Essay Titles

For your revision you should plan an essay based around each of the following questions.

Remember that you can use quotes - or even entire paragraphs - in multiple questions, so be wise when you prepare. Also, bear in mind that you will have an extract on the day but for revision purposes you're best to plan without one and then incorporate it where you see fit.

For each essay, try to plan in the following way:

Write your opening paragraph

Know what each of your 2 or 3 paragraphs will be about

Revise the quotes you’ll use in them

Ten Key Questions:

1. How does Dickens present the character of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol?

2. How does Dickens present the Cratchits in A Christmas Carol?

3. How does Dickens present the ghosts in A Christmas Carol?

4. How does Dickens explore the theme of redemption in A Christmas Carol?

5. How does Dickens explore the theme of greed in A Christmas Carol?

6. How does Dickens explore the theme of social justice in A Christmas Carol?

7. How does Dickens explore the role of the family in A Christmas Carol?

8. How does Dickens present selfishness in A Christmas Carol?

9. How important is Christmas to the novel A Christmas Carol?

10. How does Dickens criticise society in A Christmas Carol?

An example:

Question: How does Dickens present the character of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol?

Opening paragraph:

Scrooge is the central character in A Christmas Carol, and the novel charts his change from being a mean old miser to being a happy member of society. Throughout the book he changes for two main reasons: fear of what will happen if he doesn't change, and excitement at the joys he can experience if he does.

Paragraphs:

Scrooge as a miser:
"Solitary as an oyster" ... "warning human sympathy to keep its distance" ... refusing to give to the portly gentlemen ... refusing to go to Fred's for dinner

Scrooge changing through fear:
The "neglected grave" ... the selling of his bed covers ... Ignorance and Want - Doom written on the brow of Ignorance ... "The poor boy, neglected by his friends"

Scrooge changing through excitement at society:
"Scrooge wept to see his former self" ... "the happiness he gives is quite as great as if it had cost a fortune" ... (Tiny Tim) is as "good as gold and better) ... Fred saying that he will carry on inviting him to dinner because he feel "pity" for him

Scrooge as a happy member of society:

Quite the baby - I'd rather be a baby ... "Second father" to Tiny Tim ... God bless us - every one! ... goes to Freds, gives to the poor and becomes a hero of Christmas!

NOTE: You should see that there were loads of different quotes I could have focused on here, and a number of different ways I could have structured my essay. You should choose quotes you feel a real connection to - ones you could write a lot about - and try to reuse quotes (or entire paragraphs) in other essays.