Page Contents

2-3 Tier Two Vocabulary

4 Tier Three Vocabulary

A Christmas Carol 5
6
Context
Key Themes

Knowledge Organiser 7-9

10
Characters
Plot Overview
11 Stave One Summary
12 Stave Two Summary
13 Stave Three Summary
14 Stave Four Summary
15 Stave Five Summary
16-17 Analytical Writing Skills
18-19 Key Quotes
 TIER THREE VOCABULARY
Technique Definition Technique Definition

Allegory A story with a hidden meaning, typically a moral
or political one
e.g. Ignorance and Want teach Scrooge about the
suffering of poor children in society
Allusion
A references to a person, place, event, or to
another work of literature.
e.g. Dickens uses an allusion to Shakespeare’s
Hamlet to emphasise that Marley’s death is going
to change Scrooge’s life
Flashback
Going back in time
e.g. The flashback to Scrooge’s childhood helps
the reader sympathise more with him
Foil A character who contrasts with another character
e.g. Fred is Scrooge’s foil which emphasizes his
negative attitude towards Christmas
Mirroring When one character’s actions or traits are similar
to another characters
e.g. Scrooge’s death mirrors that of Jacob Marley.
His focus on wealth has lead him to a life of
solitude.
Motif A recurring idea in a piece of literature
e.g the striking of the clock throughout the story
reminds us that Scrooge’s time is running out
Pathetic When the weather reflects the mood
fallacy
e.g The cold weather reflects Scrooge’s cold
personality
Semantic A group of words linked together by a common
field
theme or idea
e.g The semantic field of darkness emphasizes the
gloomy future that awaits if nothing changes

Foreshadowing Symbolism One thing acting as a symbol for something else

Hinting at what is to come later
e.g The narrator uses the phrase ‘Once upon a e.g. The Ghost of Christmas Present serves as the

time’ to introduce the main story to foreshadow central symbol of the Christmas ideal--generosity,

the happy ending goodwill, and celebration. 4

 A CHRISTMAS CAROL CONTEXT

Industrial Revolution
1760-1850

A Christmas Carol
written 1843

The Industrial Thomas Malthus Victorian culture

Revolution

Thought that Argued Christian

Poor worked the Ghost Christmas values of
The Poor Poor suffered ‘surplus
in factories Malthus was population stories were traditions love,
Laws meant low-quality an population’
in hard was rising very popular developed forgiveness
people housing, low should get less
conditions economist in faster than resources to in Victorian during 19th and
forced into pay and
for little hunger Victorian era food ease era century repentance
workhouses
money supplies overpopulation explored
 A CHRISTMAS CAROL THEMES
A Christmas Carol
written 1843

Social Morals Transformation

Responsibility

Dickens Dickens Scrooge The 3

The text As Scrooge Scrooge
wanted to explore the Dickens understands ghosts help Scrooge is
explores the becomes less learns the
expose the links promotes the the Scrooge able to
moral duty isolated, he value of
divide between
importance of importance transform achieve
the rich have becomes compassion Christian
between the more families and of his into a better redemption
to be and values
rich and the charitable morality choices person
charitable forgiveness
poor

