Poverty/ Social Responsibility
Characters
Bob Cratchit - Is a microcosm for the poor and how it affects people.
Scrooge - Shows what happens to those around him when he isn’t socially aware and doesn’t take social
responsibility.
Fezziwig - Demonstrates how people can be socially responsible and help those in poverty by doing
things like his Christmas party.
Ignorance/want - Demonstrate the effects of poverty on children in society. Shows how it becomes a
cycle and without the help of those with money, it cannot be changed.
Settings/Images
Marley’s chains - Acts as a symbol for social responsibility to help those less fortunate than others.
Pawn Shop - Shows the extent of things that those in poverty will go to, to survive and provide for their
families, even if it goes against expectations at the time.
Cratchit’s Pudding - represents how those in poverty are grateful for what they have, even if it ain't
much. Shows the divide between social classes and how those in higher classes should help those in
lower classes.
Quotes
“I wear the chain I forged in life”.
Shows the effects not being socially responsible have on both the poor, but also how it can affect the
people with money and wealth in the afterlife. This scares Scrooge into beginning his journey to
redemption.
“Would you so soon put out the worldly light I give?”
Shows how Malthusian capitalists are so quick to shield themselves from the horrors of life. The light
represents the hope that they have and by putting it out, Scrooge shows the loss of hope for those in
poverty due to people like him.
“Oh, a wonderful pudding!”
Shows how those in poverty are grateful despite those with wealth not helping them, and in most cases
making it worse. Shows the importance of Christmas is family rather than wealth.
“We may sleep to-night with light hearts”.
Represents the sense of relief those in poverty feel without having debt to someone above their own
social standing. Shows how something so small can be so significant to those who need help.
“A great many back payments are included.”
Clearly shows the way that Scrooge has changed and wants to reform the way he acts towards the poor.
Big Ideas;
Scrooge is used by Dickens to represents the selfish attitude of the
upper class within Victorian society.
As the novella progresses, he begins to transform, starting his
journey to redemption and becoming more socially responsible.
, The thematic focus on poverty and social injustice underpins the
novella. Dickens believed in using literature to convey ethical and
political statements.
Christmas
Characters
The ghost of Christmas present - Is the embodiment of the Christmas spirit, shows how people should
behave around that time.
The Cratchits - Show how money isn’t needed to have a good time and family is the most important thing
Fezziwig - through his Christmas party he shows how people can be giving and help those in need
especially around Christmas time.
Settings/Images
The GoCPr’s robe - Green in colour and represents Christmas at the time through its colour and the way
it is positioned to show his “capacious breast” which shows his giving and kind nature.
Cratchit’s pudding - Wasn’t big but shows how people don’t need lots to be able to celebrate Christmas
with their family.
Mrs Cratchit’s ribbons - The idea that she is “brave” in ribbons represents how she uses Christmas as a
time to mask what is going on in society as best she can for her children. Wants to celebrate as best she
can cover the problems in society.
Church - Was something everyone attended as faith was strong. Many people in poverty came closer to
church during Christmas in the hope that God would help them as those with money wouldn’t.
Quotes
“Bah humbug”
Shows how he begins the novella being dismissive of everything to do with Christmas. This contradicts
him at the end of the novella.
“Merry Christmas!”
Shows him at the end of the novella. This creates a Juxtaposition to the beginning of his attitudes
towards Christmas.
“Turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat”
Demonstrates to Scrooge what he could have if he wasn’t “tight-fisted” and that he has enough to help
those in need, whilst still having enough to live a more than comfortable lifestyle.
“Capacious breast”
The ghost of Christmas presents is the embodiment of the Christmas spirit. This shows his generosity,
much like Fezziwig being described as an “organ of benevolence”.
“You must have a cab”
Shows Scrooge starting to become more socially aware, especially around Christmas, by making the boy
as happy as possible, and making it as easy as possible.
Big ideas;
Characters
Bob Cratchit - Is a microcosm for the poor and how it affects people.
Scrooge - Shows what happens to those around him when he isn’t socially aware and doesn’t take social
responsibility.
Fezziwig - Demonstrates how people can be socially responsible and help those in poverty by doing
things like his Christmas party.
Ignorance/want - Demonstrate the effects of poverty on children in society. Shows how it becomes a
cycle and without the help of those with money, it cannot be changed.
Settings/Images
Marley’s chains - Acts as a symbol for social responsibility to help those less fortunate than others.
Pawn Shop - Shows the extent of things that those in poverty will go to, to survive and provide for their
families, even if it goes against expectations at the time.
Cratchit’s Pudding - represents how those in poverty are grateful for what they have, even if it ain't
much. Shows the divide between social classes and how those in higher classes should help those in
lower classes.
Quotes
“I wear the chain I forged in life”.
Shows the effects not being socially responsible have on both the poor, but also how it can affect the
people with money and wealth in the afterlife. This scares Scrooge into beginning his journey to
redemption.
“Would you so soon put out the worldly light I give?”
Shows how Malthusian capitalists are so quick to shield themselves from the horrors of life. The light
represents the hope that they have and by putting it out, Scrooge shows the loss of hope for those in
poverty due to people like him.
“Oh, a wonderful pudding!”
Shows how those in poverty are grateful despite those with wealth not helping them, and in most cases
making it worse. Shows the importance of Christmas is family rather than wealth.
“We may sleep to-night with light hearts”.
Represents the sense of relief those in poverty feel without having debt to someone above their own
social standing. Shows how something so small can be so significant to those who need help.
“A great many back payments are included.”
Clearly shows the way that Scrooge has changed and wants to reform the way he acts towards the poor.
Big Ideas;
Scrooge is used by Dickens to represents the selfish attitude of the
upper class within Victorian society.
As the novella progresses, he begins to transform, starting his
journey to redemption and becoming more socially responsible.
, The thematic focus on poverty and social injustice underpins the
novella. Dickens believed in using literature to convey ethical and
political statements.
Christmas
Characters
The ghost of Christmas present - Is the embodiment of the Christmas spirit, shows how people should
behave around that time.
The Cratchits - Show how money isn’t needed to have a good time and family is the most important thing
Fezziwig - through his Christmas party he shows how people can be giving and help those in need
especially around Christmas time.
Settings/Images
The GoCPr’s robe - Green in colour and represents Christmas at the time through its colour and the way
it is positioned to show his “capacious breast” which shows his giving and kind nature.
Cratchit’s pudding - Wasn’t big but shows how people don’t need lots to be able to celebrate Christmas
with their family.
Mrs Cratchit’s ribbons - The idea that she is “brave” in ribbons represents how she uses Christmas as a
time to mask what is going on in society as best she can for her children. Wants to celebrate as best she
can cover the problems in society.
Church - Was something everyone attended as faith was strong. Many people in poverty came closer to
church during Christmas in the hope that God would help them as those with money wouldn’t.
Quotes
“Bah humbug”
Shows how he begins the novella being dismissive of everything to do with Christmas. This contradicts
him at the end of the novella.
“Merry Christmas!”
Shows him at the end of the novella. This creates a Juxtaposition to the beginning of his attitudes
towards Christmas.
“Turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat”
Demonstrates to Scrooge what he could have if he wasn’t “tight-fisted” and that he has enough to help
those in need, whilst still having enough to live a more than comfortable lifestyle.
“Capacious breast”
The ghost of Christmas presents is the embodiment of the Christmas spirit. This shows his generosity,
much like Fezziwig being described as an “organ of benevolence”.
“You must have a cab”
Shows Scrooge starting to become more socially aware, especially around Christmas, by making the boy
as happy as possible, and making it as easy as possible.
Big ideas;
