GCSE English Literature podcasts - Dickens' A Christmas Carol

Jean: Hello and welcome to the BBC Bitesize English Literature podcast. It’s the series designed to help you tackle your GCSE in English literature.

Carl: So we take a look at number of different texts that you might be studying and then go on to explore the characters, the plot, the context, some of the key things that you might need to ace your revision.

Jean: I'm Jean Menzies, author and ancient historian.

Carl: I'm Carl Anka, journalist and author. And, that noise may well be a clue to the text that we are going to be taking a look at today.

Jean: It's A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Carl: Are you full of the joys of festive season Jean? Or are you a bit of a Scrooge, as some may say?

Jean: I am very much a festive person, but I see what you did there because Ebenezer Scrooge is going to come up a lot in this series, as he is an integral character in A Christmas Carol.

Carl: Bah, humbug.

Jean: In this episode, we're going to take a look at the plot of A Christmas Carol. Now, it's worth saying that there will be spoilers. So, if you're not quite finished reading, or you're not ready for spoilers, just come back later.

Carl: Let's get into it.

Jean: So, A Christmas Carol is a story about a man named Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserable elderly man who is visited by ghosts around Christmas time. Even if you've never read it, you've probably stumbled across it at some point, because there are so many TV adaptations, films, retellings and much much more out there.

Carl: If you're studying A Christmas Carol, I really urge you to seek out an adaptation to watch or to listen along with too. It can be really helpful to bring the story to life.

Jean: And, there is also an audiobook version on BBC Sounds that you can listen to, which we’ll be hearing extracts from throughout the series to help highlight key quotes you can use in your exam. Just search for A Christmas Carol in BBC Sounds. And, we're going to hear our first quote from that audiobook now. This is Ebenezer Scrooge.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: I wish to be left alone,
Narrator: said Scrooge.
Ebenezer Scrooge: Since you asked me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas. And, I can't afford to make idle people merry.

Carl: And we've just heard our first quote. That quote gives us an insight into the personality of Ebenezer Scrooge. And, he's being set up as an elderly and miserable man here. It's Christmas Eve, but he has no interest in Christmas and he doesn't think anyone else should either.

Jean: Like we said, it’s Christmas Eve and Ebenezer Scrooge makes his clerk, meaning his member of staff, Bob Cratchit, work in the cold because his fire is so much smaller than Scrooge’s. In fact, we get a sense very early on that this is a man who only really cares about making money and doesn't care so much about people.

Carl: Scrooge also refuses an invite to his nephew's Christmas party. His nephew’s called Fred. And on top of that, Scrooge also refuses to give some money to a charity collector, which reinforces everything you've just said there Jean, Scrooge likes money, he does not like people. All of this is in stave one. We’ll discuss this use of stave instead of chapter in episode six of this podcast, when we look at the structure of this tale a little bit more.

Jean: So, we know that Scrooge is an old man who's set on making money. He doesn't believe in giving money to charity, and he's not interested in celebrating Christmas. But what happens next?

Carl: So, the ghost of Jacob Marley arrives. Jacob Marley was the old business partner of Ebenezer Scrooge, who died seven years earlier.

Jean: And this man Scrooge, who doesn't have time for Christmas or charity or being particularly nice, definitely does not have time for ghosts.

Carl: No, Scrooge does not. And we'll talk about this more when we discuss the character of Scrooge in episode two. But this is a moment where we really see the stubbornness in him. Now Scrooge doesn't want to believe that he's seen a ghost, so he just pretends it's not real.

Jean: Oh, but it is real. And, Marley lets Scrooge know exactly how death is for him. Listen to this.

EXTRACT
Jacob Marley: I wear the chain I forged in life,
Narrator: replied the ghost.
Jacob Marley: I made it link by link and yard by yard. I girded it on of my own free will and of my own free will I wore it.

Jean: So here, Marley is essentially telling Scrooge that Marley, just like Scrooge, spent his life obsessed with making money and not caring about anything else. But now, he's tortured by the guilt and remorse he feels for living that way and the people he failed to help.

Carl: Marley also tells Scrooge that three ghosts will visit him. But as I've said before, Scrooge is still sceptical.

Jean: And, that is where we leave stave one.

Carl: So, we go into stave two, or chapter two. This happens when Scrooge wakes up. And, just like Marley told him, the first ghost appears.

Jean: That ghost being the Ghost of Christmas Past. So, let's hear some of what happens with the Ghost of Christmas Past.

EXTRACT
Narrator: He was conscious of 1000 odours floating in the air, each one connected with 1000 thoughts and hopes and joys and cares long, long forgotten.

Jean: So, the ghost of Christmas past takes Scrooge back in time and shows him and the reader a very different side to Scrooge that we haven't seen before. And as that quote just told us, someone with hopes and joy.

Carl: It takes Scrooge back in time and shows him scenes from his childhood and growing up. We see Scrooge being left behind at school during Christmas, we learn about his sister, who he loved very much, who has now died. Scrooge’s sister ended up being Fred’s mum.

Jean: We learn about the man Fezziwig that Scrooge was an apprentice for and the Christmas party that he threw at the time. And then, we meet Scrooge’s fiancee Belle and learn that she broke off her engagement, because she believed Scrooge loved money more than her. The ghost shows Scrooge the bell is now happily married to someone else and Scrooge can't take it anymore.

Carl: It's through all these meetings that Scrooge starts to regret some of his behaviours, especially the way he's behaved towards Bob Cratchit, the carol singers, and to Fred and to Belle.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something, that's all.

Jean: We can hear him there regretting not giving something to the carol singer. He already sounds like he's changed from the man who threatened to throw a ruler at the boy singing carols earlier.

Carl: Then we head into stave three, and it's time for the Ghost of Christmas Present to take Scrooge to Bob Cratchit’s house. This is where Scrooge sees Bob Cratchit’s son, who is very ill, but very kind. You might know him as Tiny Tim. Scrooge then finds out that Tiny Tim may die if the future doesn't change quickly.

Jean: He also sees people across the city enjoying Christmas, including his nephew Fred, who's celebrating Christmas with his friends. And he hears Fred see this when speaking about Scrooge.

