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Year 10
Eduqas

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 3: Scrooge and Fred as opposite characters

I can explain how Dickens presents Fred as the antithesis of Scrooge.

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Year 10
Eduqas

'A Christmas Carol' Stave 3: Scrooge and Fred as opposite characters

I can explain how Dickens presents Fred as the antithesis of Scrooge.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Dickens uses colour symbolism and extended metaphors to characterise Scrooge and Fred as opposite characters.
  2. Scrooge is likened to the cold, whereas Fred is described as ‘ruddy’, ‘handsome’ and warm.
  3. Fred exemplifies Christmas spirit, empathy and goodwill.
  4. Through showing us Scrooge through the eyes of Fred, we learn the importance of humour and empathy.
  5. Seeing Fred's Christmas party causes Scrooge to 'soften', showing his moral progress.

Keywords

  • Antithesis - The antithesis of something is the direct opposite of it.

  • Opposing - If two people hold opposing views on something, they have totally different opinions.

  • Colour symbolism - Colour symbolism is when a writer uses colours (and the particular associations they hold) to characterise a character or setting.

  • Frivolous - Being frivolous means being unserious or being silly about something.

  • To contrast - Two contrasting things would be strikingly different from one another.

Common misconception

Pupils think that Fred making fun of Scrooge is mean.

Fred is shown to have a great sense of humour and this is what he's expressing when talking about his uncle. It is this sense of humour that enables him to remain optimistic despite financial struggle.


To help you plan your year 10 english lesson on: 'A Christmas Carol' Stave 3: Scrooge and Fred as opposite characters, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

For task A in learning cycle 1, take the quotations out of the table and get students to come up with their own quotations first, then give them the ones on the slide to analyse. This will help students practise selecting evidence.
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Equipment

You will need access to a copy of Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' for this lesson.

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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.
Select the pairs that demonstrate two opposites.
Correct answer: Charitable and miserly.
Benevolent and kind.
Correct answer: Ignorant and enlightened.
Empathetic and understanding.
Poor and impoverished.
Q2.
Who is Fred in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Scrooge's business partner.
Scrooge's brother.
Scrooge's great nephew.
Scrooge's employee.
Correct answer: Scrooge's nephew.
Q3.
Which of the following explanations best describes how Dickens portrays Scrooge's physical appearance in stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
Dickens likens Scrooge to a gargoyle, showing his ugly personality.
Dickens compares Scrooge to the colour red, to suggest he is dangerous.
Dickens compares Scrooge to a warm fire, to show his potential to change.
Dickens describes Scrooge as handsome, which contrasts with his cruel nature.
Correct answer: Dickens likens Scrooge to the cold, illustrating his cold-hearted nature.
Q4.
Which values does Charles Dickens suggest are especially important at Christmas in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Correct answer: Empathy.
Wealth.
Luxury.
Correct answer: Generosity.
Correct answer: Charity.
Q5.
When Fred invites Scrooge to his Christmas celebrations in stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol', Scrooge replies "Bah... "
Correct Answer: Humbug, humbug, Humbug!, humbug!, humbug.
Q6.
Why does Scrooge from 'A Christmas Carol' hate Christmas? Choose the most appropriate responses.
Scrooge has nobody to spend Christmas with, so he hates it because he is alone.
Correct answer: Scrooge regards Christmas as a time for losing money and slacking off work.
Scrooge resents having to buy people he doesn't care for presents and gifts.
Correct answer: Scrooge resents the goodwill and joy that people demonstrate at Christmas.
Scrooge's business doesn't thrive at Christmas, so he hates the festive season.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following are qualities and characteristics that Fred demonstrates in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
He is selfish with his wealth.
Correct answer: He is kind and optimistic.
Correct answer: He values family.
He shuns society and hates community.
Correct answer: He is generous with his time.
Q2.
Which methods does Dickens use in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol' to characterise Fred and Scrooge as opposite characters?
Mirroring.
Pathetic fallacy.
Correct answer: Colour symbolism.
Onomatopoeia.
Correct answer: Extended metaphor.
Q3.
Which of the following words also indicate that two characters are opposite, or distinctly different?
Frivolous.
Correct answer: Contrasting.
Identical.
Correct answer: Antithesis.
Integral.
Q4.
What do we learn from the character of Fred in 'A Christmas Carol'?
The importance of family: Fred's family don't have much money but they're happy.
The importance of wealth: we see Fred's luxurious Christmas dinner.
Correct answer: The importance of empathy: we see Scrooge as somebody to be pitied.
The value of Christmas: we see all the fun party games Fred plays.
The value of charity: Fred gives a lot of money to charity.
Q5.
Starting with the first, put the events at Fred's Christmas party from Stave 3 of 'A Christmas Carol' in chronological order.
1 - Scrooge hears Fred laughing about him saying "Bah...Humbug!'
2 - Scrooge’s niece remarks that she "has no patience" with him.
3 - Fred says that whilst Scrooge is wealthy, he doesn’t use his wealth to do good.
4 - Fred states that he will continue to invite Scrooge to Christmas dinner.
5 - Fred and his guests sing songs and play instruments together.
6 - Fred and his guests play party games and make fun of Scrooge.
7 - Fred raises a glass and drinks to Scrooge's health.
Q6.
What does the motif of laughter represent in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Hope and transformation.
Empathy and charity.
Correct answer: Goodwill and generosity.
Poverty and hardship.
Comedy and jokes.