Key learning points

1. Christmas for wealthy Victorians was a time of extravagant parties, feasts and gift giving.
2. Poorer people often had to work at Christmas for little money so Christmas was a time of simple, modest celebrations.
3. Dickens depicts wealthy Victorians as materialistic and oblivious to the struggles of others.
4. Dickens suggests poor people are happier than the wealthy because they are able to appreciate simple pleasures.
5. He arguably does this to urge wealthy readers to focus less on wealth and show compassion to those in need.

Keywords

• Modest - humble or moderate in amount, size or quality; not extravagant or overly showy

• Social class - a division of society based on economic status, wealth, occupation and social standing

• Class divide - the gap between different social classes, often marked by inequality in wealth and opportunity

• Symbolise - to represent or stand for something, often through a symbol, action or object

• Excess - an amount beyond what is necessary or reasonable; overindulgence or surplus

Common misconception