<P> Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol at a time when the British were examining and exploring Christmas traditions from the past , such as carols , as well as new customs such as Christmas trees . He was influenced by experiences from his own past , and from the Christmas stories of other authors , including Washington Irving and Douglas Jerrold . Dickens had written three Christmas stories prior to the novella , and was inspired to write the story following a visit to the Field Lane Ragged school , one of several establishments for London 's half - starved , illiterate street children . The treatment of the poor and the ability of a self - interested man redeeming himself by transforming into a more sympathetic character are the key themes of the story . There is discussion among academics as to whether this was a fully secular story , or if it is a Christian allegory . </P>
<P> Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol at a time when the British were examining and exploring Christmas traditions from the past , such as carols , as well as new customs such as Christmas trees . He was influenced by experiences from his own past , and from the Christmas stories of other authors , including Washington Irving and Douglas Jerrold . Dickens had written three Christmas stories prior to the novella , and was inspired to write the story following a visit to the Field Lane Ragged school , one of several establishments for London 's half - starved , illiterate street children . The treatment of the poor and the ability of a self - interested man redeeming himself by transforming into a more sympathetic character are the key themes of the story . There is discussion among academics as to whether this was a fully secular story , or if it is a Christian allegory . </P>
what is the plot of the story a christmas carol
what is the plot of the story a christmas carol
The treatment of the poor and the ability of a self - interested man redeeming himself by transforming into a more sympathetic character
The treatment of the poor and the ability of a self - interested man redeeming himself by transforming into a more sympathetic character