A CHRISTMAS CAROL by Charles Dickens
Day 1 – EXPOSITION
Chapter: 1 Pages: 6-7
Fred, Scrooge’s nephew, came to Scrooge’s counting house to wish him a Merry
Christmas and invite him to dinner, but Scrooge declined the invitation.
Day 2
Chapter:1
Pages: 8-12
Two portly gentlemen visited Scrooge at his counting house (office) to implore a
donation for the poor and destitute. Scrooge refused. A caroler came to Scrooge’s
counting house to entertain him with a Christmas Carol and possibly earn a
shilling, but Scrooge chased him away.
Day 3
Chapter: 1 Pages: 12-20
Marley’s ghost appeared in the knocker on his house door and then in his
bedroom. He wore a heavy chain of steel cashboxes, ledgers, keys, etc. around his
waist.
Day 4
Chapter 1: Pages: 19-24
Marley told Scrooge about his punishments:
1.
2.
3.
4.
He has to walk the earth forever.
He has to witness good times, but he can’t participate in the joy.
He has to wear a heavy chain of steel cash boxes, keys, etc.
He had to witness people suffering but lost the power to help them.
BASIC SITUATION ( the jump off point for a story to begin)
Marley told Scrooge he still had a chance to mend his ways and alter his fate. He
also told Scrooge he would be visited by three spirits. The fist would arrive at one
o’clock; the second would arrive at one o’clock, and the third at 12 midnight.
PLOT QUESTION or PROBLEM – Will Scrooge mend his ways and alter his
future, or will he suffer like Marley?
Day 5
Chapter 2: Pages 24-32 (middle)
Page 27-Rising Action
The first ghost-the GHOST OF THE PAST
1-He was like a child and like an old man.
2-He held a branch of holly in his hand.
3-Light came from the top of his head. (Extinguisher cap)
4-He fluctuated in form.
Scrooge was visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past who came to show Scrooge his
past.
Day 6
Chapter 2: Rising Action
Ghost of Christmas Past
1. Scrooge was taken to the country, where he was born and raised. (happy &
approx. 5 yrs old)
2. He was taken to a boarding school.
3. Scrooge was left alone for Christmas. He cried. (first sign of emotion)
4. Scrooge wished he had given the caroler something. (first sign of feeling for
others)
CONNECTIONS SECTION1. He was in boarding school, at the age of eleven or twelve, and he was alone
again.
2. Fan, Scrooge’s younger sister, came to take Scrooge home.
Day 7
Chapter 2: Rising Action
Scrooge was taken to a warehouse where he saw Mr. Fezziwig, his former
employer and his friend, Dick Wilkins; his boss threw a Christmas party for his
employees, their family members, and friends.
Scrooge said, “He has the power to render us happy or unhappy.”
Ghost of Christmas Past
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Country-hometown
Boarding school (5-6 years old)
Boarding school (12 years old)
Fan, his sister, takes him home
Mr. Fezzing-apprentice
Belle breaks the engagement
Theme- You don’t have to have a great deal of money to be happy.
Days 8/ 9
Chapters 2-3:
Rising Action
December 20, 2013
Scrooge met the woman he was supposed to marry, and he realized that she was
happy. He was so consumed with money, so she broke off the engagement. She
married someone else and had many children.
The Ghost of Christmas Present came to show Scrooge what was going on in his
life at the present time.
Day 10
January 2, 2014
Chapter 3
Rising Action-Ghost of Christmas Present
DESCRIPTION
-jolly giant
-holly wreath on head
-wore an antique scabbard-no sword in it
-held a torch which flavored food and restored peace
Bob Cratchit-Six children
Day 11
January 6, 2014
Chapter 3
Scrooge was taken to Bob Cratchit’s house.
He saw Bob Cratchit, his wife, and their six children enjoying a Christmas dinner
and each other.
Day 12
Chapter 3
January 7, 2014
Bob Cratchit toasted Mr. Scrooge for being the “Founder of their Feast.”
The Ghost told Scrooge that Tiny Tim will die unless something changes.
Theme-You don’t need a lot of money to be happy.
The Cratchit’s were poor, but they were happy, grateful, and pleased with one
another.
Day 13
Chapter 3
January 8, 2014
Rising Action
The Ghost of Christmas Present (jolly giant)
1. baker’s shopGhost-seasoned poor people’s food
Restored
2. Bob Cratchit’s
Theme- You don’t need a lot of money to be happy.
