of shame or disgrace attached to a person or group ✓
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- Which of the following characters from 'A Christmas Carol' does Dickens use to highlight the struggles of those living in poverty?
- Fred
- Fezziwig
- Bob Cratchit ✓
- Jacob Marley
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- Complete this sentence in relation to 'A Christmas Carol': 'Despite their lack of material possessions, the Cratchit family are ______'.
- envious
- depressed
- happy ✓
- angry
- grateful ✓
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- Which of these statements are true of the Victorian era?
- Victorians were given houses to live in by their employers.
- Many poor Victorians live in cramped, unsanitary accommodation. ✓
- Many Victorians moved from big cities to the countryside.
- Many Victorians suffered health problems due to poor living conditions. ✓
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- How did poor Victorians face social stigma from the wealthier classes?
- They were seen as inferior and blamed for their poverty. ✓
- They were celebrated for their hard work and resilience.
- They were given generous support and assistance.
- They were admired for their contributions to society.
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Dickens' detailed descriptions of the Cratchits and their belongings emphasise how they are living in abject poverty.
- He conveys the message 'money doesn't buy happiness' by showing how they value family time over material possessions.
- Dickens encourages his wealthy readers to show compassion by using the Cratchits to humanise poor people.
- Poor Victorians lived in cramped conditions and endured awful working conditions to avoid debtors prisons or workhouses.
- There was a lot of social stigma around poverty; many believed poor Victorians were lazy, stupid or morally inferior.
Common misconception
People who work hard enough can escape poverty.
This was a common belief in Victorian times when people in poverty faced much social stigma. Unfortunately, poverty was not easy to escape; many poor people were uneducated, had no access to healthcare and lived in cramped conditions.
Keywords
Abject poverty - extreme poverty where basic needs like food and shelter are not met
Dialogue - a conversation between two or more characters in a story
Stigma - a negative mark of shame or disgrace attached to a person or group by others' judgements of them
Utilitarian - a belief focused on practical and functional purposes, valuing usefulness over beauty or comfort
Workhouse - institutions where poor people worked in exchange for food and shelter, often in harsh conditions
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