'A Christmas Carol': Scrooge's fireplace and Dickens' use of allusion
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can understand the allusions Dickens makes in his description of Scrooge’s fireplace.
Key learning points
- Dickens describes Scrooge’s fireplace as very ornate and decorative by comparison to the rest of his lodgings.
- Dickens uses the fireplace to allude to various stories from the Scriptures, such as the Queen of Sheba and Belshazzar.
- Dickens draws parallels between Marley’s Ghost and the Pharaoh's daughter because they both save a soul.
- Dickens highlights Marley’s sins by comparing him to Cain in the Bible.
- Dickens uses allusion to draw comparisons between Belshazzar and Scrooge, both of whom worship false idols.
Keywords
Allusion - an indirect reference to something else.
To depict - to show or present something in a certain way.
Ornate - highly decorated.
Draw parallels - to make connections with something else.
Endeavour - to try hard.
Common misconception
Pupils do not recognise the significance of Dickens' description of Scrooge's fireplace.
The description contains a multitude of allusions that enhance our understanding of the characters Marley's Ghost and Scrooge.
Teacher tip
You may want to print pupils stories from the Scriptures and get them to read them independently before discussing them. This will further enhance their understanding of the allusions and will allow them to form their own ideas.
Equipment
You will need a copy of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How are Scrooge's lodgings described in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q2.Which parable does Dickens allude to through Marley's Ghost's regret in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q3.What role does Marley's Ghost play in the novella 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q4.What does 'to draw parallels between' mean?
Q5.Complete the quotation from Stave 2 of 'A Christmas Carol': "Another has displaced me.... a golden one."
Q6.A is a short, simple story with a moral lesson, as told by Jesus in the Gospels.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is an allusion?
Q2.How is Scrooge's fireplace described in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q3.What is ironic about Scrooge being surrounded by depictions of the Scriptures on his fireplace in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q4.Who was Cain in the Bible?
Q5.In what way are Marley's Ghost in 'A Christmas Carol' and Cain similar?
Q6.Which characters from the Scriptures does Dickens compare to Scrooge through his use of allusion in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'A Christmas Carol': Scrooge's fireplace and Dickens' use of allusion, 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': Scrooge's fireplace and Dickens' use of allusion, 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 Christian parable unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.