Isolation Apathy Virtuous Remorseful Redemption Epiphany

Avarice Philantrophic Parsimonious

A CHRISTMAS CAROL CHARACTERS

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL CHARACTERS

8
Ignore and Want
THE GHOSTS

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We are introduced to
Scrooge working in his
counting house. He
refuses to give Bob
Cratchit coal for his fire.
We find out that Scrooge was
engaged to a girl called Fanny who
left him because he loved money
more than her. Scrooge cries tears
of regret and goes to bed.
Scrooge begs to know who the
dead man is. The ghost shows
him a headstone in a churchyard
with his name on it.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL PLOT OVERVIEW
He declines Fred’s invitation to
the Christmas party and refuses
to give the men money for
charity.
The Ghost of Christmas Present
shows Scrooge the Cratchit
family’s Christmas. They have a
tiny meal but are all happy.
Scrooge is desperate to change
his fate and promises to change
his ways. He suddenly finds
himself tucked up in his bed.
Scrooge is visited by Jacob Marley’s ghost
who tells him that, due to his greedy life, he
has to wonder the Earth wearing chains.
He tells Scrooge that 3 spirits will visit him
during the next 3 nights.
The spectre shows Scrooge’s
nephew’s Christmas party where
the guests are playing games and
mocking Scrooge.
Scrooge rushes out onto the street
hoping to share his newfound
Christmas spirit. He is kind and
charitable to everyone he meets.
The Ghost of Christmas Past
takes Scrooge back to school
when he was a child. He was a
lonely child and had a sister
called Fanny.
Scrooge meets two starved
children, Ignorance and Want.
These represent the treatment of
the poor by the rich in society.
Scrooge sends a turkey to the
Cratchit house and goes to Fred’s
party. He now understands the
meaning of Christmas.
We learn that Scrooge did an
apprenticeship for a jolly man named
Fezziwig who threw incredible parties
and was an excellent boss.
The Ghost of Christmas Present
arrives and shows Scrooge the death
of an unknown man. People are
pleased he is dead and are selling his
things.
As the years go by, he continues to
celebrate Christmas with all his heart
and treats Tiny Tim as if he were his own
child. He gives gifts to the poor and is
generous and kind.
 STAVE ONE SUMMARY

The chapter starts with an It’s Christmas Eve in Fred then invites Scrooge to Scrooge begrudgingly He is visited by Marley’s
PLOT

introduction to Marley and London. Scrooge refuses spend Christmas with him and gives Bob Christmas Day ghost who warns him

how he is ‘dead as a door to pay for extra coal to Scrooge refuses. off. about his fate - he will

nail’. Scrooge does not heat the Counting House. Two charity workers come in Scrooge walks home and end up like Marley in the

seem to grieve much for to spread Christmas Spirit and has dinner on his own. afterlife.

Marley. Scrooge kicks them out.

“But he [Scrooge] was a “No wind that blew was [Christmas is] “a kind, “Scrooge took his "I wear the chain I forged in
QUOTES

tight-fisted hand at the bitterer than he, no falling forgiving, charitable, melancholy dinner in his life," replied the Ghost. "I
grindstone" snow was more intent pleasant time.” (Fred) own usual melancholy made it link by link, and yard
KEY

[Scrooge is] “sharp as upon its purpose, no tavern” by yard; I girded it on of my

flint“ and “solitary as an pelting rain less open to own free will, and of my own
oyster" entreaty.” free will I wore it.” (Marley)

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 STAVE TWO SUMMARY

Scrooge returns to his We go forward to Lastly, we see Belle break Scrooge doesn’t want
PLOT

Scrooge awakes at
school days where he is a Fezziwig’s party where off their engagement. He to see anymore from
midnight and is visited by
lonely boy. We meet his Scrooge was an then sees that Belle has his past. He begs the
the first of the three
sister Fanny and find out apprentice and attended a moved on, has an idyllic Ghost to take him
spirits.
that his father is harsh and Christmas party. family and husband of her back.
The Ghost of Christmas
strict on Scrooge. own.
Past is gentle and firm at
the same time.
QUOTES

“It was a strange figure -- "A solitary child, neglected “Fuel was heaped on the “Another idle has “But the relentless Ghost
like a child: yet not so like a by his friends" fire... snug, warm and dry” displaced me... a golden pinioned him in both his
KEY

child as like an old man...." (description of Fezzwig’s one” arms, and forced him to
party) observe”

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The second of the three
spirits then visits Scrooge
PLOT
when the clock strikes, the
Ghost of Christmas Present.
Scrooge touches the robe of
the second spirit and he sees
the city on Christmas
morning.
“there sat a jolly Giant,
QUOTES
glorious to see”
KEY
STAVE THREE SUMMARY
He then sees the Cratchit’s
Christmas- they have
hardly enough food. Bob
proposes a toast to
Scrooge, but Mrs Cratchit
is not happy about this.
Scrooge is worried for Tiny
Tim.
“Mr Scrooge, the Founder
of this Feast”
“I see a vacant seat. The
child will die”
The Ghost then takes
Scrooge to see a range of
Christmases where people
who could be unhappy (like
the miners or the sailors) are
happy at Christmas. At
Fred’s, all the guests mock
Scrooge.
“And every man on board,
waking or sleeping, good
or bad, had had a kinder
word for another on that
day than on any day in the
year”
The ghost shows Scrooge
two starving children named
Ignorance and Want. These
are the two allegorical
figures in the novel. They
warn the reader about greed
and shrugging responsibility.
“Will you decide what men
shall live, what men shall
die?” (The Ghost questions
Scrooge).
The spirit disappears as
the clock strikes and
Scrooge sees a hooded
phantom coming
towards him.
“a solemn Phantom,
draped and hooded,
coming, like a mist along
the ground”
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 STAVE FOUR SUMMARY

