Context of A Christmas Carol: Victorian Britain, 19th Century.

CHARLES DICKENS’ LIFE and WORKS:

 When did Charles Dickens live?

 Who was in his family?
 What influences were there in his life which affected his writing?
 What were his inspirations?
 What were some of his other famous books?

SOCIAL CLASS and POVERTY

What was life like for the different social classes in the Victorian period? Look at the
clothing, food and employment of the:
 upper classes
 lower classes – why was there such a divide in society?

THE INDUSTRIAL REVLOUTION:

 Look at the impact The Industrial Revolution on British society

 Look at how it created jobs, but made a bigger rich and poor divide
 Look at pollution and images of London/ Britain
 Look at how trade had positive impact on Britain

WORKHOUSES, ORPHANAGES AND HEALTH:

 What workhouses were and why they were created
 The significance of orphanages – what happened to the children, what was a
typical day/ food/ clothing like
 What was the standard of health like in cities/ the country?
 What was medicine and healthcare like?
 What sort of diseases were around?

GOTHIC AND GHOST STORIES GENRE and

RELIGION:
 What is the gothic fiction genre?
 What are some of the key features of the gothic genre?
 Why was the genre popular?
 What was the popularity of Christianity at the time?
 How did Christianity impact lives positively and negatively?
LONDON IN THE VICTORIAN ERA
 What was it like to live there?
 What were the different areas like?
 What jobs did poor people do?
 What different cultures lived there?
 Why is it referred to as ‘Dickensian London’?

CHILDREN IN THE VICTORIAN ERA

 What was it like to be a child then?
 Did they have to work? Where?
 What was school like?
 What type of lives did they lead?