Why I love…A Christmas Carol Stave 5 – Extract Only Example – Redemption (2024)

I’ve been working on A Christmas Carol with year 10 and taking a stave by stave approach, using example essays, as I realised after teaching Romeo and Juliet, that we were not looking at enough examples in order for them to understand how to construct their essays. With this in mind, I wrote about how I was going to approach it here: Why I love… Teaching through themes: A Christmas Carol

Then, I’ve written about the individual stave essays here, each of the essays, has tried to show a different approach. High level, mid-level, no quotes and a death example to explore a theme.

With stave 5 I want the students to now apply their knowledge from across the play but I have already written the introduction and the extract analysis. the introduction is deliberately long and I’ll explain that to the students and ask them to select the parts of the novel by highlighting what is in the introduction (2 ideas) that they will use. Then, I will direct them to use the notes that are in their books and the quote work that they have completed as we go along to write the rest of the essay.

After that, I will give them feedback on the whole text and explicitly re-teach how to work on an extract to whole essay and give them (after retrieval practice and theme/character work) another full extract to whole practice.

Why I love…Supernatural in Stave 1: A Christmas Carol

Why I love…Poverty (or not) in A Christmas Carol: Stave 3

Why I love…Death in stave 4: A Christmas Carol

Stave 5 – The Ending Extract Only

Task – use the information in the introduction and decide which other parts of the novella you will use to then write the rest of the essay on the whole play. The extract analysis has been done for you.

Extract:

“A merry Christmas, Bob!” said Scrooge, with an earnestness
that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the
back. “A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I
have given you, for many a year! I’ll raise your salary, and
endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss
your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of
smoking bishop, Bob! Make up the fires, and buy another
coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!”

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. He became as good a friend, as good a
master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or
any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old
world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him,
but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was
wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this
globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill
of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these
would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they
should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in
less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was
quite enough for him.

He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon
the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was
always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas
well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that
be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim
observed, God bless Us, Every One!

With reference to this extract from the ending of the novella A Christmas Carol, explore how redemption is presented by Dickens?

  • You must explore the extract
  • You must explore the whole text

The Essay for students to complete and choose from the introduction:

Dickens creates a supernatural allegorical tale to impress upon the Victorian audience the need for them to be kinder, more charitable and to take their social responsibility seriously. Dickens presents this ideology through the main protagonist Scrooge, who is at the start unworthy of redemption, slowly shown the error of his ways by a serious of ghosts and then finally in Stave 5 clearly capable of redemption as he changes and becomes an altogether better man and person. Marley’s ghost shows no indication that Scrooge deserves redemption, the Ghost of the Past shows that Scrooge can feel some mild remorse perhaps indicating that Scrooge may deserve redemption, The Ghost of the Present highlights how horrific Scrooge has treated Bob and this causes Scrooge some consternation and finally the Ghost of the Future shows him the shadows that are to come and Scrooge appears ready and willing to learn the messages that he wants to show him, meaning that at this point Scrooge may be deserving of redemption. Finally, in Stave 5 his redemption is seen as worthy by the audience as Scrooge is a changed man.

Dickens highlights in the end of the novella that Scrooge has taken the messages imparted to him seriously. Scrooge in his dialogue with Bob says “I’ll raise your salary” showing that he understands the power he has as an employer to help make the conditions that Bob works under more pleasant, fair and help him keep his family out of poverty. This relates to the poor working conditions inherent in society in Victorian Britain, as the pace of change was too quick, due to the Industrial Revolution and wealthy factory owners and business men wanted to make as much money as possible as quickly as possible and this meant exploitation of the lower classes was rife. Further to this Scrooge shows he is worthy of redemption when he becomes “a second father” to Tiny Tim, showing he can be paternal and good and he has finally come to realise the joy in having children around. He also shows a humble side to him as he “let them laugh” at the “alteration” in him which implies that he knows they are laughing at him and why, but that being happy and joyful is more important than allowing others to be derogatory towards him. As well as this Dickens shows that redemption is worthy of Scrooge as “he knew how to keep Christmas well” which in modern times may mean lots of presents and food, but for a contemporary audience that would have meant to be kind, charitable and spend time with family. Scrooge therefore by the end of the novella shows that he is keeping to his repeated words from earlier in Stave 5 and the end of Stave 4 that he would “live in the Past, the Present and the Future.” Showing that he understood the messages that the Ghosts had delivered and that he was able to have a second chance and that the second chance was not going to be wasted on him or by him. Therefore, Dickens shows through his presentation of Scrooge that he does deserve redemption by the end of the novel. Although, in order to deserve it there were many lessons that he had to learn along the way.