The ghosts takes Scrooge to The Cratchits are

The Ghost shows
PLOT

The phantom approaches He sees businessmen

a pawnshop where people struggling to cope with the
Scrooge; he is silent. discussing a dead man Scrooge a grave with his
are selling a dead man’s death of Tiny Tim. Bob
Scrooge is terrified and and that they would only name on the headstone.
possessions. Scrooge gets to tries to stay positive and
pleads with the phantom. go to his funeral if there
see the horrible state of the comforts his family.
was food.
poorest areas of London.

“I fear you more than any One of the merchants is “reeked with crime, with “But however and “Assure me that I yet may
QUOTES

spectre I have seen. But described as having a filth, and misery” (a whenever we part from change these shadows
KEY

as I know your purpose is ‘monstrous chin’ and description of a poor one another, I am sure you
to do me good, I am another has a mole on his street) we shall none of us forget have shown me, by an
prepared to bear you face that ‘shook like the poor Tiny Tim” altered life!"
company with a thankful gills of a turkey-cock’
heart.”

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Scrooge wakes up on
PLOT
Christmas morning.
Scrooge is grateful for
a second chance in
life and sings the
praises of Marley.
QUOTES
“No fog, no mist; clear,
bright, jovial, stirring, cold;
KEY
cold, piping for the blood
to dance to; Golden
sunlight”
STAVE FIVE SUMMARY
He pays the first boy to
deliver a huge turkey to
the Cratchit family. He
asks the boy to get the
biggest turkey available.
“It was a Turkey! He
never could have stood
upon his legs, that bird. ”
He apologises to the He visits Fred and he is The novel ends with a
charity workers and welcomed in. The next description of how Scrooge
donates money enough to morning he meets Bob at has changed by helping
cover all the years he did the office and raises his everyone. He becomes like
not help. wages. a father to Tiny Tim.
“he became as good a “And so, as Tiny Tim
"Not a farthing less. A
great many back- friend, as good a master, observed, God Bless Us,
payments are included in and as good a man, as the Every One!”
it, I assure you.” good old city knew”
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 Language Analysis Sentence Starters
Analytical verbs...

Creates Presents
Analytical verbs (pick the most Big ideas (pick the most relevant Evokes Conveys
Illustrates Suggests
relevant one) one) Implies Reveals
Explores The reality of Portrays Insinuates
Highlights
Exposes The power of Explores
Establishes Develops
Criticises The complexity of
Cautions The inevitably of Evaluative...

Celebrates The danger of

Reveals The difficulties of Striking Pivotal
Shocking Compelling
Subverts The vulnerability of Disturbing Disquieting
Teaches The pressures of Provocative Emphatic
Warns The consequences of Subtle Precise
Challenging Adroit
Crucial Damning

The author uses [the focus of the question] as a tool Connectives...

to [analytical verb] [big idea] because….

Therefore Whereas
Equally Consequently
Similarly Despite this
Significantly Furthermore
Crucially Contrastingly
Moreover However
Notably Consequently
 How to write a PETAL paragraph

POINT: The author uses [wording of the question] as a tool to warn/expose/criticise/celebrate _____
because

EVIDENCE: This can be seen in the line_________ because _________

TECHNIQUE: The word/word type “_______” makes me think of_____ because________

ANALYSIS: It also has connotations of _______ which suggests/implies/demonstrates that_______

This makes the reader feel_________because___________

LINK TO CONTEXT/BIG IDEAS: This links to the context/themes of the text because__________

LINK TO QUESTION: Therefore, this shows that _____ is ______ because ______________
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Key Quotations

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Key Quotations

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