Stave 1 Questions:

Answer these questions on your own sheet of paper. Use complete sentences and be sure to write 6 sentence paragraphs for credit.

1. Explain how Scrooge originally knew Marley.2. According to the narrator, what about Marley must be

distinctly understood?3. Describe the difficult working conditions that

Scrooge’s clerk must endure.4. Tell how Scrooge responds to each of the following:

a. his nephew’s invitation to dinnerb. the gentlemen’s request for money for the

poorc. the boy who sings a carol through the key

hole5. When Scrooge reaches his house, what does he see

in the door knocker and how does he react to what he sees?

6. Describe Jacob Marley’s Ghost.7. Why must he travel far and wide and why does he

wear a chain?8. According to Marley’s ghost, why is he visiting

Scrooge?9. Who is the protagonist in this book?10. What would you say is the conflict?11. List three things in this chapter that prove the setting

is England, 1843.12. List the other characters in this chapter and explain

each character’s relationship to Scrooge.13. Explain how Scrooge’s lifestyle is inconsistent with his

wealth. (One paragraph)14. Does Scrooge enjoy life? Use examples for the story

to explain your answer. (One paragraph)15. Would you have wanted Scrooge to be your friend?

Explain. (One paragraph) 16. What was the reason for Marley’s jaw dropping when

the bandage was removed?17. What is irony? What was ironic about Scrooge’s

speech to the ghost?18. Define allusion. Name one example of allusion used

in Stave One.

Vocabulary for Stave One:

executor palpable extinguish ominousfacetious garret

incredulous incessant benevolence lamentationsolitary caustic

Unhallowed Entreaty multitude intimationcongeal lunatic

Trifle covetous impropriety resolutelegatee implore

Stave 2 Questions:

Answer these questions on your own sheet of paper. Use complete sentences and be sure to write 6 sentence paragraphs for credit.

1. According to the nearby church chimes and his own watch, what time is it when Scrooge wakes up?

2. Tell why he finds it hard to believe this is the correct time.

3. How does the Ghost of Christmas Past get Scrooge’s attention?

4. List five physical details that give this Ghost a strange appearance

5. Discuss what the ghost says is his business with Scrooge.

6. The ghost helps Scrooge revisit scenes from five past Christmases. Describe each of these five scenes.

7. Explain how Scrooge gets rid of the Ghost of Christmas Past.

8. What does the light coming from the top of the ghost’s head represent or symbolize?

9. Each of the five scenes Scrooge sees again in Stave Two makes him regret something that he failed to do. Identify and describe each of these five regrets.

10. What was the overall effect on Scrooge of his trip into the past?

11. What do you think is the meaning of Scrooge’s inability to extinguish the Ghost’s light?

12. (In Your Journal or Learning Log) Scrooge himself said that the joy Fezziwig gave others had little to do with money. What are some ways you have seen people bring joy to one another at little or no cost? (1 paragraph)

13. Analyzing Character Scrooge’s fiancée sees a “Master passion” in Scrooge that he does not see. She calls it “Gain”—an obsession with making money. In a paragraph discuss whether later events in Scrooge’s life have proved her correct. Use examples from the story to support your answer.

14. Sensory Details Sensory details help bring descriptive passages to life. In Stave One, for example, Dicken’s sensory details allowed your imagination to feel the cold dampness of the fog, taste the thinness of the gruel Scrooge ate, see the gas lamps, and hear the clanking of Marley’s chains. For each of the following quotations from the story, identify the sense to which it appeals most strongly – sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell. What specific words appeal to the sense you named for each quotation?

a. “ ... candles were flaring in the windows . . . like ruddy smears upon the palpable brown air.”

b. “Foggier yet, and colder! Piercing, searching, biting cold.”

c. “ ... the hour bell sounded, . . . with a deep, dull, hollow, melancholy ONE.”

d. “It wore a tunic of the purest white; and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt, the sheen of which was beautiful. It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand...”

e. “...and there was a great piece of Cold Boiled, and there were mince pies, and plenty of beer.”