Your Turn – Finish the redemption essay in your books

Student Paragraph 1: Plan –


Student Paragraph 2: – Plan

Student written conclusion – Plan

Paragraphs should have embedded within them:

  • Link to redemption
  • Terminology
  • Quotations
  • Meaning
  • Effect
  • Writer’s Intentions
  • Context

Remember, paragraphs are not one quotes they are your argument – developing a response to show you understand how to answer the question

Your conclusion should include:

  • A summary of how you have answered the question
  • Your view on what the most important idea is to answer the question
    context if relevant
  • Link to what the writer was trying to say about society in general.

Stave 5 – Extract Only Essay

Hopefully, this is useful. It has certainly worked with my mixed ability students.

Why I love…A Christmas Carol Stave 5 – Extract Only Example – Redemption (1)

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Why I love…A Christmas Carol Stave 5 – Extract Only Example – Redemption (2024)

FAQs

How is redemption shown in A Christmas Carol stave 5? ›

Stave 5 is Scrooge's rebirth and redemption. Scrooge has been a sinful man, has learnt the reasons for and consequences of his actions, and is now a changed man. 2. Scrooge sends a huge turkey to Bob Cratchit's family and gives Bob Cratchit a pay raise to assist his family.

What is an example of redemption in A Christmas Carol? ›

Redemption is the idea of being saved from sin or evil. In Scrooge we see a man who is transformed from a greedy, selfish miser into a generous and good-natured character by the end. He is shown the error of his ways by the ghosts that visit him and is redeemed by his own willingness to change.

What happens in stave 5 of A Christmas Carol summary? ›

In Stave 5 of A Christmas Carol, Scrooge wakes up from his sleep after his visions of the spirits, and he is delighted to be able to live a better life. He gives money to the poor, spends Christmas with his nephew and his family, and then gives Bob Cratchit a raise.

What lesson has Scrooge learned in Stave 5? ›

Scrooge brings a little of the Christmas spirit into every day, respecting the lessons of Christmas more than any man alive. The narrator concludes the story by saying that Scrooge's words and thoughts should be shared by of all of us ... "and so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, Every one!"

Why is redemption important to Dickens? ›

He wanted to show that even cold-hearted businessmen could redeem themselves in an instant if their lives, as Scrooge saw by looking into his future, were put in perspective.

What is the theme of redemption? ›

A redemption arc story shows that people can make amends for past mistakes. This is important on a personal level when we feel guilt or shame. Stories give us hope for our own redemption arc. They also give us hope for a better world when we face everyday evil in the news.

What is an example of redemption? ›

Understanding Redemptions

For example, a coupon or gift card is a form of redemption because the value of the coupon or card is redeemed for a good or service.

What is a good sentence for redemption? ›

He craves redemption for his sins.

How do I tell a story about redemption? ›

7 Rules for Writing a Redemption Story
  1. Every story has a hero. It has to be about someone.
  2. The hero starts out flawed, but likable. ...
  3. The hero is changed by the end. ...
  4. The hero has a goal. ...
  5. The story is really about what the hero needs. ...
  6. The story has a theme. ...
  7. Every great story is about transformation.
May 13, 2021

What does stave 5 symbolize in A Christmas Carol? ›

Stave Five

The knocker still reminds Scrooge of Marley, but while initially this left Scrooge feeling terrified, he now views the knocker as being "wonderful." The knocker has become a symbol of the happiness that Marley gave Scrooge the opportunity to achieve.

What does Scrooge fear in Stave 5? ›

Scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled beneath him, and he found that he could hardly stand when he prepared to follow it. The presence of this ghost makes Scrooge afraid. His trembling legs and inability to stand firm show how he is worried about the future that the ghost will show him.

