CHRISTMAS CAROL CONTEXT Flashcards
Dickens’ message on poverty
Dickens experienced poverty as a child when his father was sent to a debtor’s prison and young Charles had to work in a factory. The harsh conditions made a lasting impression: he sought to draw attention to the plight of the poor by setting the novella against a grim background of Victorian poverty.
London and inequality
- The frequent and abrupt jumping between scenes of middle class comfort (Fred) and grinding poverty (The Cratchits, Beetling shop) emphasises the close proximity and contrast of the different classes, and highlights the Christian concept of ‘love thy neighbour’.
- The urban setting allows Dickens to exercise his fondness for hyperbole, with the exaggerated extremes of poverty adding to the effect of the ‘plight of the poor’.
The New Poor Law, 1834
In order to deter poor people from claiming financial help, the government made claimants live in workhouses: essentially, prisons for the poor. Dickens hated this law. He spent 1843 touring factories and mines in England and wished to highlight the situation facing poor people. ‘A Christmas Carol’ was published soon after - in December 1843.
The ingredients for a hit novella
Dickens’ previous novel had not sold well and so he needed a hit. He deliberately combined elements that he knew would appeal to Victorian readers: a parable; the supernatural in the form of a ghost story; a happy conclusion; and Christmas.
Dickens’ construction of secular (non-religious) Christmas values
Until the mid-1800s, Christmas was solely a religious festival. Dickens helped to popuarise many of the cultural elements that we now associate with Christmas. This imagery (food, decorations, music) is used throughout the novella. This has contributed to a more secular Christmas, based on the values of goodwill, benevolence/ generosity, and forgiveness.
How does Dickens criticise the governments?
- “guilty governments”
- 1834 Poor Law
What is the lesson that Marley wants Scrooge to learn?
- that his true “business” was “common welfare”
- “charity, mercy, forbearance and benevolence”
What has the Cratchit’s Christmas dinner been?
How big is their Christmas pudding?
- “Eked out”
- “small”
What are the alleys and people in the worse side of town described as?
- “foul and narrow”
- “like so many cesspools, disgorged their offences of smell, and dirt”
- “half-naked, drunken, slipshod, ugly”
Why does Fred think that Scrooge is deserving of pity?
because “his wealth is of no use to him”
What is the last line of the novel?
Who is it said by?
What is the last line of the novel?
Who is it said by?
What does Fezziwig have the power to do?
render his employees “happy of unhappy […]; light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil”
What is the list of adjectives which describe Ignorance and Want?
“yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate too, in their humanity”
How does Fred think we should view other people?
“as if they were really fellow-passengers to the grave”
What were conditions like in cities?
- very crowded due to industrial revolution
- lots of poverty and disease
- upper class exploiting poor
