Charles Dickens:
Born: February 7th, 1812
Where: Portsmouth, England
Life: Lower Middle Class
Dad: Clerk in Navy Pay Office, who Spent more $$$ then he had
Mom: Affectionate & Loving, but unable to manage "practical matters"
Siblings: Charles Dickens was 1 of 8 in the Dickens Family
Before he turned 12, Charles' father, John, was sent to prison for debt.
Charles was forced to leave school and work in a boot-blacking factory
pasting labels onto bottles.
REsult of Childhood:
Subject Material for his stories.
Fictional Children in Dickens' novels undergo the same sufferings he experienced:
poverty
loniliness
shame
As Dickens grows, so does his passion for books.
He wants to go to school but can't (no $$$)
Through his reading his teaches himself, starts with shorthand.
Dickens' career path:
court reporter
journalist (by age 25, was one of the best parlimentary reporters in London
*also used these life experiences to add to his stories
1833- began writing sketches under the name "Boz"
Biographical Info:
1836 marries Catherine Hogarth, produces 10 children lasts 21 years.
1858 Catherine & Charles were legally separated.
As a result devoted his time to: 
charitable causes
attending plays
traveling abroad. 
Charles Dickens: Philosopher
Dickens Believed:
he could use his social position & writing to help the poor
education was a resource that could be utilized for all to better themselves.
Disliked:
Captialism
distrusted established authority & privileged classes
Despite these ideas his writing reflects optimism;
with the idea that he believed most people are good.
Charles Dickens: Writer
Began writing for monthly magazine; which made him struggle with his writing. 

Rambling vs. composition
Influenced by theater. We see:
vivid descriptions
fast-paced dialogue
senstaional plots
melodramatic scenes
fanicful characters
Despite his talent, Dickens found writing difficult.
He wrote slowly & meticulously, forcing himself to work
even when he didn't want to.  During his evening walks he'd
generate ideas, which is where A Christmas carol was born.
A Christmas Carol
1843: Written in 6 weeks, used his daily evening walks to note the city
and its details which is how he created the story.
Dickens hoped it would become an annual tradition.
When presented to publishers, they didn't like it; no commerical value.
Dickens decided to publish it himself, which he included hand colored illustrations and insisted the price be kept within the budget of the poor.
Dickens was right; it was a success that has seen numerous printings.

Point of View:
Narrator comments on the action, introduces characters, and reveals details about life in Victorian London, often speaking to the reader, which allows us to see Dickens' sense of humor about plot development.
Through the point of view we see Dickens' attitudes
towards characters, social responsibility, & the value of 
the Christmas spirit in creating GOODWILL.
Symbolism:
Christmas Past: is surrounded by a flood of light, which symbolizes the heavenly quality of human memory.
Christmas Present: surrounded by elements of the senses which symbolizes material life we live right now.  When he opens his cloak, he reveals the social conditions that haunted Dickens; want & ignorance. The children are symbols of a decaying society that only benefits the rich.
Christmas yet to come: The Grim Reaper; represents the certainty that we all await death.
Theme:
To remind readers that Christmas is a time of love,
both for family and all of humanity and we are all responsible for each other (social responsibility).
The Story:
Ebenezer Scrooge hates his fellow humans & the Christmas season. But one Christmas Eve, Scrooge begins a fateful journey that will completely change him.....FOREVER!
The End.