What word is repeated in stave 5? ›

Stave Five, pages 85–6: Christmas at Fred's

86). The repetition of 'wonderful' is amusing and adds to the atmosphere and the final split won-der-ful reminds us that this is a text for reading out loud. It also allows the intrusive narrator to stress this positive state and show us there is no room for doubt.

How does stave 5 end? ›

Waking up in his own bed, back in the present, Scrooge is delighted to be given a second chance and makes Christmas happy for everyone. He sends a turkey to the Cratchits, gives money to the charity collectors, and joins Fred for Christmas.

How does Scrooge feel about Christmas stave 5? ›

Scrooge is so full of Christmas spirit that he even thanks his door knocker! The turkey arrives and Scrooge delights in sending it to the Cratchit house, paying everyone handsomely for the job. He can't stop chuckling, so much so that he has trouble shaving and dressing.

What are three lessons that can be learned from a Christmas carol? ›

7 treasured lessons from A Christmas Carole
  • Learning begins with listening. ...
  • Humility enhances vision. ...
  • Regret leads to renewal. ...
  • There's joy in starting over. ...
  • We must be present to win. ...
  • Seeking forgiveness is a strength, not a weakness. ...
  • It's never too late to change.

What are the three definitions of redemption? ›

: to free from captivity by payment of ransom. : to extricate from or help to overcome something detrimental. : to release from blame or debt : clear.

What is the power of redemption? ›

Redemption is not just a nice word to use in church. It has the power to restore us back to the status we had with God before the fall. Redemption gives believers the same legal status that Jesus had with the Father, while He was walking on the earth.

What is the great plan of redemption? ›

When people repent, their sins "are truly gone — without a trace,” Sister Linda S. Reeves, second counselor in the Relief Society general presidency taught during the Sunday morning session of general conference.

What is redemption in a story? ›

A redemption sequence is a particular narrative form that appears in some accounts of significant scenes in a person's life story. In a redemption sequence, a demonstrably “bad” or emotionally negative event or circ*mstance leads to a demonstrably “good” or emotionally positive outcome.

Is redemption a topic or theme? ›

Redemption is a powerful theological movie theme. It provides a simple, understandable psychological dynamic with a clean beginning, a clear ending, and a satisfying resolution. What examples of redemption can you recall in movies?

Why is it called redemption? ›

Redemption comes from the Latin word redimere, a combination of re(d)-, meaning “back,” and emere, meaning “buy.” Redemption is what some people claim happens to your soul when you're saved from evil forces.

What does redemption mean in love? ›

Anything redemptive saves someone from making a mistake or being evil. Many people describe love as redemptive, healing even those who have done terrible things in the past.

What are the types of redemption? ›

Methods of Redemption of Debentures
  • Lump-sum payment on a prefixed date. This one-time method is considered to be among the simplest redeeming options. ...
  • Payment in annual instalment. ...
  • Debenture redemption reserve. ...
  • Call and put option. ...
  • Conversion into shares. ...
  • Buy from the open market.

Why do we need redemption? ›

Why do we need redemption? Redeemed – “to get or win back” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). “As God's possessions created for His own purpose, we were lost to God when we fell into sin and subsequently, death. But God reclaimed us through Christ's death on the cross.

What is the 5 example of sentence? ›

Simple Sentences

The train was late. Mary and Samantha took the bus. I looked for Mary and Samantha at the bus station. Mary and Samantha arrived at the bus station early but waited until noon for the bus.

What does it mean to feel redemption? ›

an act of redeeming or atoning for a fault or mistake, or the state of being redeemed. deliverance; rescue. Theology. deliverance from sin; salvation. atonement for guilt.

What word goes with redemption? ›

redemption
  • amends.
  • atonement.
  • compensation.
  • expiation.
  • penance.
  • recompense.
  • redress.
  • reparation.

Why do we love redemption stories? ›

It's a very relatable story because it takes the time to show those moments in which we question ourselves because we're doing something unfamiliar. The story shows those moments that allow us to learn from our mistakes and learn from others.

What does character redemption mean? ›

At its core, a redemption arc is a storytelling device where a character who is evil and destructive—or embodies evil, destructive traits—atones for their flaws and overcomes them, transforming from villain to hero.