Vocabulary Words to know:repeater: watch or clock that can be made to strike the timereclamation: rescuing or recovering a person from their mistakes.jocund: cheerful, happycupola: small dome or similar structure on a roofdeal forms: long benches made from unpainted pinecondescension: looking down on something in a haughty way.gainsay: deny

apprenticed: bound as a worker without pay to learn a trade from a master craftsmanorgan of benevolence: area above the forehead, believed by some to be the source of kindlinessporter: dark-brown beernegus: hot wine punch with lemon and spicesavarice: greedfraught: filleddowerless: without a dowry, or the property a woman brought to her husband at marriage

Stave 3 Questions:

1. What makes Scrooge realize that the second of the three spirits has arrived? Describe the scene surrounding the second Spirit when Scrooge first sees it.

2. Describe the physical characteristics of the Ghost of Christmas Present. What does he carry in his hand? For which class of people does he have the most sympathy?

3. Describe how the Crachits celebrate Christmas. (1 paragraph with 6 sentences) The purpose of this writing is to show your ability to use sequencing correctly. Show the order of events that take place using transitions like, first, secondly, after that, finally, at the end, etc. Describe with sensory details and vivid verbs. Please read other entries but a response is optional. POST ON BLACKBOARD!

4. Describe Tiny Tim’s handicap. What does Scrooge ask the ghost to tell him regarding the boy? What is the ghost’s reply, and how does Scrooge react to it?

5. List three of the places that the Ghost and Scrooge visit after leaving the Crachits and before arriving at Scrooge’s nephew’s house. What activities does Scrooge witness in all these places?

6. Describe the scene in Scrooge’s nephew’s house. Who is present? List three of the things they do as part of their Christmas celebration. Tell how Scrooge reacts to what he sees.

7. List ten words that Dickens uses to describe the two children discovered beneath the Ghost’s robe. What does the ghost say are their names? Explain their symbolism as your teacher explained it to you. POST ON BLACKBOARD!

8. In Stave Three, the word spirit can be used to refer not only to the ghost but also to the attitudes that the various characters have toward Christmas. Make a list of five or more words and phrases from this section that you think express the spirit of Christmas. POST ON BLACKBOARD!

9. The Ghost twice quotes Scrooge’s own words to him. Identify these two instances, and explain the Ghost’s reason for quoting Scrooge.

10. Both Bob Crachit and Scrooge’s nephew drink toast to Scrooge. Explain how their families and friends react to their toasts. What do the toasts reveal about Crachit’s and the nephew’s character?

A Creative Response: (Choose one and complete it.)

1. Writing a Letter: Pretend you are Bob Crachit. You have found a better job, and you are writing a letter to your replacement in Scrooge’s office. In two

paragraphs, tell the new clerk about a typical workday at Scrooge and Marley. Discuss the hours and the working conditions and suggest ways to get along with the boss, Ebenezer Scrooge. Be honest, but remember to write as kindly Bob Crachit would.

2. Illustrating a Scene: This is for the artists in class! Pick one of the scenes in this chapter and using your best skill, draw a picture that shows this scene. Be sure to name your picture. You may use the medium of your choosing. THIS IS ONLY FOR THOSE WHO CAN DRAW!

3. Expressing with Poetry: Poets, this is for you! Compose a poem based on a scene or theme in Stave Three. You might write about the joy of family, or the love displayed during Christmas, or on a darker note about ignorance or doom. It’s up to you. Chose your style and your topic and create a masterpiece.

4. On the Internet: The ghost states that Tiny Tim will die if things remain unchanged. Using the internet locate information about what doctors think Tiny Tim may have had. Make sure you document the websites you used.

Stave 4 Questions:

1. Describe the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. What aspect of the Ghost’s behavior scares Scrooge the most?

2. Tell what Scrooge overhears the merchants at the Exchange discussing. Who in particular does Scrooge hope to see there?

3. List the four people at the junk dealer’s shop. What are three of them trying to sell? Where and from whom did they get the goods? Tell how Scrooge reacts to what he witnesses at the shop.

4. Explain why the young man and his wife Caroline feel relieved that the unnamed businessman had died. What is Scrooge’s reaction to this scene?

