A Christmas Carol - Thomas Malthus - teaching resource

A Christmas Carol – Context: Thomas Malthus

(24-slide editable PowerPoint with 10 worksheets)

This GCSE English Literature context lesson explores the influence of Thomas Malthus and his population theory on Dickens’ writing of A Christmas Carol. Designed for KS4 learners, the 24-slide fully editable PowerPoint and ten accompanying worksheets help students understand why Dickens was critical of Malthus’ ideas and how these views are reflected in the novella.

Malthus’ belief that population growth would outstrip resources led him to argue against financial aid for the poor, suggesting poverty was inevitable and natural. Dickens strongly rejected these ideas, and this lesson examines how Malthus’ theories inform Scrooge’s attitudes early in the novella and Dickens’ wider social critique.

This resource includes:

• A differentiated Do Now starter activity, where learners rate their agreement with eight controversial statements about managing poverty. Higher-level learners also explore how Scrooge might respond to each statement and explain why.

• A data-driven activity where learners use a simplified table to draw their own graph demonstrating Malthus’ theory of population growth. Higher, middle, and lower versions are provided to support differentiation.

• A focused discussion on the implications of the adjective “surplus”, encouraging learners to connect language, context, and theme. Higher-level questions are included to stretch more able students.

• A learning review plenary where learners write down five key insights gained during the lesson.

Perfect for enhancing students’ contextual understanding of Dickens’ novella and supporting their ability to explore themes of poverty, morality, and social responsibility, this resource also strengthens key analytical skills required for the GCSE English Literature exam.

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