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Year 11 - English

'A Christmas Carol': Dickens' critique of Victorian institutions

'A Christmas Carol': a critique of Victorian values

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils explore how Dickens presents 'A Christmas Carol' as a critique of dominant Victorian values. They first look at how he presents Victorian London, before looking at how he depicts poverty, suffering, wealth and status. They then look at what Dickens is critiquing in the novella.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to explore how Dickens critiques Victorian institutions and laws in 'A Christmas Carol'.

Key Notes

  • There was no state support available for poor Victorians; they were forced to rely on charities and philanthropy.
  • The Poor Laws made it legal for those in debt to be sent to prison or forced to live in squalid workhouses.
  • Scrooge's dialogue with the charity men critiques the Victorian belief that the poor were lazy or morally inferior.
  • Dickens later shows Scrooge's transformation towards redemption when he is introduced to Ignorance and Want.
  • They symbolise a lack of awareness of poor's struggles and warn of the consequences of ongoing social inequality.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • philanthropy: the act of donating money or resources to help others, especially the poor
  • workhouse: an institution where the poor worked in exchange for basic shelter and food under harsh conditions
  • connotations: the ideas or feelings a word invokes in addition to its literal meaning
  • symbolise: to represent or stand for something, especially a larger concept or idea
  • redemption: the act of being saved from sin, error, or evil; moral or spiritual recovery

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Workhouses were a positive form of social reform; instead of being sent to prison, poor people were offered the chance to work off any debts they had.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

There was no state support available for poor Victorians; they were forced to rely on charities and philanthropy. The Poor Laws made it legal for those in debt to be sent to prison or forced to live in squalid workhouses.

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

the act of donating money or resources to help others, especially the poor.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Workhouses were a positive form of social reform; instead of being sent to prison, poor people were offered the chance to work off any debts they had. Correction: Workhouses were an alternative to debtor's prison but they were not positive places; inmates were separated from their families, lived in squalid conditions and forced to do hard labour for 10-12 hours a day.

More Lessons In This Unit

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