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Year 10 - English

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 4: Scrooge's fears

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 explain how Scrooge's fears change throughout the novella.

Key Notes

  • Scrooge's Stave 1 behaviour is arguably motivated by his fear of abandonment; fear of poverty and fear of vulnerability
  • Scrooge's fears and the behaviour that these fears have encouraged exemplify Dickens' fears for society
  • Through Scrooge's fear of poverty, we see how punishing life was for impoverished Victorian citizens
  • Dickens criticises Victorian stoicism, suggesting that it led to a lack of empathy for others, which exacerbates poverty
  • By the end of Stave 4, Scrooge's greatest fear is the lack of legacy he will leave behind him, showing his change

Vocabulary To Learn

  • To abandon: to leave a person behind, usually forever
  • Vulnerability: able to be easily hurt or attacked, either physically or emotionally
  • To advocate: if you advocate for something, you promote it
  • Legacy: the long impact of a person's life
  • Stoic: enduring hardship without showing it - not showing one's emotions

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Students think that, in Stave 4, Scrooge is frightened of dying.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Scrooge's Stave 1 behaviour is arguably motivated by his fear of abandonment; fear of poverty and fear of vulnerability. Scrooge's fears and the behaviour that these fears have encouraged exemplify Dickens' fears for society.

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

to leave a person behind, usually forever.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Students think that, in Stave 4, Scrooge is frightened of dying. Correction: Scrooge is not frightened of death. He is frightened of dying without leaving a legacy because he has not contributed anything to society.

More Lessons In This Unit

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