Prompt 01
Essay task
In A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens takes us on a supernatural journey with Ebenezer Scrooge to illustrate that social responsibility and human compassion hold greater value than wealth and self-interest.
Write a well-organized essay in which you argue how Dickens employs literary devices — including characterization, symbolism, and the motif of time — to critique greed and advocate for social reform.
Your essay should:
- Present a clear, defensible thesis that delves deeper than a simple statement of theme
- Use at least three specific pieces of textual evidence (scenes, dialogue, or descriptions) to back up your argument
- Analyze how Dickens's craft choices (for example, the three spirits as structural and symbolic devices, the contrast between Scrooge's past and present self, and imagery of warmth versus cold) strengthen his central message
- Address a counterargument: reflect on whether Scrooge's transformation is genuinely earned or if it feels too convenient to be believable
- Conclude by linking Dickens's 19th-century social commentary to a broader or lasting human truth
Suggested length
4–6 paragraphs (approximately 600–900 words)