EXTRACT
Fred: He's a comical old fellow,
Narrator: said Scrooge’s nephew.
Fred: That's the truth, and not so pleasant as he might be. However, his offences carry their own punishment and I have nothing to say against him.

Jean: As Fred speaks kindly about Scrooge, despite everything, Scrooge starts to thaw and as Dickens describes it, become light of heart.

Carl: Scrooge is changing.

Jean: Yep.

Carl: But, there's still more to come.

EXTRACT
Narrator: The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached.

Carl: In stave four, the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come arrives. It does not speak, but just points the way to show Scrooge the future.

Jean: And the future isn't pretty. Scrooge sees horrible things. A dead man who's been stolen from and no one seems to care he's died. It also shows the Cratchit family after Tiny Tim's death. And that's awful, too. But they're all resolving to look after each other, so there's some comfort in that scene.

Carl: Scrooge doesn't want to know who the unwatched, unwept, uncared for dead man is at first. But when he does eventually face it, Scrooge finds out that it’s his name on the gravestone. From then on, he vows to change things.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the past, the present and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach.

Jean: And then we're into stave five, where he really has changed hasn’t he. He says here that he will honour Christmas and he will remember the lessons that the ghosts have given him.

Carl: He has. Scrooge goes to Fred's house to join him with Christmas and we see a lighter and happier person as they enjoy Christmas altogether. We also see Scrooge on Boxing Day back in the office, where he gives Bob Cratchit a raise in salary and offers to help Tiny Tim and the rest of the family. Jean - how does the ending make you feel?

Jean: I just think it's such a hopeful ending that somebody can change. And, that that change can then affect the lives of so many other people positively it's yeah, it's hopeful. And I think it's only right that we end on a line from stave five that really sums up who Scrooge turned out to be, because he was absolutely true to his word.

EXTRACT
Narrator: Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all and infinitely more. And to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father.

Carl: Thank you for listening to episode one of the Bitesize English literature podcast all about A Christmas Carol.

Jean: There's still a lot more to learn, so take a listen to the rest of the episodes of Bitesize English literature on BBC Sounds to find out more. In episode two, we'll be exploring some of the characters from A Christmas Carol.

Carl: Hello, and welcome to the BBC Bitesize English literature podcast. This is the series designed to help you tackle your GCSE in English literature.

Jean: So we take a look at a number of different texts that you might be studying and explore the characters, the plot, the context, the key things that you need to ace your exam. You can use this podcast however you like to help with your revision, whether that's listening on a walk, or making notes as you go - find what works for you. I'm Jean Menzies author and ancient historian.

Carl: I'm Carl Anka, journalist and author. And in this series, we're taking a closer look at Charles Dickens’ novella A Christmas Carol.

Jean: So, we already discussed the plot in episode one. And in this episode, we're going to take a look at two of the characters starting, of course, with Ebenezer Scrooge. This is the narrator describing him.

EXTRACT
Narrator: Oh, but he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge.

Carl: I think that's a good quote to start with for Scrooge at the beginning of this novella, isn't it? Tight-fisted hand at the grindstone. Tight-fisted is a saying to describe someone who keeps all their money to themselves. A grindstone is used here as a metaphor for work.

Jean: Yep. Charles Dickens sets him up as a miserly man, meaning he spends as little money as possible. He's a very unpleasant man who really dislikes Christmas. In fact, one of the most famous literary quotes comes from Ebenezer Scrooge. Bah, humbug.

Carl: Bah, humbug indeed.

Jean: Bah, humbug has really come to mean someone who dislikes things are generally thought of as fun. For example, Christmas.

Carl: So true. This is where it came from. But, Scrooge doesn't stay as a miserly, tight old man all the way through A Christmas Carol, does he?

Jean: That is the point of the whole story, though. His change.

Carl: Yes, exactly. As we see with three ghosts who visit Scrooge, they show him the consequences of his actions and they show him the past, present, and future, and then we see him start to soften. There's some great quotes in A Christmas Carol that illustrate the change that's happening in Scrooge.

EXTRACT
Narrator: And Scrooge sat down upon a form and wept to see his poor forgotten self as he had used to be.

Jean: So this is in stave, or chapter two, when Scrooge sees his younger self with the Ghost of Christmas Past, and we're seeing him start to thaw and show real emotion other than misery and annoyance, and that continues.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: No, no,
Narrator: said Scrooge.
Ebenezer Scrooge: Oh, no. Kind spirit, say we’ll be spared.

Carl: This is from stave three, where the Ghost of Christmas Present shows Scrooge the Cratchits. And, Scrooge is very, very upset at the thought that Tiny Tim may die. He's becoming a very different man from the one of the beginning of the story, who had no pity for those who are suffering from poverty.

Jean: And, then the third ghost visits, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. This ghost shows Scrooge what a miserable life and death awaits him if he doesn't change. But he does, and we can hear that change in Scrooge in this quote here.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: I am as light as a feather. I am as happy as an angel. I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody. A happy new year to all the world. Hello, here. Whoa, hello.

Carl: Absolutely, he becomes a changed man. And, that's one of the reasons why this is a great novella by Charles Dickens. It really shows you how this man re-evaluates his life and makes changes from it. A good lesson for everyone, really. Now, let's move on to Bob Cratchit.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: There's another fellow,
Narrator: muttered Scrooge who overheard him.
Ebenezer Scrooge: My clerk with 15 shillings a week and her wife and family talking about a merry Christmas.

Jean: That’s Scrooge talking about his clerk, meaning his member of staff, Bob Cratchit at the beginning of the novella. Scrooge is describing how he pays him poorly. And we also know that he works in cold, unpleasant conditions without complaining.

Carl: I like Bob. I do. He's a kind man, who wants to do the right thing. We see him not really wanting to ask Scrooge if he can leave early on Christmas Eve to go and see his family, because he's scared of losing his job. And Bob Cratchit cannot afford to lose his job. So he spends his life living quietly under Scrooge’s rules, no matter what Scrooge says.

Jean: After this first interaction of seeing him in Scrooge’s workplace, the next time that we read of him is when the Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to the Cratchit’s on Christmas Day and Bob is carrying his very sick son, Tiny Tim, around.

