If somebody is disinterested in a conversation, they simply do not care about it.

Something grotesque is hideously ugly, vile or disgusting.

If a person is frugal with their money, they try to avoid spending it.

If someone is opportunistic, they will take any chance to prosper from a situation.

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 4: a significant death

English

In 'A Christmas Carol: Scrooge's redemption, pupils trace the way Scrooge changes across the text as a result of his interaction with the ghosts. In 'A Christmas Carol: a ghost story', pupils  examine the use of gothic tropes in more detail and in particular the use of the supernatural and the ghosts, which allow the past to interrupt the present and even future.

In 'Victorian Childhood', pupils read a number of non fiction extracts about the suffering of poor children and campaign for better laws to protect them as part of a persuasive speaking role play. In 'A Christmas Carol', pupils learn about Dickens as a social campaigner and the way in which he wrote the novella to encourage people to help the poor.

In this unit, pupils read and explore 'A Christmas Carol'. They start by reading the novella in full, pausing during each stave to analyse key scenes, characters, themes and methods. After reading the novella, pupils chart Scrooge's redemptive journey and craft an essay on the presentation of fear.

Nineteenth century text: first study

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

What kind of men does Scrooge observe gossiping about his death in the beginning of Stave 4 of 'A Christmas Carol'?

A "hearty gentleman with bright, sparkling eyes that blazed with empathy."

A "hard-faced old Tom with a bow tie and an umbrella."

“A red-faced gentleman with a pendulous excrescence on the end of his nose."

A "kind and ruddy gentlemen who was all in a glow."

A “great fat man with a monstrous chin.”

Which of the following quotations describe the businessmen that Scrooge observes in Stave 4 of 'A Christmas Carol'?

He is vain and conceited and wants to see how his life turns out.

Scrooge expects to see himself because he has already resolved to change.

He thinks he is being shown the future, so he expects to see his better self.

He is terrified of becoming like Marley so wants to see his fate.

He worries about death, so wants to understand how much time left he has.

Why does Scrooge look for himself in the scenes in Stave 4 of 'A Christmas Carol'? 

In Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol', we could describe Scrooge as {{ }} with his money.

People who committed crimes because they enjoyed being wicked.

People who had been incarcerated wrongly.

People who had recently been released from prison and were back on the streets.

People who were drawn to committing crimes by a misguided sense of morality.

People who committed crimes because they were exploited by their family.

Who are the 'criminal class' in Victorian society? 

Ignorance and Want are Mrs. Dilber's children that she lives with.

Mrs. Dilber exploits children, who turn out like Ignorance and Want.

Ignorance and Want are the children Mrs. Dilber gave up as a young woman.

Mrs. Dilber represents the destinations of children like Ignorance and Want.

Mrs. Dilber and Want are the same character - Mrs Dilber. is Want grown up.

What is the connection between Mrs. Dilber and the characters Ignorance and Want in 'A Christmas Carol'? 

In which stave of 'A Christmas Carol' does the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come visit Scrooge? 

Clear, bright jet of light emanating from head.

In 'A Christmas Carol', which of the following are aspects of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come's appearance?

In Stave 4 of ' A Christmas Carol', when Scrooge sees his own gravestone, he asks the phantom: "Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that {{ }} be, only?”

They are deeply immoral characters who do not care for human life.

They are a wealthy couple who will inherit the dead man's money.

They despised the dead man and had been wishing him dead for some time.

In Stave 4 of 'A Christmas Carol', Scrooge witnesses the relief of a young couple, who have learned that somebody significant to their lives has died. Why are the young couple relieved and thankful?

The idea that every person is born with good and evil within them.

The idea that when a person dies, their spirit will live on forever.

When a person is born, a higher power decides if they will be good or evil.

When a person dies, they will be judged and either punished or rewarded as such.

Which of the following is the most accurate description of "spiritual judgement"?

“To whom will our debt be transferred?”

 "I shall not leave its lesson, trust me."

"Every person has a right to take care of themselves."

“Old Scratch has got his own at last, hey.”

"My little, little child! ...My little child!”

Match the quotation from Stave 4 of 'A Christmas Carol' up to the character who said it.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Adult supervision recommended

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 4: a significant death

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.