Plot & Context

Plot & Context

Produce a list of ten bullet-points which tell the story of A Christmas Carol

What era was A Christmas Carol Written, and why does this matter?

Why did Dickens write A Christmas Carol?

What did Malthus believe about the population, and how does A Christmas Carol explore this?

What, beginning with ‘h’, is a viewpoint (or philosophy) that believes we should be compassionate to the suffering of all people?

As a practising Christian, what did Dickens want Scrooge to embody?

What was the popular belief about the spirits of the dead during Victorian times?

Why does Scrooge hate Christmas?

Where do each of the ghosts take Scrooge?

What do each of the ghosts show Scrooge to make him change his ways?

STAVE 1

List 3 adjectives used to describe Scrooge at the beginning of the novella

What simile is used to describe Scrooge’s behaviour?

Who was Scrooge engaged to, and why did the relationship end?

What does Scrooge think about charity at the beginning of the novella?

How is Scrooge described physically?

What is the name of Scrooge’s clerk?

Marley is as dead as___________

How many people went to Marley’s funeral?

How many pieces of coal does Bob Crachet have to keep warm?

What adjective is used to describe the charity workers?

What is the weather like in the opening stave?

Name 3 types of people who avoid Scrooge in the street

What does Bob Crachet do when he hears Fred defend Christmas?

Where does Scrooge first see Marley’s face, and what does he say/do?

What sound does Scrooge hear before Marley enters?

What is Jacob Marley covered in?

What is Jacob Marley’s message to Scrooge?

What does Jacob Marley have to keep doing in the afterlife?

Why will Scrooge’s chains be longer and heavier than Marley’s?

Scrooge says to Marley: ‘’you were always _________’’

Marley says to Scrooge: ‘’_________ was my business’’.

What does Scrooge see out of the window?

STAVE 2

What time does Scrooge wake up?

Scrooge says: ‘’was it a _______ or not’’

How is the Ghost of Christmas Past represented? A jolly giant An invisible spirit A silent phantom A small, glowing man

When the ghost of Christmas past is introduced: “It was a ……… When the ghost of Christmas past is introduced: “It was a ……….. figure like a ………….; yet not so like a _____________as like an ……………………. Man.”

What colour is the ghost’s tunic, and what does it symbolise?

What is coming out the crown of his head?

Where does Scrooge put his hand so he can fly with the ghost?

Why does Scrooge’s sister come to see him?

What do we find out about Scrooge’s father?

The name of Scrooge’s favourite drink Scrooge’s crazy uncle Who or what is Fezziwig? The local wig shop The name of Scrooge’s favourite drink Scrooge’s crazy uncle Scrooge’s boss when he was younger  

How would you describe Scrooge’s employer?

 How does the Ghost of Christmas Past describe the young Scrooge? A solitary child, neglected by his friends An evil child, neglected by his friends A solitary child with no friends A popular child with lots of friends

What bad news does Belle give Scrooge? His mother has died She is calling off their engagement She is moving away He has lost his job  

STAVE 3

Who expresses pity for Scrooge?

To whose home does the Spirit take Scrooge?

What Q does Scrooge ask the Spirit of Christmas Present?

To whom does Bob Cratchit raise a toast?

True or False: The rest of Bob's family heartily raises their glasses to his toast

What happens when the Spirit sprinkles something on the diner's plates of food?

What is the best word to describe the Ghost of Christmas present?

How does the Cratchit family feel at the mention of Scrooge's name?

What Ghost do we meet in Stave Three?

What does the Ghost sit on?

.What has the Ghost done to Scrooge’s room?

What does the ghost show Scrooge first of all?

STAVE 4

Who else besides himself does Scrooge learn has died?

What does the Spirit of Christmas Yet To Come look like?

What are a group of men on the street corner laughing about?

What happens when Scrooge grabs the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come’s hand?

How does the Ghost of Christmas Future sound?