Carl: Practising gratitude is clearly important to Bob. Dickens shows him as a hard worker and a caring man who is grateful for what he has. He even raises a toast to Scrooge for providing the feast through his wages. He does this even though he doesn't know that Scrooge can see him.

Jean: It’s a pretty rubbish feast though, because Scrooge doesn't pay him enough. But like you said, Bob is so grateful.

Carl: That's when the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come appears and he shows Scrooge the time where Tiny Tim has died. And her Bob Cratchit is grieving and showing so much love to his dearly passed son.

EXTRACT
Bob Cratchit: My little, little child,
Narrator: cried Bob.
Bob Cratchit: My little child.
Narrator: He broke down all at once, he couldn't help it.

Jean: So, this is after Tiny Tim's death. When he shows his emotions so easily and he speaks to his family about the death and how they’ll move forward with love for Tiny Tim. It’s really beautiful and such a contrast to the death that the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come predicts for Scrooge.

Carl: Bob's a good man and he shows that more as well when Scrooge decides to change his ways for good. I think that's also quite important here. Bob could have easily seen Scrooge go ‘I've changed my ways’ and not believe him. And yet Bob Cratchit held no malice or resentment for the way he was treated before. He welcomed Scrooge and we find out that he allowed them to be part of Tiny Tim and the family's life.

EXTRACT
Narrator: And to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father.

Carl: A good ending all round, really.

Jean: Yeah. What's the point of having money if you can't share it?

Carl: There you go.

Jean: Thank you for listening to the BBC Bitesize English literature podcast. Remember, there's plenty more resources on the BBC Bitesize website too. And, you can find the rest of this podcast series right now on BBC Sounds.

Carl: In the next episode we're going to carry on looking at the characters of A Christmas Carol and we're going to find out more about the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

Jean: Hello and welcome to the BBC Bitesize English literature podcast. It’s the series designed to help you tackle your GCSE in English literature.

Carl: In this podcast we take a look at a number of different texts that you might be studying and explore the characters, the plot, the context and the key points you might need to know to ace your exam.

Jean: I'm Jean Menzies, author and ancient historian.

Carl: I'm Carl Anka, journalist and author. And we are currently exploring Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Jean: So we've already discussed the plot and some of the characters in previous episodes. And in this episode, we're going to carry on looking at the characters in this novella, exploring the three ghosts of Christmas that visit Scrooge: the Ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come. So let's get started.

EXTRACT
Narrator: For as its belt sparkled and glittered now in one part and now in another, and what was liked one instant at another time was dark. So the figure itself fluctuated in its distinctness.

Jean: That is a description of the physical form of the Ghost of Christmas Past. It was a figure that changed constantly, although reflecting and representing different memories.

Carl: Yes, try to imagine the ghost and I guess we can all picture it in different ways. They're also portrayed very differently in loads of different adaptations. Have a listen to this quote.

EXTRACT
Narrator: It was a strange figure, like a child, yet, not so like a child is like an old man.

Carl: Right then, a strange figure, like a child yet so not like a child, as like an old man. Is that how you initially envisioned the Ghost of Christmas Past when you read this book for the first time?

Jean: Yeah, it definitely is more of like an innocent figure than the other ghosts, something a little bit more youthful and open. But, that maybe Scrooge crushed all the dreams and happiness from.

Carl: Most depictions often have the Ghost of Christmas Past in some form of white, which is the protest some form of innocence. Before Scrooge stops being innocent and becomes obsessed with money, which, as Belle said, Scrooge used to be a kind man, but became more focused about making money than being a decent human being. And that's why she had to leave.

Jean: He forgot what was really important.

Carl: Indeed.

Jean: Something that might be fun to do just with yourself, or with somebody else in your class, is to discuss if that's how you saw the ghost.

Carl: So as we've heard, the ghost appears both young and old, and there's light streaming out of the top of its head, which symbolises the knowledge that the ghost is trying to share with Scrooge. You could see this as the Ghost of Christmas Past trying to shine a light on Scrooge’s past.

Jean: So remember, the Ghost of Christmas Past is the first ghost to visit Scrooge after Marley tells him that this is all going to happen. And it takes Scrooge to different scenes from his own past. From his childhood, that wasn't very nice, to happier times when he was a younger adult and engaged.

EXTRACT
Ghost of Christmas Past: Would you so soon put up with worldly hands the light I give?

Jean: So this is the light you were talking about that streams out of the ghost as its knowledge. Here, the ghost is asking: do you want to ignore what I'm saying to you without even seeing or hearing it? Because Scrooge wants to cover that light.

Carl: The light here is a real symbol for him, actually, because when the Ghost of Christmas Past presents his final scene to Scrooge, with him losing his fiancee through his own bad choices, he again tries to put out the light of the ghost. Listen here.

EXTRACT
Narrator: The spirit dropped beneath it, so that the extinguisher covered its whole form. But though Scrooge pressed it down with all his force, he could not hide the light which streamed from under it in an unbroken flood upon the ground.

Jean: That light and its symbolism of knowledge is so important here. This quote is showing us that Scrooge is not yet ready to accept the lessons that the ghost has to teach him. So, that was the Ghost of Christmas Past, but what about our next character, the Ghost of Christmas Present?

Carl: This ghost is described very differently to the first one. It's big and vibrant with Holly wreath around his head, and loads of rich food around him. I feel as if this ghost owns a room.

EXTRACT
Narrator: In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly giant, glorious to see who bought a glowing torch in shape, not unlike plenty’s horn and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge as he came peeping around the door.

Jean: Yeah, I agree, a real Christmassy character representing the feast of Christmas and the larger than life atmosphere. Now Scrooge is less arrogant this time. He is more humble in the presence of the second spirit and is willing to learn any lessons this ghost will show, which is a real change from his reaction to the previous ghost whose light he tried to extinguish.

Carl: Absolutely. So the Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to see the world on Christmas Day. It shows him some really wholesome Christmas scenes from Bob Cratchit’s house to his nephew Fred's house, but then also shows how these scenes are under threat if things don't change. It's also important to say that when the Ghost of Christmas Present is taking Scrooge around, no one can see Scrooge. Ebenezer is not just stood at the window and everyone can see him. When Scrooge is with the ghost, he is invisible to those he is watching.

Jean: Shall we have a listen to some quotes that are really helpful then here?

