GCSE Literature Boost: A Christmas Carol uses academic criticism and theory to relight your literary passion for this classic text and put a newfound excitement in your pedagogy. Beginning with a whistlestop tour of literary theory and criticism from 400BC to the late 20th century, Hughes explains how you can introduce your GCSE English students to themes most often reserved for undergraduate courses, improving their understanding of the text and broadening their knowledge of the subject as a whole.

Written in easily digestible chunks, each chapter considers a main theme or section of Charles Dickens‘ A Christmas Carol through different critical lenses summarising the relevant academic theories, and shows how you can transfer this knowledge to the classroom through practical teaching ideas. Features include:

• Case studies showing how English teachers have used academic theory in practical ways.


• Ideas for teaching linked to GCSE assessment objectives at the end of each chapter.


• Six key points at the end of each chapter that highlight the key takeaways from that chapter.


• Real examples of student work which can be used as models and exemplars.

This is essential reading for all secondary English teachers looking to create a climate of high expectations and improve their students’ knowledge and understanding of the big ideas in literature.