1. How does historical context help you better understand literature?
Focus Question:
How does historical context
help you better understand
literature?

2. Historical Context
moods, attitudes, and conditions that existed at a certain time in history
“setting”
impacts your understanding of the story and its themes
Examples:
Literature –
Life -

3. Industrial Revolution”
A Christmas Carol
Historical Context
“Life During the
Industrial Revolution”

4. When/Where? early 1800’s London, England
“Victorian England” (___th c.)
story first published in 1843
better farming -> population growth
“Industrial Revolution”
industrial =
revolution =

5. Setting the Scene
Your family used to be farmers in the country. Everything you need to survive you make at home. But new technology and laws are changing the way your family lives. Now you have moved to a crowded row house in the city so you and your parents can earn a living in a factory. You will need money to buy food and clothes you used to make/grow at home previously.
What are some ways your family is going to have to adjust making a switch from country to city (urban) living?

6. What changes have caused
your family to move
to the city?

7. The Enclosure Movement
Large areas of privately owned land for commercial farming – only works for the wealthy, pushed people to cities

8. New Inventions
Power Loom -> cloth

9. New Inventions STEAM POWER
Steam Ship
Steam Engine
Steam Locomotive
Steam Tractor

10. What are the
consequences
of technology?

11. The Impact of the Railroad

12. Need for Additional Power Resources
Children Coal Miners

13. Child Labor in the Mines
Child “hurriers”

14. The Factory System Requires a lot of money to start. 12-14 hour day.
Located in cities.
Rigid schedule.
12-14 hour day.
Dangerous conditions.
Mind-numbing!

15. Textile Factory Workers in England

16. Children Factory Workers
Factory Act 1833:
9-13 no more than 9 hours per day
14-18 no more than 12 hours per day

17. Factory Wages in Lancashire, 1830
Age of Worker
Male Wages
Female Wages
under 11
2s 3d.
2s. 4d.
4s. 1d.
4s. 3d.
10s. 2d.
7s. 3d.
17s. 2d.
8s. 5d.
20s. 4d.
8s. 7d.
22s. 8d.
8s. 9d.
21s. 7d.
9s. 8d.
20s. 3d.
9s. 3d.
16s. 7d.
8s. 10d.
16s. 4d.
8s. 4d.
13s. 6d.
6s. 4d.

18. Living Conditions in Cities
crowded apartments/row houses
“Tenants”
no running water or toilets
no sewer systems
disease was rampant
Lifespans by Occupation:
Doctors - 38
Lawyers - 38
Skilled workers - 20
Laborers (Factory Workers) - 17

19. Industrial Staffordshire

20. The New Industrial City

21. Worker Housing in Manchester

22. Factory Workers at Home

23. Changing Social Structure
nobility power declining -> factory/business owners – “money makers”
creates larger middle class
huge working class developed (millions of unskilled workers)
nobility
business-men
middle class
working class

24. The “Haves” vs. "Have-Nots“ “HAVES” = bourgeoisie = nouveau riche =
proletariat =
poor, over-worked, destitute, “paupers”

25. 19th c. Bourgeoisie: The Industrial Nouveau Riche

26. Stereotype of the Factory Owner

27. “Upstairs”/“Downstairs” Life

28. The Life of the New Urban Poor: A Dickensian Nightmare!

29. Responses to
Industrialization

30. Poor Law 1834/Workhouses Intention: reduce cost of looking after poor
take beggars off streets
encourage poor people to work hard to support themselves
Law:
poor housed in “workhouses”, clothed, fed
children received some schooling
in return, all workhouse paupers “worked” several hours each day (4am to 10pm)
Result:
‘Prisons for the Poor’
hated and feared, led to riots and charity organizations

31. Poor Law 1834 /
Work Houses

32. How does historical context help you better understand literature?
Focus Question:
How does historical context
help you better understand
literature?
How do you think Charles Dickens will react to the changing times?
Why “Christmas”?
Relate to Government EQ: “How is power defined, used, and transferred?”

33. Student Note Pages Follow

34. A Christmas Carol Historical Context
Name:
Period:
Date:
*Keep this in your ENGLISH folder after today!
The full PowerPoint is on the main page of Mrs. Schenck’s website.*
A Christmas Carol Historical Context
“Life During the Industrial Revolution”

35. How does historical context help you better understand literature?
Focus Question:
How does historical context
help you better understand
literature?

36. Historical Context
moods, attitudes, and conditions that existed at a certain time in history
“____________”
impacts your understanding of the story and its ____________
Examples:
Literature –
Life -

37. When/Where? early _________’s London, England
“Victorian England” (___th c.)
story first published in ________
better farming -> ________________
“Industrial Revolution”
industrial =
revolution =

38. What changes are causing people to move to cities?
___________ Movement =
New Inventions
Examples:
Need for Additional ____________ Resources
Example:
5. The ___________ System

39. What problems did this cause for people new to the cities?
Factory System
What are some differences between factory work life and traditional farm work life?
What problems did this cause for people new to the cities?

40. Living Conditions in Cities
crowded apartments/row houses
“tenants” =
no running water or ___________
no ____________ systems
disease was rampant
Why do you think factory workers had such short life spans? (the average was 17 years!)

41. Changing Social Structure
nobility power declining -> factory/business owners – “money makers”
creates larger middle class
huge working class developed (millions of unskilled workers)

42. The “Haves” and “Have-nots”
bourgeoisie =
nouveau riche =
“HAVE NOTS” =
proletariat =
poor, over-worked, destitute, “paupers”

43. Poor Law 1834/Workhouses Intention: reduce cost of looking after poor
____________________________
encourage poor people to work hard to support themselves
Law:
poor housed in “workhouses”, clothed, fed
children received some schooling
in return, all workhouse paupers “worked” several hours each day (_________________)
Result:
‘____________________________’
hated and feared, led to riots and charity organizations

44. How does historical context help you better understand literature?
How do you think Charles Dickens will react to the changing times?

45. Why “Christmas”?
Relate to Government EQ: “How is power defined, used, and transferred in 19th century England?”