There is a level of redemption combined with the strictest of realism in Dickens' work.  I think I have a slight problem with the "fairy tale unrealism" because it negates the level of profound suffering within his work.  If we remove, "A Christmas Carol" from the equation and examine the theme of suffering in Dickens' work, we begin to see that there is little in way of fairy tale unrealism present.  Pip in Great Expectations realizes the complexity involved with wealth and social betterment to a degree that moves it beyond "fairy tale."  The powerfully compelling notion of self sacrifice which is present in "A Tale of Two Cities" is far from unrealism and falsehood.  At the same time, the condemnation of social conformity and traditionalized notions of education in "Hard Times" create an ending that is far from "neat" and "tidy," as would be in a fairy tale.  I think it's important to determine that redemption is different from "fairly tale ending."  The former can embrace complexity and nuance, while the latter is reductive.  Of the many things that can be said about Dickens' work, this term could not be applicable.

Discuss the blend of realism and fairytale elements in Dickens' work.

This discussion question would seem to perfectly fit the novel 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens. The story has a grittily realistic setting in Victorian London and shows both the freezing, necessarily obsequious and penurious lives of the poor as well as the lives of 'the other half' which is the business or artistcrotratic community. While Scrooge does not avail himself of the warm cheer and luxury available to him and his family and associates portrayed elsewhere in the novel, we get the feeling he himself is far from poor.

The story also displays a fairytale quality in its 'out of body' experiences (the face on the door knocker,Marley's ghost and the three spirits) as well as the supernatural powers often contained in fairy tales (seeing into the future or past/flying through the air.)