5. List three details that alert you to the fact that Tiny Tim has died. In what ways has Scrooge’s nephew shown “extraordinary kindness” to the Cratchit family?

6. What does Scrooge finally discover in the churchyard? What assurance does he beg the Ghost to give him? What resolution does Scrooge make?

7. The climax of a story is the point when the main character’s conflict reaches an intense turning point. Identify the climax of A Christmas Carol. What is the result, or resolution, of Scrooge’s conflict?

8. At the end of Stave Four, Scrooge pleads to learn whether he can alter the future that the Ghost has shown him. The Ghost does not answer in words, but gives a sign. Identify this sign, and explain what you think it means.

9. ANSWER IN BLACKBOARD: At the end of Stave Four, Scrooge resolves to honor Christmas all the year and to “live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.” Considering the previous staves, list three or four specific things Scrooge could do on Christmas day to put his resolutions in action. Then write a paragraph Scrooge might have composed, in which he expresses his plans for Christmas. Write from the first-person point of view, using the pronoun I.

10. ANSWER IN BLACKBOARD: In two paragraphs, compare and contrast the deaths of Scrooge and Tiny Tim. How are their deaths alike? How are they different?

Words to Know:

repute disgorge reek slipshod

beetling flaunting repent

scanty revered avarice beseech

relents faltered essence

tarry inexorable replete foreshadow

intercede strive repulse

dwindle shrouded solemn pendulous

excrescence infamous alteration

Stave 5 questions

1. What does Scrooge conclude when he sees that his bed curtains have not been torn down? What day is it when he wakes up?

2. What errand does Scrooge hire a boy to do?3. Scrooge meets the “portly gentlemen” who visited his

office in Stave One. In your own words, explain what Scrooge tells this man.

4. Tell how Scrooge is welcomed at his nephew’s house. What four wonderful things does Scrooge enjoy there?

5. What joke does Scrooge play on Bob Cratchit? What is Bob’s first reaction to the new Scrooge?

6. Explain how Scrooge’s relationship with the Cratchit family changes. Tell what happens to Tiny Tim.

7. In Stave One, the atmosphere in Scrooge’s house is dark and gloomy. What is the atmosphere like in the house in Stave Five? Include two or three details to support your analysis.

8. At the end of Stave Five, Scrooge does not mind that some people laugh at him for being generous. What does this attitude tell you about how deep his change of heart is?

9. BLACKBOARD: Scrooge’s personality changes a lot over the course of A Christmas Carol. Do you think many people in real life undergo such great changes after enduring very emotional experiences? Or do people usually stay pretty much the same? What makes you feel the way you do?

10. BLACKBOARD: Summarize A Christmas Carol using no more than 15 sentences. Be sure to answer the following questions in your summary.

a. What is the basic situation at the opening of the novel?

b. What is Scrooge’s main external conflict, or conflict with other characters?

c. What is Scrooge’s main internal conflict, or conflict between opposing feelings and emotions in his own mind?

d. What complications arise as the story unfolds?

e. What is the climax of the story?f. What is the resolution of the story, that is,

how are the novel’s problems solved and the story brought to an end?

