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Year 10 - English

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 5: the change in Scrooge

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 is presented as a transformed character in Stave 5.

Key Notes

  • In Stave 5, we see Scrooge brimming with positivity and newfound moral purpose.
  • Scrooge makes several redemptive gestures of goodwill, showing that he is a transformed character.
  • In Stave 5, we see Scrooge as liberated from his emotional repression and overwhelmed with newfound positive emotions.
  • Dickens juxtaposes his use of similes in Staves 1 and 5 to show Scrooge's positive character development.
  • Scrooge has gone from being the object of disdain and fear in society, to being the pillar of his local community.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • transformed: If someone is transformed, they have changed significantly.
  • newfound: If something is newfound, it has been recently discovered.
  • liberated: If someone is liberated from prison, they are released or set free.
  • to contrast: If an author contrasts two characters, they make them strikingly different or opposite.
  • character development: Character development is the moral journey a character undertakes throughout the text .

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Students fail to recognise that Scrooge doesn't just buy the Cratchits any old turkey.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

In Stave 5, we see Scrooge brimming with positivity and newfound moral purpose. Scrooge makes several redemptive gestures of goodwill, showing that he is a transformed character.

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

If someone is transformed, they have changed significantly.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Students fail to recognise that Scrooge doesn't just buy the Cratchits any old turkey. Correction: Scrooge buys the Cratchits the "prize" (or most expensive) turkey. This shows that he is truly generous, as he goes above and beyond.

More Lessons In This Unit

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