What ghost is in stave 5? ›

"There's the door, by which the Ghost of Jacob Marley entered. There's the corner where the Ghost of Christmas Present, sat. There's the window where I saw the wandering Spirits. It's all right, it's all true, it all happened.

What two similes are used to describe Scrooge in stave 5? ›

2. Dickens employs a list of similes to convey Scrooge's delight at being given time and opportunity to live "an altered life". Scrooge claims to feel "as light as a feather" and "as happy an angel." What is the symbolic significance of these similes?

What does the five symbolize? ›

The number five is exceedingly important in terms of its symbolic qualities. It represents human perfection, because a man with outstretched arms and legs forms a pentagon with the head "dominating the four limbs, just as the spirit commands the quaternary of elements" (Julien, 155).

What is the moral lesson from A Christmas Carol? ›

The moral of A Christmas Carol is that the pursuit of money will not make a person happy. Scrooge devotes his life to amassing wealth, but in doing so misses out on the joys of family and friendship.

What is the most important lesson learned in A Christmas Carol? ›

Sometimes the best lessons learned come from our mistakes and failures. In A Christmas Carol, Scrooge saw the mistakes he had made and the opportunities that had passed him by. While unable to change the past, he still had the opportunity to learn from his mistakes and ensure they were not repeated in the future.

What do we learn has happened to Scrooge at the end of Scene 5? ›

Stave 5 of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol finds Scrooge giddy with happiness. He is so relieved to not only be alive but also to have another chance at life. He sets about changing his ways immediately as he has a large turkey sent anonymously to the home of his clerk, Bob Cratchit.

What lesson does Scrooge learn with each of the spirits? ›

From the first ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Past, Scrooge learns that the simple things in life like love, friendship, and laughter hold value. Then the Ghost of Christmas Present shows him that those he considers foolish or beneath his notice actually... See full answer below.

What adjectives describe Scrooge in stave 5? ›

1 - As stave 5 begins, Scrooge is described as being "fluttered and so glowing with good intentions." Consider Dickens' choice of adjective "glowing" here. What is its signifcance? Dickens' choice of adjective "glowing" evokes an impression of Scrooge's rosy red cheeks because he is so cheerful.

What is a lesson that Scrooge learned from the Ghost of Christmas Present? ›

The Ghost predicts that Mankind, Scrooge included, will suffer unless the lessons of generosity and tolerance are learned.

Does Scrooge have a happy ending? ›

The good characters get prizes and rewards, and the bad ones get their just desserts and comeuppances. But A Christmas Carol is different. Sure, you still get the mega-happy ending—Tiny Tim lives, everyone gets to eat a giant turkey, and Scrooge is made over into the nice grandfather that he should have been all along.

What is the moral message of a Christmas carol? ›

The moral of A Christmas Carol is that the pursuit of money will not make a person happy. Scrooge devotes his life to amassing wealth, but in doing so misses out on the joys of family and friendship.

How does Scrooge redeem himself? ›

To build on this, Scrooge informs the gentleman that his donation includes​ “many back-payments”​. This reveals that he is not only improving his behaviour in the present but is also making amends for his past mistakes​- portraying his redemption as thorough and complete.

What is the moral of a Christmas story? ›

The Christmas story is about inclusion and a reminder that family is important to us and to God. He doesn't want us to be alone or try to do our spiritual walk by ourselves. Family is critical and essential for our own wellbeing.

How does Scrooge describe stave 5 quotes? ›

Scrooge has became generous, and is now going out of his way to help the Cratchits. Description of Scrooge, which is a contrast to before as now he smiles at everyone even if they are poor or rich. "Not a farthing less. A great many back payments are included in it."

What are the 4 major themes of A Christmas Carol? ›

A Christmas Carol has multiple themes, both major and minor. However, the four major themes around which the story revolves are transformation, relationships, Christmas spirit, and time and memory.

What is an inspirational quote from A Christmas Carol? ›

“God bless us every one!” “Every traveler has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering.” “Reflect upon your present blessings—of which every man has many—not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.

What is the message of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come? ›

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come allows Scrooge to foresee the possible future consequences his past and present lack of feeling, giving him the opportunity to make his self anew, to 'live in the Past, the Present, and the Future', and to extend sympathy and charity towards Fred, the Cratchits and, crucially, the ...

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