Metaphor Analysis

The most dominant metaphors in A Christmas Carol are the three spirits who visit Scrooge.The Ghost of Christmas Past is a personification of memory. In order for Scrooge to grow as a human being, he must remember his past and learn both positive and negative lessons from it. The light that shines from this Ghost's head symbolizes the "illumination" which can come from reflecting on one's past, and the cap which the Ghost wears symbolizes the ability each person has to extinguish the light of memory, if he or she chooses to do (as Scrooge attempts to do at the end of Stave Two).The Ghost of Christmas Present is a personification of generosity. All the details of this figure's appearance-its large, exposed breast; its cornucopia-like torch; the abundance of food on which it rests in Scrooge's rooms-lead readers to conclude that this Ghost symbolizes generosity, which for Dickens is at the heart not only of Christmas but also of a truly human life. A sprinkling of seasoning from the Ghost's torch enhances the flavor of meals and of relationships at Christmas. The Ghost stands for generosity not only of material goods, but also and especially of spirit; it alone, for example, protects the "children" Ignorance and Want, and warns Scrooge-and readers-that they must do so as well.The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is a personification of the relentless march of time towards both a fixed and an unfixed end. Resembling nothing so much as traditional depictions of the Grim Reaper, this Ghost may be seen as symbolizing death, the common lot of all human beings; see Fred's comment on Stave One, that all people are "fellow-passengers to the grave." When Scrooge asks to erase the writing on his own headstone, however, he is not asking for immortality; rather, he is asking that his life before his inevitable death be of a different quality than it would be otherwise. Therefore, the Ghost's austerity and imposing manner symbolize the unstoppable passage of time. The Ghost does not engage in conversation or reflection; it simply leads Scrooge from scene to scene, pointing always forward with its outstretched hand. Its stern presence warns readers that-as the saying goes-time waits for no one; should you wish to change your life, do so today. The fact that your life will end is fixed; the meaning that your life will have had is up to you.Music is another important metaphorical motif in the work-appropriate for a book whose title is A Christmas Carol! Music can be seen as symbolizing the joy of Christmas and of life itself, which we have the power to either reject or accept. Scrooge chases away a caroler at his door (whose song is a plea for God's blessing upon Scrooge); in contrast, other characters celebrate the season with music-from Fred and his family to the men in the solitary lighthouse-and so receive joy.

THEME ANALYSIS

Generosity of Spirit

Scrooge's nephew Fred first sounds this theme when he praises Christmas as "the only time . . . when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely . . . ." Fred's language indicates that, for Dickens, generosity involves more than the giving of money. It requires the giving of one's goodwill and compassion. Throughout A Christmas Carol, the examples we see of generosity are more about the spirit in which something is given than the thing itself-from the schoolmaster's offer of food and wine to young Scrooge and Fan, or the modest but joyful celebration sponsored by Mr. And Mrs. Fezziwig, or even Fred's offer of assistance to a

bereaved Bob Cratchit in a future that does not come to pass: as Bob says, "Now it wasn't for the sake of anything [Fred] might be able to do for us, so much as for his kind way, that this was quite delightful" (Stave Four, emphasis added). And, of course, the Ghost of Christmas Present, with his cornucopia-like torch, is generosity personified. Generosity of spirit defines Christmas for Dickens, and goes a large way toward defining true humanity for him as well (see above).

The Importance of Memory

A Christmas Carol is a largely nostalgic work: as discussed in comments on Stave One, Dickens is not so much recording the "traditional Victorian Christmas" as he is restoring ancient practices which became associated with the holiday thanks in large part to this book. Unsurprisingly, then, memory is honored throughout the book, and is even ascribed a salvific quality. The Ghost of Christmas Past is memory personified; the light from its head allows Scrooge to see and learn from both the good things and the bad things in his past. The task of keeping alive Tiny Tim's memory, in the future of Stave Four that does not transpire, allows the Cratchit family to move on in life: in Bob's own words, "[H]owever and whenever we part from one another, I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Tim-shall we? . . . ." Dickens structures his story to show how memory of one's past affects and-if but allowed to do so-can even transform one's present and future.

Social Justice

Readers must remember that, as A Christmas Carol begins, Scrooge is not condemned for his miserly ways alone. If he were simply a stingy man, whose penny-pinching ways hurt no one but himself, he might be a pitiable character, but one about whom readers do not overly concern themselves. Scrooge's miserliness, however, is symptomatic for Dickens of the way in which his society ignored, exploited, and abused its poorest and most vulnerable members. Remember Scrooge's objection to charitable donations ("Are there no prisons," etc.) and his dismissal of the poor as "surplus population" (a phrase coined by laissez-faire economist Thomas Robert Malthus, who represented a "hands- off" school of thought to which Dickens objected [Hearn 24]). Such cynical and calloused refusal to share (see also comments on generosity, above) is, for Dickens, an outrage. The clearest call for social justice in the book occurs when the Ghost of Christmas Present warns Scrooge to beware of Ignorance and Want, forces which, if left unchecked, can spell doom not only for the poor but for the whole of society. Dickens stresses the humanity common to all people, and demands that those who "have" act accordingly towards those who "have not."