What is the significance of the Ghost of Christmas Present repeating Scrooge's own words about prisons and workhouses?

It emphasizes that prisons and workhouses do not solve poverty and that society needs to offer the poor real opportunities to escape the cycle of poverty.

How does Dickens use the character of Scrooge to critique the attitudes of wealthy people towards poverty in 19th-century England?

Dickens uses Scrooge to represent the indifference and lack of empathy of some wealthy individuals, showing how their views contribute to the suffering of the poor.

Exploring Christmas Carols

7th Grade•45 minutes

Learning Objective

I can identify common themes and messages in different Christmas carols.

Key Concepts

Scrooge's initial attitude towards the poor is that they are idle and that poverty is a result of laziness, reflecting the views of some wealthy people in the 19th century.

Marley's chains symbolize the bad things he did in life, particularly his heartless attitude towards the poor, suggesting that selfishness leads to eternal torment.

Tiny Tim represents the innocent and blameless poor, and his fate highlights how the lives of many poor people depend on the generosity and compassion of others.

Practice Questions

This lesson includes 10 practice questions to reinforce learning.

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1. In Stave One, what is Scrooge's initial attitude towards the poor, as revealed in his conversation with the charity collectors?

2. What does Marley's chain symbolize in the context of the story?

3. What does Tiny Tim represent in 'A Christmas Carol'?

...and 7 more questions

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A Christmas Carol Themes: Poverty - Key Quotes

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Learning Objective

Key Concepts

Practice Questions

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