Christmas Carol

Do you think Scrooge would have changed his life without the help of the Spirits? Explain your answer

...

Explain why the visions of the future would convince Scrooge to alter his life. ...

...

List the things in his past that caused Scrooge's present attitude about Christmas.

As a young boy Scrooge was left alone at boarding school during Christmas and later in his life his girlfriend leaves him.

List several ways Marley and Scrooge are alike.

Both are businessmen, greedy, the only friends each other had, wealthy, and neither celebrated Christmas.

List the other characters in this section. Explain each character's relationship to Scrooge.

Fred - Scrooge's nephew; Bob Cratchit - Scrooge's employee; men collecting for the poor - businessmen in town; Marley - Scrooge's deceased partner.

Fred and Bob Cratchit have two different initial reactions to the new Scrooge. Explain why the men react differently.

Fred has grown up with his Uncle Scrooge and may remember how his Uncle acted when Scrooge was younger. Bob only knows Scrooge as his boss, and Scrooge's new behavior is inconsistent with the boss he remmbers.

How has Scrooge changed?

He displays emotions (joy and sadness); he dances; he speaks kindly to others; he generously gives to others.

Why is stave four (Ch.4) the most frightening for Scrooge? Why is the future more frightening than the present?

He sees how his business practices left him without friends or human kindness at his death. He was not recognized for anything good by his peers.

Who is Marley and what is Marley's reaction to Scrooge?

Marley is Scrooge's deceased friend. Marley was Scrooge's business partner.

List several ways Marley and Scrooge are different.

Marley knows the value in helping others; Scrooge sees no reason to help others; Marley is dead.

What is Marley's purpose in the story?

Marley's purpose is to warn Scrooge of his fate if he does not change his ways and to warn him of the coming of the spirits.

What signals does Dickens use to let the reader know that Scrooge have an usual evening?

Moaning, clanking chains, ringing bells, the face in the door knocker and flames in the fireplace that leap up.

Bob Cratchit offers a Christmas toast in Scrooge's honor. Mrs. Cratchit's feelings about Scrooge are different from her husband's. What would cause this difference in their feelings?

Mrs. Cratchit is angry because she knows how hard her husband works and he is compensated for his hard work. She sees all the things her family cannot have, and she knows Scrooge is rich and greedy.

Explain how Scrooge's life style is inconsistent with his wealth.

Rooms, furnishings, clothes, and actions were bare and frugal.

Why is the Ghost of Christmas present a stranger to Scrooge?

Scrooge doesn't celebrate Christmas.

After visiting the celebrations at the Cratchit's house and at his nephew's house, how do Scrooge's attitude and feelings begin to change?

Scrooge enjoys playing party games and ask the spirit if they can stay longer.

Explain the new feelings Scrooge has for the door knocker.

Scrooge has new feelings for the door knocker because that is how Marley first appeared to Scrooge and started his adventure with the Spirits.

At the beginning of Stave Five (Ch. 5), Scrooge is happy that the "time" before him is his own. Why would time be so important to Scrooge?

Scrooge is anxious to begin changing his life. He could not make decisions or choices during the Spirits' visitations.

Scrooge says, "I am not the man I was." what does he mean? What causes the change? How do the Spirits cause the change in Scrooge?

Scrooge means that he has changed because the Spirits have shown him the man he was and what he is missing in his life.

What may have caused Scrooge to turn his attitude toward gold and away from people?

Scrooge that poverty is a terrible condition and begins to work very hard to gain wealth.

List three things that prove the setting is England, 1843.

Scrooge works in a counting-house; candles are used to light window; they burned coal for heat; the office is referred to as the "tank", Parliament; debtor's prison; workhouses; poulterers.

Why was Scrooge so pleased with all the sites and sounds of Christmas?

Scrooge's attitude toward Christmas has changed and he is happy that he has the opportunity to show others how he has changed.

Specifically, what did Scrooge learn from each Spirit: Past, Present, and Future?

Spirit One reminds him of his past and how he enjoyed people and had fun. Spirit Two teaches him what he is missing by rejecting people and living alone. Spirit Three teaches Scrooge that his death will not be treated with kindness, and no one will remember him.

How did young Scrooge change throughout his life?

The Schoolboy Scrooge is sensitive and timid; apprentice Scrooge is friendly and fun loving; the adult Scrooge is greedy and eager to gain wealth.

Why did the Spirit visit Scrooge? What was Scrooge's initial reaction?

The Spirit came to the save Scrooge and to improve his life. Initially, Scrooge does not like the Spirit and does not want to go with it.

What is happening to the Spirit at the end of this section? What would cause this to happen?

The Spirit is aging because Christmas present is coming to an end.

At the end of this section (Ch.4), Scrooge promises to honor Christmas all year. How does Scrooge see this promise as a way to alter his present life?

The Spirits have shown Scrooge that honoring Christmas means helping people in need. He vows to change his greedy attitude to a generous.

What does his final experience teach Scrooge?

The final experience teaches Scrooge his vision of himself is different from the view others have of him.

Explain what Spirit's life represents.

The light represents the light of the holiday season.

What would cause the Spirit to hide it's light under its cap?

The light would be hidden by unkind acts - wars, crime, cruelty, mean words and teasing.