EXTRACT
Ghost of Christmas Present: I see a vacant seat,
Narrator: replied the ghost.
Ghost of Christmas Present: In the poor chimney corner and the crutch without an owner carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered by the future, the child will die.

Jean: So this is the ghost telling Scrooge that Tiny Tim wouldn't survive if things keep going as they are. And Scrooge really struggles with this, as his softer side starts to show.

EXTRACT
Ghost of Christmas Present: This boy is ignorance. This girl is want. Beware them both.

Carl: This is at the very end of stave three, where the ghosts introduces Scrooge to the two children. One of these children is called Ignorance, and one of these children is called Want. Both of them are hiding under his cloak. And they are another warning for Scrooge to change his ways. We're gonna get more into this in Episode Seven, when we look at the context of when this novella was written and published. This is because Ignorance and Want are also symbols of what Dickens felt needs to change in Victorian society as a whole. Scrooge represents the rich, and Dickens says that the children are man's. And therefore, Dickens is saying that everyone needs to take in more responsibility for looking after the poor and the vulnerable in society.

Jean: That's one way to give a warning, isn't it? Now let's get into our final ghost - the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Now this one is one that made me nervous when I read this when I was younger, I really wouldn't want this ghost to visit me at night. Listen.

EXTRACT
Narrator: It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form and left nothing of it visible say one outstretched hand.

Carl: Yep, this is the Grim Reaper ghost, isn't it, this one? Doesn't speak, doesn't even walk, just glides and points at things ominously.

Jean: Just lets the future reveal itself, right? Like, let the picture speak for itself. And I totally picture this one as a really scary character. Bring back the Ghost of Christmas Present please and all its lovely food. Scrooge is also clearly afraid of this ghost. He's seen enough now to fear the consequences of his actions. So he's afraid of what the ghosts will show him.

Carl: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come does not show nice things either. It's very on brand with the scenes he shows taking Scrooge to the funeral of a dead person and loads of businesspeople wondering where the dead person's money has gone.

Jean: He takes Scrooge through dark alleyways, naturally. And we see people picking through the belongings of the dead man. None of it's very nice, is it?

Carl: No, no. And Scrooge can see that. And things only get worse when the ghost and Scrooge head to Cratchit’s house and they find out that Tiny Tim has passed away. Now, the ghost may not say much themself, but there's some good quotes to remember for this character.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: If there is any person in the town and feels emotion caused by this man's death,
Narrator: said Scrooge quite agonised.
Ebenezer Scrooge: Show that person to me spirit, I beseech you.

Jean: So this is when Scrooge realises he could be just like this dead man – if he doesn't change.

EXTRACT
Narrator: Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went. And following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave, his own name: Ebenezer Scrooge.

Carl: That quote you just heard is from the end of the time where Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come are together. It's the moment where Scrooge finds out that the dead person that nobody cared about was actually him.

Jean: Yeah, it really hits home. It's enough to make Scrooge vow to change everything and avoid this ending and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come leaves him with that thought.

Carl: Wow, that was a lot to take in. Three different ghosts, three different appearances, and three different ways to make Scrooge think about what he's done.

Jean: And his reactions really sure how Scrooge changes across the course of the novella. From trying to extinguish the light of the Ghost of Christmas Past, because he isn't ready to learn the lessons the ghost wants to share, to his more humble openness to the Ghost of Christmas Present. And, then finally to decide to change his ways once and for all with the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come.

Carl: Remember, you can go back and listen to these and any other episodes that you want on BBC Sounds.

Jean: We've also explored more texts in this podcast including Blood Brothers, Macbeth, and An Inspector Calls, which you can also find in this feed on the BBC Sounds app.

Carl: And whilst you're in the BBC Sounds app, there's also the Bitesize study support podcast, which is full of tips to help you stay focused during revision and get the best out of your exam day.

Jean: In the next episode, we'll carry on looking at more characters in A Christmas Carol: Scrooge's nephew Fred and everyone's favourite, Tiny Tim.

Jean: Hello and welcome to the BBC Bitesize English literature podcast. It’s the series designed to help you tackle your GCSE in English Literature.

Carl: So, we take a look at a number of different texts that you might be studying and then go on to explore the characters, the plot, the context, some of the key things that you might need to ace your revision.

Jean: I'm Jean Menzies, author and ancient historian.

Carl: I'm Carl Anka, journalist and author. And today we are going to be exploring Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. It's worth noting here that there are plenty of resources online for A Christmas Carol. If you need them too, you can enter the BBC Bitesize website and even find more materials to help with your revision.

Jean: In this podcast, we've already discussed the plot and some of the characters and in this episode, we're going to carry on looking at the final characters in this novella - Scrooge's nephew Fred, and Tiny Tim. So, shall we start with Fred? This is how the narrator describes him.

EXTRACT
Narrator: If you should happen, by any unlikely chance, to know a man more blessed in a laugh than Scrooge’s nephew, all I can say is, I should like to know him too.

Carl: I want to be friends with Fred. And what you just heard from the narrator is exactly the reason why.

Jean: Yeah, he's a good egg, isn't he? Although probably don't write that in your exam. I don't think it's a technical term that they will be looking for, but he is a good egg. If I was writing it in an exam, I’d describe him as a character that represents generous members of society and juxtaposes, which means they contrasts, Scrooge’s miserly nature.

Carl: Now Fred is Scrooge’s only family member, and as we learned from the Ghost of Christmas past, he's the son of Scrooge’s sister. Now, you might remember Ebenezer Scrooge absolutely adored his sister.

Jean: I find that scene where we see Scrooge with a sister really touching, they're really loving to each other. And I do start to wonder how that all went wrong. Until we then hear that she died and that she left one son, his nephew.

Carl: Who was Fred, and perhaps is the pain of being reminded of his sister that makes Ebenezer Scrooge so unpleasant to him.

Jean: That's exactly how I read it. But how can you be miserable with Fred around? Scrooge is rude and unkind, but Fred is cheerful and wants his uncle to come to Christmas dinner even still. He even says himself in this quote, that he won't lose his Christmas cheer in the face of Scrooge’s unkindness. This is Fred talking about Scrooge.

