'A Christmas Carol' Stave 1: The Characterisation of Scrooge
I can analyse how Dickens introduces Scrooge as a callous and covetous character.
'A Christmas Carol' Stave 1: The Characterisation of Scrooge
I can analyse how Dickens introduces Scrooge as a callous and covetous character.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Dickens uses an extended metaphor to associate Scrooge with the cold
- Scrooge is a solitary character who feels no sense of community or responsibility for others
- Scrooge’s appearance is economic to reflect his miserly nature- nothing about his features is generous
- Scrooge is a callous character who treats those close to him (his nephew and his clerk) with disdain
- Scrooge is uncharitable and harbours great contempt for the poor
Keywords
Covetous - A covetous person has a strong desire for wealth or possessions, often those that belong to other people.
Asyndetic list - An asyndetic list is one which does not contain conjunctions like ‘and’ or ‘or'.
Conservation - Conservation means the preservation of a useful resource.
Contempt - Somebody demonstrating contempt for something would be showing a strong dislike or hatred for it.
Callous - Somebody callous is cruel, harsh and insensitive.
Common misconception
Students think that Scrooge hates Christmas because it marks the anniversary of Marley's death.
Scrooge hates Christmas because he views it as a crime against oneself. He resents that people spend money they don't have at Christmas.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
“You’ll want all day to-morrow, I suppose?”
“you’d think yourself ill-used"
"poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth"
"The clerk smiled faintly."