The average school term is six weeks... did you know that is exactly the same length of time it took Charles Dickens to write 'A Christmas Carol'?  Impressive right?

Throughout his life, Dickens worked with charities to tackle key social issues, he certainly couldn't be described as a 'Bah Humbug'.  He was particularly concerned about the outcome of impoverished children who turned to crime.  He was passionate about education, and how it had the potential to improve children's lives.  Do you see evidence of this in the story?

As you read this work you will be aware that Dickens explores many key themes.  Some of these include redemption, Christmas, compassion, the role of family, and forgiveness.  

It's important that you understand these themes, can find support for them within the text and can explain the impact of these themes on the reader.

In this activity, you will be able to evaluate the effectiveness of key themes in 'A Christmas Carol'.

You should always refer to your own text when working through these examples.  These quotations are for reference only.