EXTRACT
Fred: But, I have made the trial in homage to Christmas. And I'll keep my Christmas humour to the last. So, a merry Christmas, uncle.

Jean: There, Fred is telling Scrooge that he won't give up his Christmas cheer, no matter what.

Carl: Then it's over to the Ghost of Christmas Present to show Scrooge exactly what he's missing by turning down the invitation to Fred’s Christmas, when he shows him the party in full swing.

Jean: And Scrooge does start to feel like he's missing something. And he gets to hear Fred sticking up for him and saying that he won't give up on him, even if he didn't really deserve it. Here's Fred.

EXTRACT
Fred: I mean, to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not. For I pity him.

Carl: There's no malice in that quote. Fred feels sorry for Scrooge and just wants to keep trying in the hope that Scrooge will one day come round to the idea of Christmas.

Jean: And, he does. At the end, when Scrooge has vowed to change, he accepts Fred's invitation and Fred is open and warm. Scrooge asks if he will let him in for dinner and this is Fred's response.

EXTRACT
Fred: Let him in. It is a mercy he didn't shake his arm off. He was at home in five minutes, nothing could be heartier.

Jean: So not only did Fred let him in, but he did it with all the enthusiasm and cheer we have come to expect from him in this novella.

Carl: Lovely, lovely Fred. And, from one good egg to another, it's time to talk about Tiny Tim.

EXTRACT
Tiny Tim: God bless everyone.

Jean: There it is – one of the most famous lines of this novella, and it comes from Tiny Tim, and it also sums him up really well, doesn't it? He's kind and generous and he wants everyone to be blessed, even though he hasn't had the easiest life at all for such a young child.

Carl: No, Tiny Tim is very unwell and he walks with a crutch and has an iron frame around his body, but despite all this he seems to smile his way through life and uses the frame as a sign of positivity. There's a quote that shows this really, really well. However, before I play this excerpt, I just want to flag that this includes an offensive word that we would not use now but was not viewed as offensive when Christmas Carol was published in 1843. This is Bob Cratchit.

EXTRACT
Bob Cratchit: He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas day who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.

Carl: So, Tiny Tim wants to be seen as a reminder of all the good things that God can do. Tiny Tim also wants to be seen as a hopeful sign for people around him in the community.

Jean: And he really affects Scrooge. Scrooge, who at the beginning has no sympathy for poor or ill people, starts to worry that Tiny Tim might not live. And then, his fears are brought to life by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, who shows him a world where Tiny Tim has died.

Carl: He doesn't die in reality, though.

Jean: No.

Carl: No, he does not, because Scrooge changes his way as a direct result of seeing a world without Tiny Tim, and all the other things that he's been shown by the three ghosts. At the start of A Christmas Carol, you have to remember that Scrooge doesn't care for Bob Cratchit, Bob Cratchit’s family, or Tiny Tim at all. But, at the very very end of A Christmas Carol things have completely changed. The way Scrooge feels about Bob Cratchit’s family is perhaps the biggest change in the book altogether.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: He did it all and infinitely more. And to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father.

Carl: If you have seen A Muppet’s Christmas Carol, you may remember that line a lot. And to Tiny Tim, who did not die is the point where everyone raised their fists in the air and goes ‘Yes!’, because Scrooge has gone from someone who did not care about Tiny Tim, barely gave Bob Cratchit a decent wage to look after his family, to someone who became like a second father to Tiny Tim.

Jean: I wonder what it would be like if everyone could see exactly where their actions might lead? I think we'd all make some different decisions, if we could see into the future and see any negative implications of our choices - like Scrooge has done.

Carl: Oh, absolutely. I know of some ghosts showed me the consequences of decisions I had made, or might make in the future, I might change them.

Jean: Thia story is really filled with characters to just fall in love with and Tiny Tim and Fred are absolutely two of those characters, who just shine through with positivity and happiness.

Carl: And ultimately, it's their example that helps Scrooge to change.

Jean: So thank you for listening to this episode of the BBC Bitesize English literature podcast. Remember, that you can go back and listen to this and other episodes anytime you want in BBC Sounds.

Carl: Please do. We'd love to see you again. We've also explored more texts including Blood Brothers, Macbeth, and An Inspector Calls, which you can also find in this feed on the BBC Sounds app.

Jean: And whilst you're in the BBC Sounds app there's also the Bitesize study support podcast, which is full of tips to help you stay focused during revision and get the best out of your exam day.

Carl: In the next episode, we're going to be exploring the themes in A Christmas Carol. We hope to see you there.

Carl: Hello, and welcome to the BBC Bitesize English literature podcast. This is the series designed to help you tackle your GCSE in English literature.

Jean: So we take a look at a number of different texts that you might be studying and explore the characters, the plot, the context, the key things that you need to ace your exam. You can use this podcast however you like to help with your revision, whether that's listening on a walk, or making notes as you go - find what works for you. I'm Jean Menzies author and ancient historian.

Carl: I'm Carl Anka, journalist and author. And in this series, we're taking a closer look at Charles Dickens’ novella A Christmas Carol.

Jean: So, we've already discussed the plot and characters in previous episodes, and in this episode, we're going to be taking a look at the themes of A Christmas Carol, which are: Christmas, redemption, and social injustice.

Carl: Now let's start with Christmas.

Jean: So first, let's talk about the basics of Christmas. It's a Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, although it does also encompass Greek, Roman and various other pagan traditions that have been around for thousands of years, like gift-giving and feasting around the winter solstice. A few years before this novella was written, in fact, Queen Victoria had married Prince Albert, and he had brought over some new German traditions including the Christmas tree.

Carl: This story really takes in that theme of Christmas being a time for friends and family. It really takes in the fact that Christmas is the time for sharing food and drink together and the fact that Christmas is meant to be a joyful time. When Charles Dickens published this novella, it happened just before Christmas in 1843. If you're listening to this and wondering why we keep using the term novella, that's because A Christmas Carol is pretty short. And the term for a short novel is a novella.

Jean: The clues in the title really. And I know we know the story is set in and around Christmas, but the why is actually really interesting because using this time of year, which some people often associate with joy and generosity and cheerfulness, really highlights that Scrooge has… none of these things. Listen to this quote.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: Every idiot who goes about with “merry Christmas” on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should.

