Starter quiz
- Which of the ghosts in 'A Christmas Carol' resembles the Victorian depiction of Father Christmas?
- Marley's ghost
- The Ghost of Christmas Past
- The Ghost of Christmas Present ✓
- The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
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- Which of the ghosts in 'A Christmas Carol' wears a white tunic and has a clear, bright jet of light emanating from its head?
- Marley's ghost
- The Ghost of Christmas Past ✓
- The Ghost of Christmas Present
- The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
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- Which of the four ghosts in 'A Christmas Carol' tells Scrooge that they "wear the chains [they] forged in life"?
- Marley's Ghost ✓
- The Ghost of Christmas Past
- The Ghost of Christmas Present
- The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
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- Here is a sentence that uses the word 'depict'. Father Christmas is commonly depicted wearing a plush red tunic with fur trimming and a black belt. What might 'to depict' mean?
- created/made
- rumoured/alleged
- shown/represented ✓
- directed/instructed
- told/informed
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- When Scrooge sees The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come approaching in Stave 4 of 'A Christmas Carol', it is described as moving 'like a mist along the ground'. What is the effect of Dickens' simile ?
- it reflects Scrooge's newfound joy and merriment.
- It suggests that the ghost is inescapable - it is everywhere. ✓
- It shows that the ghost moves slowly to reflect the way time moves in the text.
- It characterises the ghost as mysterious and frightening. ✓
- The ghost reflects Scrooge's mood: dark and cruel.
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- Match the quotation up to the ghost whose speech or action it is in 'A Christmas Carol'.
- Marley's Ghost⇔"I cannot stay, I cannot linger anywhere." ✓
- The Ghost of Christmas Past⇔"Would you so soon put out... the light I give?" ✓
- The Ghost of Christmas Present⇔"You are more worthless and less fit to live than millions." ✓
- Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come⇔"The Spirit answered not, but pointed onward with its hand." ✓
Exit quiz
- Who is the German Christkindl?
- a child who delivers gifts to children on Christmas Eve ✓
- an old woman who grants children wishes on Christmas Eve
- Father Christmas' daughter who helps him
- a baby who was born on the same day as Jesus Christ
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- Which of Dickens' ghosts in 'A Christmas Carol' might be an allusion to the German Christkindl?
- Marley's Ghost
- The Ghost of Christmas Past ✓
- The Ghost of Christmas Present
- The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
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- What features in common do the Ghost of Christmas Past and the German Christkindl share in 'A Christmas Carol'?
- white tunic ✓
- long, muscular arms
- light on their heads ✓
- holding a branch of holly ✓
- sparkling belt
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- Complete the sentence: In 'A Christmas Carol', The Ghost of Christmas Present's cornucopia-shaped torch is an allusion to ______ horn.
- 'Plenty's' ✓
- What is an allusion?
- giving something non-human, human characteristics
- a comparison of two things that are not the same
- a vision of something that isn't really there
- a passing or indirect reference to something ✓
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- What could the Ghost of Christmas Past carrying a sprig of holly symbolise in 'A Christmas Carol'?
- the hope of a redeemed life for Scrooge ✓
- Christmas joy and festivity
- resilience and perseverance, even in bleak times ✓
- Scrooge's frosty and prickly nature in Stave 1
- all the pain that Scrooge has caused others
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Video
Lesson Details
Key learning points
- Dickens uses the ghosts’ appearances to allude to other figures in popular Victorian culture.
- Dickens alludes to the German 'Christkindl' through the Ghost of Christmas Past’s appearance.
- Dickens alludes to the Grim Reaper through the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come to symbolise Scrooge’s spiritual death.
- The Ghost of Christmas Present carries a bountiful torch, which symbolises abundance and generosity.
- The Ghost of Christmas Past carries a sprig of holly to symbolise hope, new life and resilience.
Common misconception
Students often think that the Ghost of Christmas Present is actually holding Plenty's horn.
Dickens carefully clarifies that the torch is "in a shape not unlike Plenty's horn", showing that the torch is not actually Plenty's horn.
Keywords
Allusion - An allusion is a passing or indirect reference to something else.
Cornucopia - A large horn-shaped container overflowing with produce, typically symbolic of abundance or plenty.
To depict - To represent or show something in a certain way.
Draw parallels - To draw parallels means to make links between two things based on their similarities.
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