The portrayal of a scene is how that scene is presented or depicted.

If you were being hyperbolic, you would be exaggerating.

If you had an abundance of something, you would have a lot of it.

Merriment means light hearted fun or cheerfulness, often used when talking about happy occasions.

Being optimistic means being positive and hopeful about the future.

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 3: Christmas around the world

English

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 1: Scrooge the Miser

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 1: The Characterisation of Scrooge

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 1: Meeting Marley's ghost

'A Christmas Carol': Scrooge as a very Victorian character

'A Christmas Carol': planning an essay on Scrooge

'A Christmas Carol': writing about Stave 1

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 2: the first of the three spirits

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 2: Scrooge's childhood and Fezziwig

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 2: Belle

'A Christmas Carol': writing about Stave 2

'A Christmas Carol': improving analytical writing

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 3: the second of the three spirits

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 3: the Cratchits' Christmas

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 3: Scrooge and Fred as opposite characters

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 3: Ignorance and Want

'A Christmas Carol': writing about the presentation of children

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 4: the last of the three spirits

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 4: a significant death

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 4: death in the novella

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

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

'A Christmas Carol': symbolism in the novella

'A Christmas Carol': Scrooge's redemptive journey

'A Christmas Carol': planning an extended argument

'A Christmas Carol': writing an extended argument

In 'A Christmas Carol: Scrooge's redemption, pupils trace the way Scrooge changes across the text as a result of his interaction with the ghosts. In 'A Christmas Carol: a ghost story', pupils  examine the use of gothic tropes in more detail and in particular the use of the supernatural and the ghosts, which allow the past to interrupt the present and even future.

In 'Victorian Childhood', pupils read a number of non fiction extracts about the suffering of poor children and campaign for better laws to protect them as part of a persuasive speaking role play. In 'A Christmas Carol', pupils learn about Dickens as a social campaigner and the way in which he wrote the novella to encourage people to help the poor.

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.

Nineteenth century text: first study

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

In Stave 3 of 'A Christmas Carol', the Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge lots of scenes of different people celebrating {{ }} from all around the world.

Who is singing Christmas songs in 'a cheerful company gathered around the fire' in Stave 3 of 'A Christmas Carol'?

What does the Ghost of Christmas Present embody in Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'? 

When describing London at Christmas in Stave 3 of 'A Christmas Carol', Dickens exaggerates the scene. This is called being...

What method does Dickens use here in 'A Christmas Carol': "the French plums blushed in modest tartness"?

To emphasise the importance of giving gifts at Christmas.

To emphasise that singing is really important at Christmas.

To emphasise that poverty is everywhere and the poor need help.

To emphasise the importance of family and community at Christmas.

To emphasise that Christmas is a time for introspection.

Why does Dickens show us the different scenes of groups of people celebrating Christmas in Stave 3 of 'A Christmas Carol'?

The Ghost of Christmas Present visits Scrooge in Stave {{ }} of the novella 'A Christmas Carol'.

What might fire symbolise in 'A Christmas Carol'? 

Giant and bearded with a green robe and a wreath of holly.

A strange young, but also old-looking figure with long arms.

Transparent with shackles and chains attached to it.

How is the Ghost of Christmas Present described in Stave 3 of 'A Christmas Carol'?

What does the Ghost of Christmas Present carry with him in Stave 3 of 'A Christmas Carol'?

In stave 3 of 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens, the Ghost of Christmas Present transforms Scrooge's house into a festive cavern. What does this symbolise? 

"He poked the fire, and extinguished the last frail spark for ever."

"It was a very low fire indeed; nothing on such a bitter night."

"A lonely boy was reading near a feeble fire."

"Near to the winter fire sat a beautiful young girl."

"Such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney."

"They found a cheerful company assembled round a glowing fire."

Starting with those from stave 1, put these quotations about fire from 'A Christmas Carol' in chronological order.

Starter Quiz