'A Christmas Carol': from dark to light
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can track light and dark imagery through the novella and explain how it has been used.
Key learning points
- Dickens uses the motif of light and dark throughout the novella to symbolise hope and faith.
- The cold and dark repeatedly associated with Scrooge at the start shows that he needs to change.
- The darkness could reflect Scrooge’s immorality, loss of childhood innocence, or loss of faith.
- The spirits enlighten Scrooge as to the error of his ways and guide him towards a more moral future.
- Arguably, the spirits guide Scrooge into the light (the light of God and Christianity).
Keywords
Imagery - visually-descriptive language.
Melancholy - deeply sad.
Virtue - a behaviour showing high moral standards.
Draw parallels - to make connections with something.
Transformative - something that brings about changes (usually positive changes).
Common misconception
Students often think that different ideas equal different arguments.
Show students our Oak pupils' suggestions. Their suggestions are not different arguments, but different ideas which can form an argument.
Teacher tip
It would be lovely to do the task in learning cycle 2 (where the students track light and dark imagery) as group work, to allow students to work together to look at different staves and then share their ideas.
Equipment
You will need a copy of 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 word best describes Scrooge in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q2.Complete the quotation from 'A Christmas Carol': " is cheap, and Scrooge liked it."
Q3.What is the weather like at the end of 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q4.What is a parable?
Q5.Why does Dickens liken Scrooge to the cold in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q6.What does laughter symbolise in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following words is the best synonym for 'dark'?
Q2.Complete the quotation from 'A Christmas Carol': “Scrooge took his dinner in his usual melancholy tavern."
Q3.What method is used by Dickens in this quotation from 'A Christmas Carol': “Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in his usual melancholy tavern”?
Q4.Which of the following is not a reasonable interpretation for Dickens' use of dark imagery in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
Q5.Why does Dickens draw parallels between Scrooge and the 'young house' in this quotation: "…it must have run there when it was a young house, playing at hide-and-seek ... and forgotten the way out"?
Q6.What might the 'bright, clear.. golden sunshine" in Stave 5 of 'A Christmas Carol' represent?
To help you plan your 11 English lesson on: 'A Christmas Carol': from dark to light, 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': from dark to light, 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.