A Christmas Carol

A Christmas CarolBackground Knowledge

• Have you ever heard of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, The three Christmas spirits, or Bob Cratchit? If yes, state what you know.

• How are modern times in the US different from the 1800’s in England?

• What might these two time periods have in common?

The Victorian Era1837-1901

• Named for Queen Victoria of England• Her reign began in 1837• She was unmarried at the time of her

coronation.• Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840.• Ends with Victoria death in 1901.

Queen Victoria

englishmonarchs.co.uk the100.ru

Social Climate• Class Society• Very limited social

mobility• Very wealth• Extreme poverty• Virtually no middle class clas.ufl.edu

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Industrial Climate• Shift from agricultural to

industrial society• High pollution from

burning coal• Small children were

forced to work 12-16 hour days in sewing mills, and mines

• Children earned money to help support their families

• Limited formal education

Health Climate• No indoor plumbing• High rate of pollution

from burning coal• High rate of infant

mortality• Poor sanitation especially

in urban areas (London)• Drinking water is

contaminated• Poor hygiene• Poor access to healthcare

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Educational Climate• Only the wealth were

formally educated• High illiteracy among lower

classes• Only males attended college• Female attended “finishing

schools”• Push for public education at

the end of the Victorian Era in England

• Only people who could read could vote.

newman.ac.uk

Charles Dickens1812- 1870

Charles Dickens

• Born a sickly child• Unable to play sports, Charles spent much of

his childhood reading• His father was a naval payment officer and a

horrible businessman.• Dickens’ father was imprisoned in 1824 for

debt.

Charles Dickens

• Charles’ family turned to him at that time to earn money.

• He worked in a shoe polish factory to pay off his father’s debts.

• After his father was released from prison, Charles and his father’s relationship was strained.

• Charles vowed he would never go to debtor’s prison.

Charles Dickens Writing Style and Famous works

• Dickens’ novels were originally published in parts through newspapers and literary magazines. (Serial novels)

• Dickens wrote very few drafts unlike most writers.

• Famous works:– A Christmas Carol– Oliver Twist– A Tale of Two Cities– Great Expectations