Charles Dickens copyright 2007 www englishteaching co uk

c21950f9552f4293f88556034032ab16.ppt

Количество слайдов: 14

Life experiences informed his writing l As in his previous novels, real social concern motivated Dickens to write A Christmas Carol. In this instance, he was inspired to write a Christmas story highlighting the plight of the poor as an appeal for charity from those better-off. Such charity was desperately needed during the severe economic depression of the 1840 s. Having suffered considerable hardship and poverty during his upbringing, the passionate feelings evoked in Dickens' writings by social inequalities were based on bitter experience. Indeed, it is suggested that the Cratchit's house is modelled on the small four-room house at 16 Bayham Street in Camden Town where Dickens lived at the age of ten: the six Cratchit children correspond to the Dickens children of that time, the character of Tiny Tim being echoed in Charles's youngest, sickly brother who was known as "Tiny Fred". copyright 2007 www. englishteaching. co. uk

The Poor Law l In 1833 Earl Grey, the Prime Minister, set up a Poor Law Commission to examine the working of the poor Law system in Britain. In their report published in 1834, the Commission made several recommendations to Parliament. As a result, the Poor Law Amendment Act was passed. The act stated that: (a) no able-bodied person was to receive money or other help from the Poor Law authorities except in a workhouse; (b) conditions in workhouses were to be made very harsh to discourage people from wanting to receive help; (c) workhouses were to be built in every parish or, if parishes were too small, in unions of parishes; (d) ratepayers in each parish or union had to elect a Board of Guardians to supervise the workhouse, to collect the Poor Rate and to send reports to the Central Poor Law Commission; (e) the three man Central Poor Law Commission would be appointed by the government and would be responsible for supervising the Amendment Act throughout the country. copyright 2007 www. englishteaching. co. uk

How is the character of Scrooge conveyed in ‘A Christmas Carol’? l l In this essay I will be analysing how the character of Scrooge is conveyed in Stave 1 of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. When was ‘A Christmas Carol’ written and by whom? What is the novel about? Who are the main characters? How do they contrast each other? copyright 2007 www. englishteaching. co. uk

Section 1 - The writer’s attitude. l l The writer conveys his vision of England through each character. What is the genre of the novel and why is this important? Why is this novel considered to be an ‘allegorical tale’? What does the audience learn at the end of the novel? Charles Dickens’ father was imprisoned for debt. How might this have influenced the writer’s attitude within the novel? copyright 2007 www. englishteaching. co. uk

Section 2 - writer’s use of language l l l Charles Dickens creates character in a number of different ways… What poetic techniques are used to describe Scrooge’s character? How does Charles Dickens use of pathetic fallacy create character and atmosphere? Give two examples. copyright 2007 www. englishteaching. co. uk

Use of language continued… l l Charles Dickens uses ‘vivid adjectives’ to describe Scrooge. How does this create character? The writer also uses ‘evocative adverbs’ how does this juxtapose the characters of Scrooge and his nephew or the charity workers copyright 2007 www. englishteaching. co. uk

Section 3 - Implications and relevance of text l l l Charles Dickens wanted to change the attitude of the middle classes towards the poor. Do you think ‘A Christmas Carol’ achieved this? Support your answer with quotes from the text. Why is knowledge of ‘The Poor Laws’ useful when reading this novel? What is Scrooge’s attitude towards the poor? How does Scrooge support the poor? copyright 2007 www. englishteaching. co. uk

Section 4 - Discussion of text l l How are the characters’ depicted? Think about clothing, how they speak and compare your ideas to the ways in which Scrooge is depicted. How does Scrooge change at the end of Stave 1? Support your answer with quotes. copyright 2007 www. englishteaching. co. uk