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How much do you know about character in A Christmas Carol?

A Christmas Carol - Character

Characters in A Christmas Carol reveal Dickens’ message about responsibility and kindness. Explore Scrooge’s journey, Tiny Tim’s influence and how minor characters shape the novella’s themes.

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Fascinating Fact:

Tiny Tim is a moral compass. His “God bless us, every one” pressures Scrooge and the reader to value compassion.

In GCSE English Literature, you explore how Dickens uses characters in A Christmas Carol to criticise selfishness and celebrate generosity. You study Scrooge’s transformation, symbolic figures like Tiny Tim, and how dialogue and description reveal attitudes to poverty, family and social responsibility.

Key Terms

Protagonist: The main character in a text, often the one who changes most, such as Scrooge.
Characterisation: The methods a writer uses to present a character, including description, speech, actions and others’ reactions.
Symbolism: When a character, object or event stands for a bigger idea, such as Tiny Tim symbolising innocence and hope.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How is Scrooge presented as a character in A Christmas Carol?

At first, Scrooge is shown as cold, greedy and dismissive of others. Through the visits of the three spirits he faces his past, present and future, becoming generous and warm-hearted by the end.

What does Tiny Tim represent in A Christmas Carol for GCSE English?

Tiny Tim represents vulnerable children harmed by social inequality. His kindness and frailty highlight the consequences of neglect and help persuade both Scrooge and the reader that change is urgently needed.

How do other characters help develop the themes in A Christmas Carol?

Characters like Fred, the Cratchit family and the charity collectors contrast with Scrooge. Their generosity, humour and warmth emphasise themes of family, community, responsibility and the value of human connection over money.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

"Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event, but that he was an excellent man of business on the very day of the funeral, and solemnised it with an undoubted bargain." What does this sentence tell us about Scrooge's character?

He always puts business before people

He is prepared to suspend the pursuit of profits, but only for a good cause

He lets emotions cloud his good judgement

He feels exceeding lonely without a business partner

Scrooge is Marley's only mourner and only friend. His business dealings on the day of Marley's funeral hint that Marley is not much mourned and that business is Scrooge's foremost priority

2 .

"The Founder of the Feast indeed!" cried Mrs Cratchit, reddening. "I wish I had him here. I'd give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and I hope he'd have a good appetite for it." Why does Mrs Cratchit's face redden as she interrupts her husband's toast to Scrooge?

She is embarrassed that she has interrupted her husband's speech

She is embarrassed that Scrooge might overhear her

She is indignant

She is embarrassed to have lost her temper in front of her children

She does not wish to give Scrooge credit for the family's humble Christmas meal, considering the poor wages which Bob is paid

3 .

Scrooge's former employer, Mr Fezziwig, is depicted as generous and jolly. Which of the following phrases implies that he is also youthful?

"'Let's have the shutters up,' cried old Fezziwig, with a sharp clap of his hands"

"A positive light appeared to issue from Fezziwig's calves. They shone in every part of the dance like moons"

"Mr and Mrs Fezziwig took their stations, one on either side the door, and shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas"

"'Hilli-ho!' cried old Fezziwig, skipping down from the high desk, with wonderful agility"

Despite being repeatedly referred to as "old" Mr Fezziwig, he is as nimble and agile as his young employees, especially when dancing

4 .

After Fred's speech praising Christmas for bringing good to humankind, Bob Cratchit applauds "involuntarily". What does this mean?

He applauds Fred mockingly in order to please Scrooge

He applauds Fred without intending to do so

He does not wish to applaud Scrooge's nephew, but feels he must in order to please his employer's nephew

He willingly applauds Fred's speech because he completely agrees with him

Bob Cratchit agrees so completely with Fred that he forgets for a moment that his job depends on pleasing Scrooge

5 .

Why does Scrooge feel sorry at the vision of his boyhood self?

He remembers how lonely he was

He remembers how he had once amused himself by bringing fictional characters to life in his imagination

He realises he might have given something to the carolling boy who appeared at his door

All of the above

As soon as Scrooge feels sorry for his lonely boyhood self, he begins to feel pity on another, in this case the carolling boy

6 .

Why does Belle release Scrooge from their engagement?

She knows that he would no longer choose to marry someone as poor as she is

She no longer cares for him

She wishes to make him unhappy

All of the above

She tries to make Scrooge acknowledge that she has been replaced by his new love of money

7 .

Which of the following is true of Fred's wife?

She is bitter about Scrooge's meanness

She enjoys laughing at her husband

She is a very solemn, dignified woman

She is quiet and patient

Scrooge's niece is shown laughing for much of the time. She encourages her guests to laugh in a good-natured way at her husband and is described as having "the sunniest pair of eyes" and dimples which "melted into one another when she laughed"

8 .

When the Cratchit family tease Bob, saying that Martha has been unable to come home for the day, why does she quickly run out of hiding to surprise him?

She did not wish to hide in the first place

She is overexcited like a young child

She does not like to disappoint him, even for a moment

She is an impatient character

Martha is grateful to be home, even though she has already had to work on Christmas morning. Her family would have accepted her absence, albeit sadly

9 .

Which of the following does NOT describe Scrooge's nephew, Fred?

Cheerful

Open-hearted

Easily offended

Generous

Fred refuses to take offence at Scrooge's rude rejection of his invitation to Christmas dinner

10 .

What does Jacob Marley most regret?

That he made too much money

That he worked too hard

That he did not make the "common welfare" his business

That he could have had time for more business dealings if he had been more focussed

As a spirit, Marley can see all human need, but can no longer offer help. By warning and frightening Scrooge into changing his ways, Marley is able to intervene indirectly on behalf of the many suffering people he can see

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Characters

Author: Sheri Smith (PhD English Literature, English Teacher & Quiz Writer)