A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens About Charles

A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens

About Charles Dickens • Born February 7, 1812 to John and Elizabeth Dickens in Portsmouth, England. • Charles was the second of eight children. • Died of a stroke on June 9, 1870. • Buried in Poet's Corner of Westminster Abbey.

Child Labor In Victorian England • In 1840, only 20% of children were in school • Many children worked 16 hour days • Worked in Iron and Coal mines (where children began work at age 5 and generally died before they were 25) • A law in 1847 limited both adults and children to ten hours of work daily with a six day work week

Workhouses • In 1834 the Poor Law Amendment Act [PLAA] • Poverty was the result either of idleness or of a personality defect • Those who claimed poor relief and entered the workhouse were called 'inmates’ • The inmates' own clothes were taken from them and each was given a uniform to wear

Debtor’s Prison • • • Debt was a crime in Victorian England 1770's John Howard counted 2, 437 debtors out of 4, 084 prisoners Such prisons were filthy, ratinfested places People remained in prison until their debt was paid Charles Dickens father was jailed for debt Charles went to work at age twelve to pay the debt

A Victorian Christmas • The Christmas tree-introduced into England in 1841 by the German Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria • Decorated with lighted candles, candies, and fancy cakes hung from the branches • St. Nicholas' birthday was on December 6 th • Children left out their wooden shoes on the eve of December 6 th, hoping that St. Nicholas would fill them with sweets • They used to call him "Santa Niklaus", which then became "Sinter Klass", which finally became "Santa Claus” • Thomas Nast drew an illustration called, "Merry Old Santa Claus" for "Harper's Weekly" in 1881 And The Origin of Santa Claus

Victorian Christmas Music • Before Queen Victoria, Christmas Carols were rarely sung • Their popularity grew through Victorian Times • Franz Gruber's "Silent Night" was written at a Lutheran Church near Leipzig Germany on Christmas Eve, 1824 • Early in the 1870 s, "Jingle Bells” was a favorite in America • “Hark the Herald Angel Sings” • “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” was a favorite. It originally was a pub song with different words. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Hark the Herald Angel Sings Jingle Bells Silent Night

A Christmas Carol • Separated into five Staves (chapters) • Three Spirits visit – Spirit of Christmas Past – Spirit of Christmas Present – Spirit of Christmas Future

Scrooge the Businessman • The matter of making money is all important • Works all day recording how much profit he has made into his ledger, but uses none to enjoy life • His employee, Bob Cratchit, suffers without complaint

Forewarned by Marley • Marley warns Scrooge of dangers in afterlife if he doesn’t change • Tells of three visiting Spirits

Spirit of Christmas Past • Spirit of Christmas Past visits Scrooge as a boy • Fezziwig, Scrooge’s previous boss, understood that enjoying life was as important as business

Spirit of Christmas Present • Spirit of Christmas Present has but a short life • He had more than 1800 brothers (Today it would be over 2000!) • Sprinkled Magic over people to create pleasant feelings

Spirit of Christmas Future • Scrooge sees a death without emotion • His fellow businessmen will not attend this businessman’s funeral • Scrooge wonders if the course is set or can it be changed

Redemption • Scrooge responds to Spirits by becoming the Friend to all of London • He uses his money to better many people’s lives