New
New
Year 11
AQA

'A Christmas Carol': a hopeful tale

I can analyse the extent to which 'A Christmas Carol’ is a hopeful tale.

New
New
Year 11
AQA

'A Christmas Carol': a hopeful tale

I can analyse the extent to which 'A Christmas Carol’ is a hopeful tale.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. ‘A Christmas Carol’ can be considered a hopeful tale about redemption.
  2. The novella teaches us about the importance of social responsibility, empathy, generosity and charity.
  3. Dickens outlines the key virtues and values required to create a fairer and more equal society.
  4. A detailed essay constantly links back to the writer’s methods and intentions.
  5. A coherent, conceptualised response follows the same line of argument.

Keywords

  • Inspirational - Something that makes you feel encouraged or hopeful.

  • Social responsibility - Somebody who believes in social responsibility invests in their community and supports those in need.

  • Didactic - Something that is intended to teach a moral lesson is didactic.

  • Injustice - A lack of fairness or justice.

  • Propaganda - Information or ideas spread in an attempt to influence others.

Common misconception

Students often don't realise that they need to carefully consider what the question is asking them.

Before students can plan anything, they need to consider what the question is actually asking them to do. Rephrasing the question can help.

Model to students how to rephrase the question to make it easier to understand. For example, 'to what extent is the novella a hopeful tale' can be rephrased to 'to what extent is the novella an inspirational story?'
Teacher tip

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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6 Questions

Q1.
In 'A Christmas Carol', what is the name of the redeemed hero?
Jacob Marley
Tiny Tim
Bob Cratchit
Correct answer: Ebeneezer Scrooge
Q2.
In which year did Dickens deliver his speech in Manchester about the terrible attitudes of the rich towards the poor?
Correct answer: 1843
1844
1845
1846
1847
Q3.
In 'A Christmas Carol', which spirit remains silent?
Marley's Ghost
The Ghost of Christmas Past
The Ghost of Christmas Present
Correct answer: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
Q4.
What do we not learn from 'A Christmas Carol'?
the importance of social responsibility
the importance of human connection
the importance of family
Correct answer: the importance of wealth
that time is a gift
Q5.
How does Scrooge respond to seeing himself as a young, neglected boy in Stave 2 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
Correct answer: He feels empathy for his former self.
He is disgusted by his former self.
He is deeply ashamed of his younger self.
He is angry with his former self.
Q6.
Complete the quotation from the Ghost of Christmas Present in Stave 3 of 'A Christmas Carol': "The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it cost a ."
Correct Answer: fortune, Fortune., Fortune, fortune.

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following words is a synonym for 'hopeful'?
charitable
exciting
Correct answer: inspirational
thought-provoking
enthralling
Q2.
Who did Dickens write the novella for?
the poor to show them they are not alone in their suffering
the elite members of society to teach them manners
Correct answer: middle-upper class readers who were ignoring the plight of the poor
the homeless to inspire them to keep faith
Q3.
Starting with the first, put the components of paragraph outline planning in order.
1 - thesis statement
2 - topic sentence
3 - supporting detail
4 - summary sentence
5 - conclusion
Q4.
Which section of your paragraph outline summarises your argument in each paragraph with a sharp focus on writer’s purpose?
topic sentence
conclusion
Correct answer: summary sentence
thesis statement
supporting detail
Q5.
Which of the following does not make a concise and thoughtful critical response?
following the same line of argument throughout the response
using the most specific vocabulary accurately
Correct answer: a comprehensive plot summary
a detailed focus on the writer’s methods
precise and embedded quotations
Q6.
Match the vocabulary up to its definition.
Correct Answer:inspirational,something that makes you feel encouraged or hopeful

something that makes you feel encouraged or hopeful

Correct Answer:social responsibility,investing in one's community

investing in one's community

Correct Answer:didactic,something that is intended to teach a moral lesson

something that is intended to teach a moral lesson

Correct Answer:injustice,a lack of fairness or justice

a lack of fairness or justice

Correct Answer:propaganda,information spread in an attempt to influence others

information spread in an attempt to influence others