For what does Scrooge beg the Ghost of Christmas Future For what does Scrooge beg the Ghost of Christmas Future? A chance to change

Who are the only people who feel any emotion over Scrooge's death?

What is the final sight the Ghost of Christmas Future shows Scrooge?

True or False: Scrooge does not realize the items being pawned are his own.

What are the two women at the pawn shop trying to sell?

STAVE 5

List 3 adjectives used to describe Scrooge at the end of the novella

What does Scrooge send the boy on the street to buy for him at the shop?

What Q does Scrooge yell down to a young boy outside his window?

True or False: Scrooge sends his gift to the Cratchits anonymously

Whose family does Scrooge become an adoptive member of?

Who does Scrooge give money to after he stops him or her in the street?

Themes & Ideas

What qualities does Tiny Tim demonstrate to Scrooge?

In Stave Two, which character reminds Scrooge about generosity and community at Christmas?

Name three ideas that the Ghost of Christmas Present represents?

Christmas Present wears an empty and rusted scabbard- what idea does this symbolise?

What two contrasts does Dickens use to represent Good and Evil?

What is the Ghost of Christmas Present sitting on when he meets Scrooge and what idea does he represent?

Give two examples of social injustices explored in A Christmas Carol?

Name three ways in which Scrooge shows his greed at the beginning of the novella?

In Stave One, what key ideas does Marley demonstrate to Scrooge?

Which Spirit represents both ideas of Youth and Age?

How does the description of Scrooge's home mirror his personality?

Dickens writes this novella to expose the way that the rich treated the poor in Victorian times. What do we call a book that exposes the truth about society and promotes change?

What events in Scrooge's childhood contributed to him being disconnected to people?

What do the two children in Stave 3 represent?

Name three characters in the story that represent Joy at Christmas?

Quotations

‘I will ………. Christmas in my heart and try to …… it all the year.’

‘I will live in the ………….. the ………… and the ………..’

‘I am as ……. as a …….., I am as ……. as an ……… , I am as …… as a …….’

‘He became as good a ……, as good a …… ‘He became as good a ……, as good a ……., and as good a …… as the good old …… knew’

“Oh! But he was a _____________hand at the grindstone, Scrooge…a _______________________________________________________________________old sinner! _______and __________as____________, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and _________as an______________”

“No _________ implored him to bestow a trifle, no ___________asked him what it was o'clock, no ________or _______ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge.”

“He had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost, this nephew of Scrooge's, that he was all in a ________; his face was _______and _______; his eyes _______, and his breath smoked again.”

“‘…a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the _______some ______and________, and means of warmth. We choose this time, because it is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices. What shall I_____________________?’ ‘____________!’ Scrooge replied.”

“…as I hope to live to be ___________________from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a__________________.” 

“He went to _______, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and fro, and patted _________ on the head, and questioned ________, and looked down into the kitchens of houses, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him _____________. He had never dreamed that any walk – that anything – could give him so much ___________.”

“_______ is ______, and Scrooge liked it.”

“The _____ he drew was clasped about his middle “The _____ he drew was clasped about his middle. It was long, and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge observed it closely) of___________________________________________________________, and heavy purses wrought in steel.”

“It was a strange figure-like a ______: yet not so like a ________as like an old man, viewed through some supernatural medium, which gave him the appearance of having receded from the view, and being diminished to a ___________'s proportions.”

“Old ________…rubbed his hands; adjusted his capacious waistcoat; _________ all over himself, from his shoes to his organ of benevolence; and called out in a comfortable, oily, rich, ______, jovial voice:”

“…though Scrooge pressed it down with all his force, he could not hide the _______: which _______ from under it, in an unbroken flood upon the ground.”

“'The school is not quite_________,' said the Ghost “'The school is not quite_________,' said the Ghost. 'A__________, __________by his friends, is left there still.'  Scrooge said he knew it. And he _____________”

“The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached “The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached. When it came, Scrooge__________________________; for in the very air through which this Spirit moved it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery.”