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Year 10
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'A Christmas Carol' Stave 1: The Characterisation of Scrooge

I can analyse how Dickens introduces Scrooge as a callous and covetous character.

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Year 10
Eduqas

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 1: The Characterisation of Scrooge

I can analyse how Dickens introduces Scrooge as a callous and covetous character.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Dickens uses an extended metaphor to associate Scrooge with the cold
  2. Scrooge is a solitary character who feels no sense of community or responsibility for others
  3. Scrooge’s appearance is economic to reflect his miserly nature- nothing about his features is generous
  4. Scrooge is a callous character who treats those close to him (his nephew and his clerk) with disdain
  5. Scrooge is uncharitable and harbours great contempt for the poor

Keywords

  • Covetous - A covetous person has a strong desire for wealth or possessions, often those that belong to other people.

  • Asyndetic list - An asyndetic list is one which does not contain conjunctions like ‘and’ or ‘or'.

  • Conservation - Conservation means the preservation of a useful resource.

  • Contempt - Somebody demonstrating contempt for something would be showing a strong dislike or hatred for it.

  • Callous - Somebody callous is cruel, harsh and insensitive.

Common misconception

Students think that Scrooge hates Christmas because it marks the anniversary of Marley's death.

Scrooge hates Christmas because he views it as a crime against oneself. He resents that people spend money they don't have at Christmas.

When analysing Dickens' use of verbs as adjectives, physically show students what 'squeezing, wrenching, grasping etc' looks like. Do the same for 'nipped, straightened, stiffened' to aid their understanding of how these verbs characterise Scrooge.
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).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who is Bob Cratchit in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Scrooge's friend
Scrooge's nephew
Correct answer: Scrooge's employee
Scrooge's tenant
Scrooge's brother
Q2.
A comparison between two different things that share similar qualities, that uses the words 'like' or 'as' is known as a {{}
Correct Answer: simile, simile., Simile, a simile.
Q3.
An extended metaphor is...
a comparison of two different things that have similar qualities using 'like'
a comparison of two different things that have similar qualities using 'is'
Correct answer: a comparison of two different things that have similar qualities across a text
a comparison of two different things that have similar qualities that is long
Q4.
'Scrooge's callousness is shown in the way he speaks to his family member, Fred.' What might callousness mean?
stinginess
Correct answer: cruelty
generosity
immorality
disapproval
Q5.
Which of the following could be described as an accusatory pronoun?
he
I
we
they
Correct answer: you
Q6.
Match the method to the quotation taken from 'A Christmas Carol'.
Correct Answer:rhetorical question,“You’ll want all day to-morrow, I suppose?”

“You’ll want all day to-morrow, I suppose?”

Correct Answer:accusatory pronouns,“you’d think yourself ill-used"

“you’d think yourself ill-used"

Correct Answer:metaphor,"poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth"

"poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty-fifth"

Correct Answer:adverb,"The clerk smiled faintly."

"The clerk smiled faintly."

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are aspects of Scrooge's appearance in 'A Christmas Carol'?
smooth voice
broad nose
Correct answer: frosty rime
Correct answer: red eyes
Correct answer: thin lips blue
Q2.
Which of the following similes does Dickens use to describe Scrooge from 'A Christmas Carol'?
as rich as Midas
as mean as a school teacher
Correct answer: as solitary as an oyster
as sharp and pointed as a nail
Correct answer: as hard and sharp as flint
Q3.
Which method does Dickens use in the following quotation from 'A Christmas Carol': "squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching"?
adjectives as nouns
nouns as adjectives
adjectives as verbs
Correct answer: verbs as adjectives
Q4.
What do the verbs 'nipped' and 'shrivelled' suggest about Scrooge in 'A Christmas Carol'?
They reflect his callousness and cruelty, as he refuses to donate to the poor.
They reflect his success as a businessman, as he and Marley ran a company.
Correct answer: They reflect his miserly nature as everything he does is to conserve resources.
They reflect his lack of regard for his family, as he is rude to his nephew.
Q5.
Which of the following is an example of asyndetic list?
Correct answer: beans, sausages, ham, toast
milk and eggs and flour and yeast
Correct answer: funny, kind, considerate, charitable
houses, a park, a church and some small shops and cafes
go to the shop; pick up the ingredients; drive home and then make the cake
Q6.
Which of the following is the best explanation for why Scrooge doesn't really want to give Bob Christmas Day off in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Scrooge hugely values Bob's work and doesn't want to get behind on business
Scrooge will be working on Christmas Day and wants some company
Scrooge hates Christmas and wants Bob to distract him from the festive goodwill
Correct answer: Scrooge resents having to pay Bob for a day's work he doesn't complete
He knows Bob has children and wants to stop him from being home at Christmas