3. miner’s town
Scrooge was taken to a miner’s town, where he saw generations of people (young
+ old) enjoying Christmas and each other.
Theme 2
You don’t have to be young to be happy and enjoy life.
4. Lighthouse- Two working men were away from their homes and families
and still enjoying Christmas.
5. Ship- Scrooge saw Sailors, who were away from home and their families,
enjoying Christmas and each other.
Theme 3You don’t have to physically be with your family to be happy.
Hold on to your memories.
Day 14
Chapter 3
January 9, 2014
Theme 4-Happiness is a choice.
Scrooge was taken to his nephew’s house, Fred’s , where he saw Fred, his wife,
his wife’s family members, and friends enjoying Christmas dinner, playing games,
and singing songs. Fred said that he would continue to visit his Uncle Scrooge
every Christmas and invite him to dinner. (FORGIVENESS) He wouldn’t speak
badly about Scrooge because he knows that Scrooge will suffer the consequences
of his own actions.
****MONK STORY---Piece of coal
Day 15
Chapter 3
January 10, 2014
Fred and his company toasted Scrooge and wished him a Merry Christmas.
Scrooge thanked them in an inaudible voice.
Theme 5- FORGIVENESS - It is important to forgive others; nobody is perfect.
Day 16
Chapter 3
January 13, 2014
Theme 6- All men are responsible for the prosperity and the peace in the world.
SymbolismThe Girl = Want
Boy= Ignorant
Poverty
Lack of information/Lack of education
Judgments
Prejudice
Discrimination
Hatred
War
Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?
The apparition told Scrooge these children are man’s children.
Theme #6
Mankind, is responsible for the peace and prosperity (or lack of them) in the
world.
Day 17
Chapter 4
January 14, 2014
Rising Action
Ghost of Christmas Future came to show Scrooge what will happen in the future if
he doesn’t alter his ways.
Description1. Wore a black robe-nothing was visible except outstretched hand
2. Tall and stately
3. Doesn’t speak
Scrooge was taken to a business part of city where he saw three business men
talking about his death.
Day 18
Chapter 4
Rising Action-Ghost of the Future
January 15, 2014
2.In the city, Scrooge saw two business men talking; they apathetically
mentioned that Scrooge had died. They showed no emotion concerning
this man or his death.
3. In the ghetto/pawn shop
Day 19
Chapter 4
Rising Action-Ghost of the Future
January 16, 2014
3. Scrooge was taken to a pawn shop in the ghetto where he saw two women
and a man who had plundered a dead man’s death bed and body. They
stole from his bed and his body. Scrooge was appalled by what he saw.
Day 20
January 17, 2014
Rising Action-Ghost of the Future
4. Scrooge was taken to his bedroom; the ghost wanted him to pull back the
sheet and uncover the face of the dead man.
Day 21
Chapter 4
Rising Action-Ghost of the Future
January 24, 2014
5. Scrooge asked the specter to see anyone who felt some emotion, caused by
“the man’s” death. (Scrooge)
Scrooge was taken to a young couples house (Caroline and her husband) Caroline
and her husband owed Scrooge money. (They had debt.) They hoped for a
week’s delay. They heard Scrooge had died and were at first, “happy” to hear this.
Emotion-At first, they were happy to hear about the man’s death. Later, they felt
sad.
6. Bob Cratchit’s house-Tiny Tim had died
Day 22
Chapter 4
Rising Action-The Ghost of the Future
January 27, 2014
7. Scrooge, knowing the specter would be leaving soon, asked the Ghost to
show him who the dead man was.
Day 23
Chapter 4
Rising Action-The Ghost of the Future
January 28, 2014
7. (Continued) Scrooge was taken to a cemetery where he saw his name,
Ebenezer Scrooge, written on the grave stone.
***CLIMAX-Scrooge promised to keep the Christmas spirit in his heart all
year. He’s going to live every day as a new man. He said he would
remember the lessons he was taught.
Day 24
Chapter 5
Falling Action
January 30, 2014
1. For the first time in a long time, Scrooge was appreciating life. (church
bells, cold, sky, sun)
He was dancing and yelling, “Merry Christmas!”
2. He paid a boy to fetch the poulterer. (shows his generosity)
3. He paid for a cab, so the poulterer could deliver the prize turkey to the
Cratchits.
4. Scrooge apologized to the portly gentleman and gave him a huge
donation for the poor.
Day 25
Chapter 5
Falling Action
January 31, 2014
5. He went to Fred’s house, apologized, and asked to stay for dinner. Fred
said, “Yes.”