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Year 10 - English

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 1: Scrooge the Miser

A Christmas Carol: Scrooge's redemption

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils read and explore 'A Christmas Carol'. They start by reading the novella in full, pausing during each stave to analyse key scenes, characters, themes and methods. After reading the novella, pupils chart Scrooge's redemptive journey and craft an essay on the presentation of fear.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to understand how Scrooge is portrayed in the opening of the novella.

Key Notes

  • Scrooge is portrayed as a miser
  • Dickens experienced poverty firsthand and dedicated his life to campaigning for better legislation to support the poor
  • Dickens uses the setting of Scrooge's lodgings to reflect his miserly nature
  • Dickens is critical towards those who lack compassion for the poor, like Scrooge
  • Scrooge represents selfish and greedy upper-middle class Victorian citizens, who showed little empathy for the poor

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Preface: The preface comes at the beginning of a book and introduces its aims or scope.
  • Impoverished: Someone impoverished would have very little money and very few possessions.
  • Staves: Dickens calls his chapters 'staves'.
  • Avaricious: Being avaricious means having an extreme greed for wealth or possessions.
  • Miser: A miser is a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils think that Scrooge keeps his money to himself so that he can spend it on himself.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Scrooge is portrayed as a miser. Dickens experienced poverty firsthand and dedicated his life to campaigning for better legislation to support the poor.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'Preface'

The preface comes at the beginning of a book and introduces its aims or scope.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils think that Scrooge keeps his money to himself so that he can spend it on himself. Correction: Scrooge's frugality also extends to his own existence: Scrooge refuses to spend money even on himself, choosing to live a meagre lifestyle.

More Lessons In This Unit

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