A Christmas Carol - Essay Skills
English
GCSE
8 questions
~16 mins
1 views0 downloads
About This Worksheet
A worksheet focusing on essay skills for GCSE students analysing A Christmas Carol, with exam-style questions emphasizing literary techniques and critical analysis.
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A Christmas Carol - Essay Skills
Subject: EnglishGrade: GCSE
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Untitled Worksheet
Grade GCSE
A
Scene Summary and Context
In Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, the narrative opens in Victorian London, portraying a bleak and chilly winter evening. The scene introduces Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly and cold-hearted man who is visited by his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley, in a ghostly apparition. Marley’s ghost warns Scrooge of the consequences of his selfishness and greed, setting the tone for the moral lessons to come. The story uses dark, foreboding imagery to emphasise Scrooge’s moral blindness, contrasting with moments of warmth and generosity that hint at his potential redemption. Dickens employs vivid descriptions of the urban landscape—frost-covered windows, fog-laden streets—to evoke a sense of gloom and societal neglect. The narrative reflects Victorian values surrounding charity, social responsibility, and the importance of compassion. The phrase 'Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail' exemplifies Dickens' colloquial style, adding immediacy and humour. This scene establishes themes of transformation and moral awakening that are central to the novella’s message, while setting a tone that balances critique with hope for change.
1.
Summarise the setting of the opening scene in A Christmas Carol.
[2 marks]2.
How does Dickens establish the tone of the story in this scene?
[2 marks]3.
Identify a phrase from the passage that Dickens uses to add humour.
[1 mark]4.
Explain the significance of Marley's warning in the context of the story.
[3 marks]B
Analysis of Literary Techniques
Dickens describes the city with phrases like 'frost-covered windows' and 'fog-laden streets', creating a visual of gloom. The ghost’s warning uses direct speech to heighten immediacy. Dickens' colloquial style, exemplified by idiomatic phrases, adds humour and relatability, even in grim contexts. The depiction of Marley’s ghost employs spectral imagery to evoke fear and moral consequences.
1.
Identify and explain the use of at least two literary techniques Dickens uses in this passage.
[4 marks]2.
How does Dickens’ use of imagery contribute to the overall mood of the scene?
[2 marks]3.
Describe how Dickens uses humour in this extract and its effect on the reader.
[3 marks]C
Creative Writing Prompt
Write a short monologue from the perspective of Ebenezer Scrooge after his first ghostly encounter. Use at least three literary techniques to convey his emotional state and future intentions.
1.
Create a monologue that reveals Scrooge's initial feelings and hints at his potential change. Use literary techniques such as metaphor, dialogue, or imagery.
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Details
- Created
- 12/31/2025
- Updated
- 12/31/2025
- Type
- worksheet