Context Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is Malthusian theory
Malthusian theory, developed by Thomas Malthus, suggests that population growth will eventually outpace food production, leading to widespread famine, disease, and social unrest
What are facts from Dickens childhood
John Dickens, a clerk, struggled with debt, leading to imprisonment in a debtors’ prison, where Charles had to leave school at 12 to work in a blacking factory
Where did Dickens draw inspiration from while describing the cratchits home
He drew inspiration from his family’s modest four-room house at 16 Bayham Street in Camden
Why did dickens write a christmas carol
Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol to raise awareness of some of the problems in Victorian society. He thought that many of these problems could be solved if people were kinder to each other
What did dickens read that drove him to write a christmas carol
Dickens set out to write his pamphlet-turned-book in spring 1843, having just read government report on child labor in the United Kingdom
What did dickens want to do to the reader
he wanted to hit the reader with a metaphorical ‘sledge hammer blow’ making the them rethink their generosity and respect to the poor
Why did dickens set the novella at christmas time
The novella takes place on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and uses the ideas of generosity and compassion that we associate with Christmas to highlight the transformation of the main character
What is the religious context of the novella
The Spirits, who guide Scrooge, can be interpreted as divine figures, highlighting the idea of divine intervention in inspiring positive change
What are the links between a christmas carol and dante’s inferno
Both “A Christmas Carol” and “Dante’s Inferno” explore themes of sin, punishment, and redemption, using guided journeys to illuminate the characters’ moral state and potential for change
A Christmas carol links to post industrial revolution London
The novella was written against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution, a period of significant social and economic change in Victorian England where poverty was on the rise
Why did Dickens use spirits
Dickens branded A Christmas Carol as a ghost story, perhaps because it was a popular tradition to read ghost stories during the festive time.It also links to divine intervention
What physiological theory is shown when scrooge visits his past
Scrooge visiting his juvenile self links to Sigmand Freuds repressed mind theory. individuals unconsciously push unacceptable thoughts, emotions, and memories, particularly those associated with trauma or anxiety, out of conscious awareness
What does gin lane and beer street represent
Gin Lane shows shocking scenes of infanticide, starvation, madness, decay, and suicide, while Beer Street depicts industry, health, and thriving commerce.This links to the economic differences in 19th century London
