Transcript Slide 1
A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens Charles Dickens Born February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth, England Died 1870 Published A Christmas Carol In 1843 Behind A Christmas Carol • What Charles Dickens went through in his life and the time period he lived in shaped the story A Christmas Carol. • His whole life was a financial struggle. One reason he wrote A Christmas Carol was because he needed money. • Dickens knew what it was like to be poor and to work for what he had. In A Christmas Carol he showed what it was like to be poor and work hard. Dickens -1824 • At 12 years old his dad was sent to debtors prison along with his mother and three of the children. • Dickens was sent to live with Mrs. Roylance, a family friend, and to work at Warren Blacking Factory putting labels on bottles of shoe polish bottles. Dickens was forever changed. He saw what it was like first hand to be poor and treated unfairly. Marshalsea Prison Dickens 1824-1843 • His father was released from prison after inheriting money. • In 1827 Dickens began work in a law office. • In 1828 he worked as a court reporter. • In 1833 he published his first story titled “A Dinner at Popular Walk.” • In 1836 Dickens married. • He wrote various stories including A Christmas Carol. Writing A Christmas Carol Dickens: • in early 1843 toured the Cornish tin mines • saw children working in appalling conditions • then went to Field Lane Ragged School, “a school set up for the half-starved, illiterate street children” • wanted to write a pamphlet to show conditions • decided to write A Christmas Carol instead • wanted to "strike a sledge hammer blow" for the poor • began writing A Christmas Carol in October, 1843 • finished by the end of November • published for Christmas History of A Christmas Carol 1843 Published • 1843-published by Dickens • 1844 – it became a drama • 1867 – Reader version-written and read by Dickens • 1901- silent film version • 1933 - radio production • 1938 - talking film version • 1946 – tv play version • 1951 -film with Alister Sim as Scrooge Time Period Victorian Era Named after Queen Victoria – became queen in 1837 – died 1901 – married to Prince Albert – part of this time is called the Industrial Revolution People of the Victorian Era – They were very proper and manners were important. – They were very rich or very poor; no in between. Impact of A Christmas Carol • Before A Christmas Carol: – Christmas was banned in 1647 which led to “Pro-Christmas” riots – This ban lasted for thirteen years until 1660 – By the 1820’s the holiday nearly died out • After A Christmas Carol: – “In A Christmas Carol the principles of giving to your fellow man, appreciating your family and simply enjoying the world around you were the main themes that revived the holiday in 1843 (A Christmas Carol the Impact of a Folktale).” – “It influenced many aspects of Christmas that are celebrated today in Western culture, such as family gatherings, seasonal food and drink, dancing, games, and a festive generosity of spirit (A Christmas Carol). – Dickens’ “Carol Philosophy” Versions (Genre) • Novel – title » carol means song of joy – no chapters – in staves » musical staff » staff of lines • Drama – stage directions are important • Reader version – Charles Dickens wrote and read it Terms You Will Know After Reading A Christmas Carol • Vocabulary words • Character change : • • • • • Foreshadowing Mood Symbols Interjections Levels of meaning: – literal – interpretive – implied – dynamic character – static character • Theme • Plot – Conflict (internal and external) – Major complications (events in sequence) – Climax – Resolution • Allusions Works Cited • A Christmas Carol. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Christmas_Carol. November 29, 2010 • A Christmas Carol. http://www.fidnet.com/~dap1955/dickens/carol.htm l. November 29, 2010 • A Christmas Carol The Impact of a Folktale. http://www.suite101.com/content/a-christmascarol-a10143. November 30, 2010 • Charles Dickens. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens. October 26, 2010 A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens