A Christmas Carol

The content typically covered in a GCSE English Literature course on A Christmas Carol:

1. Plot and structure: Students will analyze the plot and structure of the novel, including the use of flashbacks, foreshadowing, and symbolism.

2. Characters: Students will study the main characters in A Christmas Carol, including Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, and the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, and analyze their motivations, relationships, and character development throughout the novel.

3. Themes: Students will explore the key themes of the novel, including redemption, greed, social responsibility, and the Christmas spirit, and learn how to interpret and analyze the novel's meaning through these themes.

4. Language and style: Students will analyze the use of language and style in the novel, including Dickens' use of imagery, metaphor, and dialogue, to convey the characters' emotions and motivations.

5. Context: Students will learn about the historical and social context of the novel, including Victorian England and the Industrial Revolution, and how this context informs the themes and characters in the novel.

6. Critical reception: Students may also study the critical reception of A Christmas Carol and the ways in which it has been interpreted and analyzed by literary critics over the years.

Assessment for the GCSE course on A Christmas Carol typically involves a combination of exams and coursework, which may include essay writing, close analysis of extracts from the novel, and creative responses such as writing a scene or monologue in response to a given theme.