Maths
Chemistry
Biology
English Language
History
Responding to change (a2 only)
Infection and response
Homeostasis and response
Energy transfers (a2 only)
Cell biology
Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments (a-level only)
Biological molecules
Organisation
Substance exchange
Bioenergetics
Genetic information & variation
Inheritance, variation and evolution
Genetics & ecosystems (a2 only)
Ecology
Cells
Show all topics
Britain & the wider world: 1745 -1901
1l the quest for political stability: germany, 1871-1991
The cold war
Inter-war germany
Medieval period: 1066 -1509
2d religious conflict and the church in england, c1529-c1570
2o democracy and nazism: germany, 1918-1945
1f industrialisation and the people: britain, c1783-1885
1c the tudors: england, 1485-1603
2m wars and welfare: britain in transition, 1906-1957
World war two & the holocaust
2n revolution and dictatorship: russia, 1917-1953
2s the making of modern britain, 1951-2007
World war one
Britain: 1509 -1745
Show all topics
English Literature
16 Dec 2025
651
3 pages
sophie @sophierobinson
Dickens' A Christmas Carolfollows Ebenezer Scrooge's dramatic transformation from a miserly, isolated man to someone who embraces... Show more
Dickens initially presents Scrooge as completely cut off from humanity - "secret, self-contained, solitary as an oyster". His greed defines him through the repetitive actions of "squeezing, wringing, grasping, clutching," showing how money has consumed his entire being.
Scrooge's callous attitude towards the poor becomes clear when he suggests they should "decrease the surplus population" rather than receive help. Living in his "dismal little cell," he's created a world where human warmth can't reach him - literally carrying his own "low temperature about with him."
The turning point comes when Scrooge begins to feel empathy through the spirits' revelations. He "wept to see his poor forgotten self" and becomes "overcome with penitence and grief." This emotional awakening marks the beginning of his moral redemption.
By the end, Scrooge's complete transformation shines through his joyful declaration "I am as light as a feather, as happy as an angel, I am merry as a school boy." He promises to "live in the Past, the Present and the Future," showing he's learned to value both memory and hope.
Key Point Scrooge's journey from isolation to connection shows that anyone can change if they open their heart to others.
The Cratchit family represents everything Scrooge lacks - warmth, affection, and togetherness. Despite their poverty, "they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another," showing that love matters more than wealth. Their constant physical affection, with everyone kissing and embracing, contrasts sharply with Scrooge's lonely existence.
Weather and setting reflect the emotional landscape throughout the story. Scrooge's world is filled with "misanthropic ice" and "gloomy suites of rooms," whilst the cheerful families gather in warm, welcoming spaces. The "neglected grave" symbolises what awaits those who live without love.
Other characters demonstrate the power of family bonds. Fred shows "irrepressible affection" for his uncle despite constant rejection. Belle once loved Scrooge but left because wealth became more important to him than their relationship. Even Fan's childhood promise - "we're to be together all Christmas" - highlights the family connection Scrooge abandoned.
The contrast between community and isolation runs throughout. Whilst families share "wonderful parties" and "nothing so irresistibly contagious as laughter," Scrooge has become someone who "frightened everyone away from him."
Key Point Dickens shows that wealth without human connection leads to a life that's emotionally and spiritually bankrupt.
Social injustice forms a central theme as Dickens exposes the harsh realities of Victorian poverty. The poor live in areas that "reeked with crime, with filth and misery," yet still maintain an "air of cheerfulness" that puts Scrooge's misery to shame.
Scrooge's initial lack of social conscience appears in his cruel questions "Are there no prisons?" and his claim that he "can't afford to make idle people merry." He represents the wealthy who ignore their responsibility to help others, viewing the poor as a burden rather than fellow human beings.
Positive role models show alternative approaches to wealth and social responsibility. Fred believes Christmas is valuable even though "it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket." Fezziwig demonstrates how employers can create joy for others, proving "he has the power to render us happy or unhappy."
