1. A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens

2. About the Author Charles Dickens 1812-1870 At 12 began working full days at a warehouse Work conditions and cruel treatment influenced Dickens’ later writings

3. More about the author Writing Wrote most of his stories in short installments for newspapers Used cliffhangers- story pauses, leaving character in an exciting or difficult situation Paid by the page– contributes to the length of his stories

4. Important Works Great Expectations A Tale of Two Cities Oliver Twist A Christmas Carol David Copperfield Pictures from Italy A Trial for Murder

5. Death Died of a stroke after working on his last novel Edwin Drode Died exactly 5 years after being in a train accident

6. Dickens’ writings Social Commentary Disliked the division between social classes in Victorian England Felt that the poor were treated unfairly Advocate for charity

7. Victorian Christmas Traditions Many Christmas traditions celebrated today were introduced during Dickens’ time –Decorating Christmas trees –Christmas cards –Gift giving from parents to children –Traditional Christmas carols –Christmas stories

8. Words to Know For Analysis Plot-The Main Idea/What Happens in the Story Setting-Where the Story Takes Place Protagonist-Usually the Main Character- dynamic Antagonist-The force/person the Protagonists struggles against Perspective-1 st Person-I 3 rd - Limited vs. Omniscient

9. A Christmas Carol Setting: London, 1800’s Protagonist: Ebenezer Scrooge Prospective: Third Person Divided into Staves