GCSE English Literature: A Christmas Carol — context (video)

Dickens' Victorian context — poverty, the Poor Laws and social responsibility — from Mr Bruff. Each card deep-links to the video.

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Who is credited with bringing the decorated Christmas tree to Britain?
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Prince Albert, who married Queen Victoria. He brought the tradition from Germany in 1841.
In what year was the first Christmas card created?
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1843, when Henry Cole asked an artist to design one for him.
How much did early Christmas cards cost in Victorian Britain?
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One shilling each, which was expensive, so many children made their own instead.
What did Dickens believe Christmas should be a time of?
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A time of peace and goodwill to everyone, no matter their social status.
What caused overpopulation in Victorian cities?
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The industrial revolution, as people moved from farming the land to working in factories.
In what year was the New Poor Law introduced in Britain?
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1834.
What did the New Poor Law of 1834 require jobless people to do to receive financial assistance?
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Enter a workhouse if they wished to receive support with money and housing.
Why were workhouses deliberately made very difficult places?
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There was a belief that poor people were lazy, so workhouses were made difficult to discourage people from wanting to go there.
In A Christmas Carol, Dickens presents ? as a way out of poverty through the two children Ignorance and Want.
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education
In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge represents hard-hearted businessmen, contrasted with the poor but hardworking ? family.
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Cratchit

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