'A Christmas Carol': Dickens’ depictions of Victorian values | English

Starter quiz

In Victorian London, over 30% of the population were living in ...

mansions

poverty ✓

middle-class homes

workhouses
Wealthy Victorian life was characterised by ...

luxury, large homes and a focus on social status. ✓

overcrowding, poor sanitation and low wages.

agricultural work and rural living.

charity work and supporting those in need.
Why might writers use repetition?

to emphasise key ideas and enhance rhythm ✓

to avoid confusion

to reduce the length of the text

to introduce new themes
What is 'redemption'?

a process of financial investment

a method of political reform

a term for personal failure

the act of saving or being saved from sin, error or evil ✓
Which of these events takes place in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol'?

People avoid Scrooge in the street and don't want to talk to him. ✓

Scrooge refuses to donate to charity collectors. ✓

Scrooge embraces Christmas spirit at Fred's party.

Scrooge raises Bob Cratchit's salary.
What is the central message of 'A Christmas Carol'?

wealth and success are the keys to happiness

compassion, generosity and social responsibility can lead to happiness ✓

Christmas is a time for isolation and reflection

hard work guarantees financial prosperity

Which of the following best defines 'self-reliance'?

depending on others for support

prioritising teamwork over individual efforts

the ability to depend on oneself ✓

sharing resources with the community
Which quote from 'A Christmas Carol' reflects Scrooge’s individualism?

"He became as good a friend ..."

"It’s enough for a man to understand his own business ..." ✓

"Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it."

"A poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket ..."
Which action in Stave 5 of 'A Christmas Carol' shows Scrooge embracing collectivism?

sending a Christmas turkey to the Cratchits ✓

turning down a Christmas invitation

refusing to donate to charity

taking time to appreciate his local area on a walk
In this quote taken from Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol': "A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner," what is Dickens critiquing?

the joy of Christmas

the 'Protestant' work ethic ✓

Scrooge's wealth

Victorian fashion
How might wealthy Victorian readers interpret 'A Christmas Carol' differently from poor readers?

as a story of hope and salvation

as a guide to financial success

as a critique of working-class struggles

as a criticism of their neglect of the poor ✓
How does Scrooge embrace community spirit in Stave 5 of 'A Christmas Carol'?

by working harder than ever

by shutting down his business

by attending Fred's Christmas party ✓

by searching for Belle to rekindle their relationship

Loading worksheet ...

Loading presentation ...

Many Victorians embodied the personal values of individualism, self-reliance and a ‘Protestant' work ethic.
Scrooge embodies these values in Stave 1; he is depicted as “tight-fisted”, refusing to help Bob or donate to charity.
Dickens critiques these values when he describes Scrooge as a “sinner”, suggesting ruthless frugality is immoral.
In Stave 5, Scrooge embodies the opposite values: compassion, generosity, humility and integrity.
Dickens uses parallels between Stave 1 and 5 to emphasise the scale of Scrooge’s redemption.

Wealthy Victorians did feel bad about those living in poverty but had no power to do anything about it.

Many wealthy Victorians felt little sympathy for the poor, believing instead that people in poverty were lazy or morally inferior.

Frugal - careful and economical with resources, avoiding waste or unnecessary expenditure
Protestant - a branch of Christianity which focused on frugality, hard work, discipline, and personal responsibility
Personal values - fundamental beliefs guiding an individual's behaviour, decisions, and interactions with others
Utilitarian - belief that actions are right if they benefit the majority and maximise overall happiness
Critique - a detailed evaluation or analysis, often focusing on weaknesses