Carl: Yeah, I don't think Scrooge likes Christmas.

Jean: Yeah, it's not exactly subtle is it? But it also means that the characters who absolutely embody Christmas, like Fred and Tiny Tim, stand out even more against Scrooge is miserable attitude.

EXTRACT
Fred: A merry Christmas Uncle, God save you!
Narrator: Cried a cheerful voice.

Jean: So that's Fred, and his happy, cheerful nature juxtaposes, which means it contrasts, Scrooge’s grumpiness even more.

Carl: Christmas also helps make Scrooge’s transformation very obvious. He goes from a man who won't even wish someone a merry Christmas – and is totally offended by the phrase Christmas – to this. Dickens is showing the power of Christmas. And the togetherness and generosity represented to improve people's lives. This is Scrooge towards the end of the story.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: I am as light as a feather. I am as happy as an angel. I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody. A happy new year to all the world.

Jean: And I think that leads us nicely on to our next theme. Redemption.

Carl: Redemption. A great word. A redemption story is when something bad or negative leads to someone doing something good or positive.

Jean: So, for Scrooge, we see his redemption being someone who has changed from a greedy, selfish man into a cheerful generous character at the end. And it's the ghosts who visit him who give him that ability and openness to change. Let's listen to his redemption through a couple of quotes. This is at the beginning of the novella when Scrooge is very dismissive about people dying.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: If he be like to die, he had better do it and decrease the surplus population.

Jean: He mentioned how it will decrease the surplus population, which we'll discuss more in episode seven of this podcast, but refers to a belief at the time that a growth in population had meant a growth in poverty. Now this next quote really shows Scrooge’s redemption story as it shows us who he is as a man by the end of the novella.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: I’ll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon.

Jean: Here we hear him make plans to increase Bob Pratchett's wage and ask him how he can help his family.

Carl: And it all works to highlight the moral of the story, which is that anyone can change and we all have the ability to be kinder to each other. Anyone can be redeemed or have their own redemption story. All we have to do is try.

Jean: Now, should we take a look at our final theme, social injustice. I think we'll look at this even further in episode seven, when we discuss the context of this novella, but Charles Dickens felt very strongly that Victorian society, which is when this was written and set, did not do enough to solve poverty.

Carl: Yes, and Dickens was right to highlight this. He wanted to show the rich having their comfortable luxurious Christmases, with feasts and whatever they wanted against poor people, including children, who had to live and work in awful conditions.

Jean: And Scrooge is a perfect representation of the selfishness that existed in some of the rich Victorians. Let's listen.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: I don't make merry myself at Christmas. And I can't afford to make idle people merry.

Carl: Scrooge has money, he has his own business, but he refuses to give to charity or pay Bob Cratchit, a member of his staff, a decent wage. Scrooge wants to keep it all to himself. Scrooge also refers to a stereotype at the time where he says he can't afford to make idle people merry. It's this idea that poor people are idle, or in other words, lazy. This was a stereotype at the time around poor people and laziness, which we'll explore further in episode seven of this podcast.

Jean: And it doesn't even make him happy, does it? All that money?

Carl: Not at all. Here, Dickens is highlighting the injustice of wealth distribution, or indeed, the lack of wealth distribution. There's no need for Scrooge to hoard or the money's accumulated throughout A Christmas Carol. Really think to the start of the book, where Cratchit takes the shovel and he's trying to put more coal into the fire. And Scrooge says no, because Scrooge believes he's the one paying for it and therefore why should Cratchit be warm? Scrooge doesn't necessarily benefit from having all that money, because he doesn’t really use it to do anything. However, by spending just a little bit of money, he could have helped warm Cratchit and improve Cratchit’s family life. But, Scrooge chooses not to.

Jean: I love that Bob who has so much less, is actually so much happier than Scrooge. Dickens also really doesn't highlight social injustice in just a subtle moral way of the story. He makes physical characters to highlight this.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both and all of their degree. But most of all, beware this boy. For on his brow, I see that written which is doom, unless the writing be erased.

Jean: So these children, who are hidden under the cloak of the Ghost of Christmas Present are representations of ignorance and want and the society caused by social injustice. The ghost tells Scrooge that he should fear them, but also they are the responsibility of all mankind, highlighting that everyone needs to be aware of making a fairer, more just society.

Carl: I love that. That's Dickens going just in case you didn't get a hint here at two characters that I'm telling you, very literally, you cannot ignore. It's a brilliant way to get the themes of your novella across. We're going to discuss this more than episode seven. But something should also consider when you're studying and Christmas Carol, is that it was written at time when the Poor Law was changed to reduce the costs of helping the poor. So, Dickens was also addressing the audience with something very real and something very timely. Dickens wants everyone who's reading A Christmas Carol to really think about the responsibility they have for people who have less than them in society.

Jean: And, I think that's something that still applies in the 21st century, not just the 19th.

Carl: Absolutely. Thank you for listening to episode five of the Bitesize English literature podcast that's been all about the themes of A Christmas Carol.

Jean: There's still a lot more to learn. So, take a listen to the rest of the episodes of this series on BBC Sounds to find out more. In episode six, we'll be taking a look at the form, structure and language in A Christmas Carol.

Jean: Hello, and welcome to the BBC Bitesize English literature podcast. It’s the series designed to help you tackle your GCSE in English Literature.

Carl: So we take a look at number of different texts that you might be studying and explore the characters, the plot, the context, some of the key things that you need to ace your revision. I'm Carl Anka, journalist and author.

Jean: I'm Jean Menzies, ancient historian and author.

Carl: And we are currently exploring Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Jean: We've already discussed the plot, characters and themes in previous episodes. And in this episode, we're going to take a look at the form, structure and language of A Christmas Carol.

Carl: So let's start with the form of this story, shall we?

Jean: So Christmas Carol is a novella, which is kind of the midway point between not being long enough to be a novel, but not short enough for a short story.

Carl: And this was published on 19th of December 1843. So, in perfect time for Christmas and this was really the perfect length to be read out loud in one sitting. Also, ghost stories were a really traditional thing to be read at Christmas at the time.

Jean: It's incredible, actually, that ghosts and Christmas were associated with one another in Victorian era Britain.

Carl: I know.

Jean: I would never have thought that.

