'A Christmas Carol': a Victorian ghost story
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why Dickens used the ‘ghost story’ genre to underpin his didactic message.
Key learning points
- Dickens was influential in establishing the ghost story as a popular genre in the Victorian period.
- Dickens capitalised on the popularity of this genre to spread his social message: he wanted this to be a best seller.
- Unlike the ghosts of early Gothic fiction, Dickens made the supernatural a natural extension of the real world.
- Dickens uses the ghosts as a literary device that enables him to explore moral and social issues.
- The apparitions structure the narrative and move it towards Stave 5, where we see Scrooge’s impressive transformation.
Keywords
Genre - A style or category of literature.
Supernatural - A phenomenon that cannot be explained by science or constrained within the laws of nature.
Victorian respectability - The Victorian belief that people should act, dress and behave in a certain, socially-acceptable way.
Deviant - Anything deviant goes against the accepted norm or standard of behaviour.
Conservative - Conservative means very traditional and established - resistant to change.
Common misconception
Students often don't realise that Dickens' deliberately capitalised on a popular genre.
Dickens wanted the novella to become a bestseller, as this would give his message the best chance of reaching as many people as possible.
Teacher tip
You could set students Dickens' short story 'The Signalman' to read as additional reading or for homework either before or after this lesson, for some additional insight into Dickens' supernatural writing.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which century did the Victorian period predominantly span?
Q2.When was 'A Christmas Carol' published?
Q3.In 'A Christmas Carol', 4 ghosts visit Scrooge. Starting with the first, put them in chronological order according to when they visit Scrooge.
Q4.Which of the following words does Dickens not use to refer to the ghosts in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q5.Which spirit does this 'A Christmas Carol' quote reflect? Scrooge's room "had undergone a...transformation. The walls and ceiling were so hung with living green, that it looked a perfect grove".
Q6.What was Dickens' main aim in writing 'A Christmas Carol'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which two words best describe Victorian way of life?
Q2.Fill in the missing word: Victorian was all about the way other people perceived you. The Victorians were very strict about what was and what wasn’t appropriate behaviour.
Q3.When was Gothic literature allegedly originally 'born'?
Q4.Why did the Victorians enjoy ghost stories so much?
Q5.Why did Charles Dickens make 'A Christmas Carol' a ghost story?
Q6.Why did Dickens make the supernatural an extension of the natural world in 'A Christmas Carol'?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'A Christmas Carol': a Victorian ghost story, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'A Christmas Carol': a Victorian ghost story, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 English lessons from the A Christmas Carol: a ghost story unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.