1. The poor Victorians in England
1.1. Poor victorians would put children to work at an early age, or even them out onto the streets to fend for themselves. In 1848 an estimated 30,000 homeless, filthy children lived on the street of London ....Hideously overcrowded, unsanitary slums developed, particulary in London. They were known as rookeries.
1.2. Poor Victorians had a rough and hard life, often ending up in the workhouse or early death. Many children died of disease.
2. The Workhouse
2.1. Workhouses were for poor people who didn't have a job or somewhere to live
2.2. Workhouses were for children without parents and abandoned children
2.3. They earned their keep by doing jobs in the workhouse
2.4. Before 1834, poor people were looked after by buying food and clothing from money collected by land owners and other wealthy people
2.5. The government, terrified of encouraging 'idlers' (lazy people), made sure that people feared the workhouse and would do anything for it.
2.6. Women, children and men had different living and working areas in the workhouse, so families were split up. To make things even worse they could be punished if they even tried to speak to me
2.7. The poor were made to wear school uniform. This meant that everyone looked the same and everyone outside knew they were pool and living in the workhouse
2.8. Upon entering the workhouse, the poor were stripped and bathed (under supervision)
2.9. The food was tasteless and was the same day after day
2.10. The young and old as well as men and women were made to work hard, often doing unpleasant jobs.
2.11. Children could also find themselves 'hired out' (sold) to work in factories or mines
3. Characters
3.1. Tiny Tim
3.1.1. is Bob's son. He's ill and walks with a crutch. He's selfless and well-loved by those around him.
3.2. Bob Cratchit
3.2.1. is Scrooge's employee. He's a goodperson who loves his family. Hedoesn't have much money.
3.3. Ebenezer Scrooge
3.3.1. is a miserly, bitter old man, who has no friends and hates Christmas. He's the main character in the book
3.4. Fred
3.4.1. is Scrooge's nephew. He's a cheerful man, who's very generous, and always friendly to his uncle.
3.5. Marley's ghost
3.5.1. is the spirit of Scrooge's old business partner, Jacob Marley. Like Scrooge, he spent his life alone.
3.6. Ghost of Christmas Past
3.6.1. is both childlike and aged in appearance. It shows Scrooge scenes from his past.
3.7. Ghost of Christmas Present
3.7.1. is a giant, jolly spirit, who shows Scrooge how other people celebrate christmas
3.8. Ghost of Christmas Yet to come
3.8.1. is a silent, hooded figure. It shows Scrooge what will happen after he dies.
3.9. Mrs Cratchit
3.9.1. Bob's wife, a kind and loving woman.
3.10. Belle
3.10.1. A beautiful woman who Scrooge loveddeeply when he was a young man. Bellebroke off their engagement after Scroogebecame consumed with greed and the lustfor wealth. She later married another man.
3.11. Fezziwig
3.11.1. The jovial merchant with whom the young Scrooge apprenticed. Fezziwig was renowned for his wonderful Christmas parties.
3.12. Martha Cratchit
3.12.1. Bob's oldest daughter, who works in a milliner's shop. (A milliner is a person who designs, produces, and sells hats.)
3.13. Peter Cratchit
3.13.1. Bob's oldest son, who inherits his father'sstiff-collared shirt for Christmas.
3.14. Fan
3.14.1. Scrooge's sister; Fred's mother. In Scrooge's vision of Christmases past, he remembers Fan picking him up from school and walking him home.
3.15. The Portly Gentleman
3.15.1. Two gentlemen who visit Scrooge at thebeginning of the tale seeking charitablecontributions