Carl: And it did prove to appeal to the audience. It was so popular that it sold out by Christmas Eve, five days after it had been released. Well done, Dickens.

Jean: Shall we get into the structure?

Carl: So, as we've previously mentioned, this is a novella, and the structure links to the theme of Christmas. You do that by reflecting the shape of a typical Christmas carol with a clear beginning, middle and end. The clear beginning is where Scrooge is miserable and unkind to everyone. The middle is where he meets all the ghosts who helped change him. And then the end is where he is a transformed character, which really gives us a complete redemption story, which is really satisfying for the reader. In fact, lots of events from stave one, or chapter one, are revisited in stave five, or chapter five, with a different outcome to show just how much Scrooge has changed. Like his interaction with Fred and his treatment of Bob. They're paralleled in those two chapters.

Jean: And the use of the three ghosts showing the past, present and future also helps with a clear structure. Dickens also called each section of the novella stave rather than a chapter. It's a reminder that this is a Christmas story. And just like Christmas carols, this is a story that contains a message for its audience, and should be read aloud as carols are sung aloud. And now it's onto the language. Now, we mentioned in another episode that we can't talk about the language in A Christmas Carol without mentioning one very famous phrase.

Carl: Bah, humbug.

Jean: Exactly. Bah, humbug indeed. A phrase that a lot of people have heard of, and actually might not instantly think of Scrooge. But he is the first man to utter those words, and he used them in response to Christmas wishes. They are really simple and memorable words that instantly show that Scrooge is dismissive of Christmas.

Carl: Yes, and they're words that become really synonymous with being miserable about festivities. Now, when I use the word synonymous, I mean that they are closely linked together in people's minds. I wonder if Charles Dickens knew when he wrote this, that that would be one of the standout phrases.

Jean: Who knows, because there is genuinely so much great use of language in this story. Let's listen to some more of it.

EXTRACT
Narrator: Mind, I don't mean to say that I know of my own knowledge what there is particularly dead about a door-nail.

Carl: So, this is a great example of how A Christmas Carol is led by first-person narrative. This narrative guides us through the story, and as that quote shows us right from the beginning, speaks directly to the audience and use the first person. Now, the first person means the character uses “I”. And that lets the reader know that they're speaking of themselves, and their own point of view.

Jean: And in using this method of telling you this story, from their own point of view, and like they are right there in it, the narrator is able to make sure we're noticing key things that are going on.

EXTRACT
Narrator: Then sharp is Flint, from which no steel had ever struck our generous fire, secret and self-contained and solitary as an oyster.

Jean: Here the narrator describes Scrooge using a simile and saying he is hard and sharp is flint. Flint is a form of rock. So, that comparison makes sure that the reader knows that Scrooge is not generous and that he is an unpopular man.

Carl: Now, the narrator is instantly a trusted voice because it's guiding us through the story. So if the narrator is telling us something, we're believing it - this is a trustworthy narrator. In some books you might find you might have an unreliable narrator but not here – Dickens is playing it straight.

Jean: Yeah, exactly. He's guiding the reader from the beginning. And as we said, speaking directly to us, the readers suggesting that they’re, or are we're, in this story together. For example, he says this.

EXTRACT
Narrator: As close to it, as I am now to you. And I am standing in the spirit at your elbow.

Carl: That's the Narrator saying here that we, the audience, the reader, are right in the heart of this story together.

Jean: I am standing in the spirit of your elbow, you're right there with him, aren't you? It's a great use of first person narration, which helps the reader to know exactly what's going on, and why. And to form the same opinions as the narrator. Charles Dickens also uses really descriptive language to create a sense of character and of place. He uses metaphors, similes, and personification, to paint a picture of, for example, Scrooge’s character traits to make his change all the more obvious. Dickens does this with a lot of the characters so that we can form an image of their personality.

Carl: And we'll share some examples now, but there's a lot of things that you can pick up when reading this story. And it's a great idea to highlight along the way, the similes and metaphors. So you know, you've got some really strong examples to take and explore in your exam.

Jean: Yeah, and there's loads more about the language and everything we've discussed in this podcast on the BBC Bitesize website. So do make sure you're heading there to find even more resources to help with revision.

Carl: But, we can share some examples here can't we Jean?

Jean: Yeah, I guess.

Carl: So, a simile is where you compare one thing to another thing to suggest they have similar qualities. We heard one a moment ago, hard and sharp as flint. But another example I love is where Scrooge is described as solitary as an oyster. So an oyster a shut tight, isn't letting anyone in without being praised open, just like our Scrooge who doesn't want to share his life or his money with anyone.

Jean: And something else you could take away from that is that when you do get inside an oyster, there is often a pearl. So is that Dickens telling us that there is good in there somewhere, we just have to find it?

Carl: I love it. We've also mentioned that Dickens uses metaphor. So something that is described in a way that isn't literal to what it is. We've mentioned the children called Ignorance and Want, who live under the ghost of Christmas Present’s cloak a couple of episodes previously. Now they are a metaphor used to show the effects of greed and not being generous.

Jean: And then finally, personification.

Carl: Jean, can I just say that the sun is smiling down on us today?

Jean: I see what you did there – personification. So giving an inanimate object or an animal like the sun, which is an inanimate object and not an animal, a human characteristic, like smiling. Charles Dickens used this technique to emphasise a point to the reader like this one.

EXTRACT
Narrator: The ancient tower of a church, whose gruff old bell was always peeping slyly down at Scrooge out of a gothic window in the wall, became invisible.

Carl: A bell on a church cannot keep sliding down on anyone. But this use of personification helps us see that even the church isn't happy with the way that Scrooge is acting. He's getting further from the church in his ways by not displaying Christian values.

Jean: And actually, at the end, it helps to show the transformation when we read that the church bells then ring out the lustiest peels had ever heard. So the word peels means a really loud and clear sound of bells. And that's to represent how Scrooge is showing his Christian values again.

Carl: He's a clever man, is Dickens. Thank you listeners for joining us for episode six of the Bitesize English literature podcast all about the form, structure and language of A Christmas Carol.

Jean: There's still a lot more to learn. So take a listen to the rest of the episodes in this series on BBC Sounds to find out more. In episode seven, we'll be taking a look at the context of A Christmas Carol.

