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Year 10
AQA

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 2: Belle

I can explain the significance of Belle in 'A Christmas Carol'.

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New
New
Year 10
AQA

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 2: Belle

I can explain the significance of Belle in 'A Christmas Carol'.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Belle ended her relationship with Scrooge because she recognised that he valued money over human connection
  2. Dickens presents greed as corruptive, suggesting that it spreads misery and unhappiness
  3. The breakdown of the engagement is the point at which Scrooge turns his back on society entirely
  4. Through Belle, we see Scrooge’s capacity for love and hope that he might find it within himself to love again
  5. Dickens presents Belle as a content mother and wife to illustrate that money is not what brings happiness

Common misconception

Students believe that Belle was never interested in having any money.

Belle was interested in having money - she just wanted to earn it with Scrooge over time.

Keywords

  • To corrupt - If something has the power to corrupt someone, it has the power to make them dishonest and immoral.

  • Ethereal - An ethereal being is a beautiful and other-worldly creature.

  • To idolise - If you idolise someone, you adore and admire them very much.

  • Wilful - If you do something wilfully, you do it knowingly and on purpose.

  • Fulfilled - If you feel fulfilled, you feel that all your hopes and ambitions have been met.

For the first slide in learning cycle two, take feedback from students and ask them to justify why they have given certain values their positions. Facilitate a discussion about what is important in life.
Teacher tip

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).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What was Belle's relationship with Ebenezer Scrooge in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Sister.
Correct answer: Former fiancee.
Business partner.
Landlord.
Niece.
Q2.
In 'A Christmas Carol', why did Belle break off her engagement with Scrooge?
She found someone wealthier.
She found someone nicer.
She was forced to by her family.
Scrooge was too kind and generous for her.
Correct answer: She realised Scrooge was more interested in money.
Q3.
What does Belle represent in Scrooge's past as seen in Stave 2 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
She is a symbol of greed.
Correct answer: She is a symbol of lost happiness.
She represents loyalty and fairness.
She represents the joy of Christmas.
She represents Scrooge's lonely childhood.
Q4.
What does it mean to "corrupt" someone?
To improve and enhance them.
Correct answer: To make them behave dishonestly or immorally.
To make them clean or virtuous.
To provide them with guidance and support.
To make them feel uncertain and anxious.
Q5.
Complete the quotation from A Christmas Carol: "The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a...”
Correct Answer: fortune., fortune, Fortune., Fortune
Q6.
Match the quotations up to the characters who said them in 'A Christmas Carol'.
Correct Answer:Belle,"Another idol has displaced me... a golden one."

"Another idol has displaced me... a golden one."

Correct Answer:The Ghost of Christmas Past ,“I told you these were shadows of the things that have been"

“I told you these were shadows of the things that have been"

Correct Answer:Fezziwig,“Yo ho, my boys! No more work tonight."

“Yo ho, my boys! No more work tonight."

Correct Answer:Scrooge,"Are there no prisons?"

"Are there no prisons?"

Correct Answer:Marley's Ghost,"Yours is a ponderous chain."

"Yours is a ponderous chain."

Correct Answer:Fred (Scrooge's nephew),"What reason have you to be morose? You’re rich enough.”

"What reason have you to be morose? You’re rich enough.”

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Whereabouts in Stave 2 of 'A Christmas Carol' is Scrooge shown the memories of Belle? Choose the most appropriate option.
Before he sees his time at boarding school.
Before he sees himself as Fezziwig's apprentice.
Before he sees his sister little Fan.
Correct answer: After he is shown Fezziwig's party.
After he is shown himself reading.
Q2.
How does Dickens present young Belle in 'A Christmas Carol'?
As manipulative and conniving.
As wicked and evil.
Correct answer: As innocent and pure.
As anxious and insecure.
As courageous and brave.
Q3.
In Stave 2 of 'A Christmas Carol' when the Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge the vision of Belle as an adult, what does he observe?
She is living in poverty and is bitter towards Scrooge.
She is a successful businesswoman and is pleased to see Scrooge.
She has passed away, and her family is grateful to Scrooge.
Correct answer: She is living a modest, but content life with a family.
She is poor and destitute, living on the streets.
Q4.
Which of the following can be used as a synonym for 'wilful'?
Correct answer: Deliberate.
Wishful.
Confident.
Approach.
Woeful.
Q5.
Starting with the first, put the statements in chronological order of when they occur in Stave 2 of 'A Christmas Carol'.
1 - Belle tells Scrooge that she feels displaced by "another idol...a golden one."
2 - Belle tells Scrooge that she has seen his "nobler aspirations" slip away.
3 - Belle tells Scrooge that they used to be "poor and content to be so."
4 - Belle asks Scrooge if he would have chosen to be with her now.
5 - Belle tells Scrooge that she doubts he would have married a dowerless girl.
6 - Belle wishes Scrooge well and tells him she hopes he is happy with his choice.
7 - Belle's husband reports that Scrooge is miserable and alone.
Q6.
Which of the following are appropriate interpretations for the following quotation taken from 'A Christmas Carol': “May you be happy in the life you have chosen!”
Dickens is reminding us that Scrooge made the decision to end the relationship.
Belle is a spiteful character and is being sarcastic and insincere here.
Correct answer: Belle is a kind character and is genuinely wishing Scrooge the best.
Correct answer: Dickens is reminding us that Scrooge is responsible for his own isolation.
Correct answer: Dickens is reminding us that our choices have consequences.