The message of redemption suggests that recognition of social responsibility leads to personal happiness. When Scrooge finally pledges to "assist your struggling family," he discovers that helping others brings more satisfaction than hoarding wealth ever did.
Tiny Tim's blessing - "God bless us everyone" - encapsulates the story's message that everyone deserves compassion and care, regardless of their social position.
Key Point True wealth comes from contributing to your community's wellbeing, not from accumulating money whilst others suffer.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
6
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Quotes from every main character
English LiteratureQuotes from every main character
English LiteratureApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
sophie
@sophierobinson
Dickens' A Christmas Carol follows Ebenezer Scrooge's dramatic transformation from a miserly, isolated man to someone who embraces kindness and community. Through encounters with three spirits, Scrooge learns the value of human connection and social responsibility.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Dickens initially presents Scrooge as completely cut off from humanity - "secret, self-contained, solitary as an oyster". His greed defines him through the repetitive actions of "squeezing, wringing, grasping, clutching," showing how money has consumed his entire being.
Scrooge's callous attitude towards the poor becomes clear when he suggests they should "decrease the surplus population" rather than receive help. Living in his "dismal little cell," he's created a world where human warmth can't reach him - literally carrying his own "low temperature about with him."
The turning point comes when Scrooge begins to feel empathy through the spirits' revelations. He "wept to see his poor forgotten self" and becomes "overcome with penitence and grief." This emotional awakening marks the beginning of his moral redemption.
By the end, Scrooge's complete transformation shines through his joyful declaration: "I am as light as a feather, as happy as an angel, I am merry as a school boy." He promises to "live in the Past, the Present and the Future," showing he's learned to value both memory and hope.
Key Point: Scrooge's journey from isolation to connection shows that anyone can change if they open their heart to others.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
The Cratchit family represents everything Scrooge lacks - warmth, affection, and togetherness. Despite their poverty, "they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another," showing that love matters more than wealth. Their constant physical affection, with everyone kissing and embracing, contrasts sharply with Scrooge's lonely existence.
Weather and setting reflect the emotional landscape throughout the story. Scrooge's world is filled with "misanthropic ice" and "gloomy suites of rooms," whilst the cheerful families gather in warm, welcoming spaces. The "neglected grave" symbolises what awaits those who live without love.
Other characters demonstrate the power of family bonds. Fred shows "irrepressible affection" for his uncle despite constant rejection. Belle once loved Scrooge but left because wealth became more important to him than their relationship. Even Fan's childhood promise - "we're to be together all Christmas" - highlights the family connection Scrooge abandoned.
The contrast between community and isolation runs throughout. Whilst families share "wonderful parties" and "nothing so irresistibly contagious as laughter," Scrooge has become someone who "frightened everyone away from him."
Key Point: Dickens shows that wealth without human connection leads to a life that's emotionally and spiritually bankrupt.
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Social injustice forms a central theme as Dickens exposes the harsh realities of Victorian poverty. The poor live in areas that "reeked with crime, with filth and misery," yet still maintain an "air of cheerfulness" that puts Scrooge's misery to shame.
Scrooge's initial lack of social conscience appears in his cruel questions: "Are there no prisons?" and his claim that he "can't afford to make idle people merry." He represents the wealthy who ignore their responsibility to help others, viewing the poor as a burden rather than fellow human beings.
Positive role models show alternative approaches to wealth and social responsibility. Fred believes Christmas is valuable even though "it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket." Fezziwig demonstrates how employers can create joy for others, proving "he has the power to render us happy or unhappy."
The message of redemption suggests that recognition of social responsibility leads to personal happiness. When Scrooge finally pledges to "assist your struggling family," he discovers that helping others brings more satisfaction than hoarding wealth ever did.
Tiny Tim's blessing - "God bless us everyone" - encapsulates the story's message that everyone deserves compassion and care, regardless of their social position.
Key Point: True wealth comes from contributing to your community's wellbeing, not from accumulating money whilst others suffer.
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
6
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Quotes from every main character
English LiteratureQuotes from every main character
English LiteratureApp Store
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Sociology