Carl: Hello, and welcome to the BBC Bitesize English literature podcast. This is the series designed to help you tackle your GCSE in English literature.

Jean: In this podcast, we take a closer look at some of the texts you might be studying for your GCSE in English literature. I'm Jean Menzies, author and ancient historian.

Carl: And I'm Carl Anka, journalist and author. And in this series, we've been diving into Charles Dickens’ novella, A Christmas Carol. And today in this episode, we're going to discuss the context around in which A Christmas Carol was released.

Jean: The context essentially refers to the background of the text. It's important to consider this as when you're writing an exam, it can help us to understand how someone reading it at the time of publication would have a different experience and have a different understanding compared to someone reading it today. So let's get into it.

Carl: So where shall we start with the context of A Christmas Carol? It was written by Charles Dickens in 1843. And it was published just before the Christmas of that year. Now, something that's important to note is that 1843 were the early years of the Victorian era. Now, when I say the Victorian era, I mean the years in which Queen Victoria was on the British throne. This went from a period of 1837 to 1901. So a very large chunk of time in the 19th century. So Jean, what do we know about Charles Dickens?

Jean: Okay, let me get my facts out. Mr. Dickens had experienced poverty himself – his dad, along with most of his family was sent to debtors’ prison when he couldn't pay back money he owed. Then Dickens had to go and work in a factory at the age of 12, because of his dad's imprisonment. So as he grew up, he actually began his literary career as a journalist. Bonus fact – because I like it – just like Scrooge in the novella, Charles Dickens actually had a sister that he called Fan.

Carl: Great facts – you're an excellent historian.

Jean: Thank you.

Carl: They also tell us a lot about the context of when and how A Christmas Carol came to be written. Shall we take them apart one by one?

Jean: Absolutely.

Carl: So Dickens had experienced poverty himself. And this is a really important thing to know when looking at this story, as it suggests that his commentary on poverty in the novella could be coming from a place of personal experience. Or, some might say, Dickens is writing about poor people, because he used to be one.

Jean: Yeah, first-hand experience, definitely. So as I said, his dad went to prison because he couldn't pay back money he owed and Dickens had to go and work in a factory, which was really common at the time. Now, that's interesting for two different reasons. Because not only did that time teach Dickens what life was like for the poor, which we see represented in his writing. But it also meant that he was separated from his family. The importance of family and togetherness is such a key part of A Christmas Carol, that it feels really likely that was influenced by Dickens’ own experience of having that taken away from him.

Carl: And it was actually only because his father inherited some money that Dickens could leave the factory and go back to education, which must have given him a true sense of how different life was for the rich compared to the poor, and the injustice of it all. So Dickens only eventually became an author, not through hard work, but because his dad came into a bit of money. Sheer luck. Jean, you also said he was a journalist?

Jean: He was, and as part of that job, he would have had to report on factual events, which it could be argued would have made him much more socially aware, and also increased his ability to deliver social commentary as he does in A Christmas Carol.

Carl: Also in 1834, so less than a decade before A Christmas Carol was written, the Poor Law was changed to reduce the costs of helping the poor by pushing them into the workhouses, and offering them relief that way, instead of providing direct financial support. This change was made in order to reduce costs of public funds – families were separated, the food was basic, and the work was extremely tiring in order to discourage the “lazy poor”. Listeners, please be aware that I'm saying “lazy poor” in inverted commas, because that was what was believed and recorded by some people who thought that at the time.

Jean: You can absolutely see why poverty and the treatment of poverty is something that Dickens would want to highlight. And he shows poverty in a number of ways. Through the Cratchit's in their household and lack of material belongings or food at Christmas, through the charity collectors at the door, and through the thieves who go through the dead man's possessions which Scrooge witnesses with the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come.

Carl: Absolutely. And he challenges the stereotype of poor people being lazy by creating the Cratchits. The Cratchits are hardworking and industrious. They're not poor because they're lazy. They're poor because Scrooge doesn't pay Bob a decent wage. They don't take anything for granted. And all the Cratchits have respect for themselves and each other.

Jean: Yeah, exactly.

Carl: In fact, if you look throughout A Christmas Carol, there really aren't many moments in the story where poverty or the contrast between rich people and poor people isn't obvious. There are some quotes here that might help you answer questions in your exam. In fact, here's Scrooge.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: I don't make merry myself at Christmas. And I can't afford to make idle people merry.

Jean: Referring to the poor people that the charity is collecting for as idle really highlights the attitude that poverty is due to laziness – a choice. It also shows what was thought of charity in general because again, some thought that poor people shouldn't be helped. Scrooge’s refusal to give to charity represents the selfishness of the richer elements of Victorian society. Instead of creating a community in which life can be enjoyed by all, Dickens is highlighting the injustice of wealth distribution. Here's another quote that's a great example of Scrooge’s attitude to poverty at the start of the novella.

EXTRACT
Ebenezer Scrooge: If they would rather die,
Narrator: said Scrooge,
Ebenezer Scrooge: they had better do it and decrease the surplus population.

Carl: That quote shows that Scrooge felt poor people were a burden upon society. And when you were looking at that context that feels pretty apt at a time when things like the Poor Law had just been updated offer less help to those in poverty. Scrooge also mentioned surplus population, which echoes was some thought of as a big problem at the time. Surplus population was this idea that poverty came from a growth in population, and that those who couldn't support themselves should be left to die.

Jean: So there's a lot to take in when it comes to the context of A Christmas Carol. And remember, episode five of this podcast also looks at the themes within A Christmas Carol, which includes social injustice. And there's also lots more resources online – you just need to head to the BBC Bitesize website.

Carl: Thank you for listening to episode seven of the Bitesize English literature podcast all about the context of A Christmas Carol.

Jean: This is the final episode of the podcast, but you can come back and relisten at any time we'd love to have you.

Carl: We'd love to see you again. We've also explored more texts including Blood Brothers, Jane Eyre, and An Inspector Calls – all of which you can find in this feed on the BBC Sounds app.

Jean: And whilst you're in the BBC sounds app, there's also the Bitesize study support podcast,which is full of tips to help you stay focused during revision and get the best out of your exam day.

Carl: Good luck. You're going to be great.