Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ STUDY/QUESTIONS A Christmas Carol
Stave 1 Marley's Ghost
1. Who was Marley? What was his condition at the beginning of the story?
2. What is the setting of the story?
3. One of Scrooge's relatives visited him at his warehouse. Who was it, and what did he want?
What was Scrooge's reply?
4. What did the other men who came to the warehouse want? What was Scrooge's reply to them?
5. What did Scrooge say about giving his clerk a day off to celebrate Christmas?
6. What happened to the door knocker when Scrooge was opening his door?
7. Who appeared to Scrooge? What did he tell Scrooge?
8. This visitor told Scrooge about some other visitors who would be coming. Who were they?
When would they come?
9. What did Scrooge do after his visitor left?
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ STUDY/QUESTIONS A Christmas Carol
KEY KEY Stave 1 Marley's Ghost KEY KEY
1. Who was Marley? What was his condition at the beginning of the story?
Scrooges’s former business partner, dead for seven years
2. What is the setting of the story?
Christmas Eve in London, 1840s, a bitterly cold, foggy day
3. One of Scrooge's relatives visited him at his warehouse. Who was it, and what did he want?
What was Scrooge's reply?
His nephew who wants to bestow the greetings of the season and invite him to
Christmas dinner
4. What did the other men who came to the warehouse want? What was Scrooge's reply to them?
Two gentlemen seeking donations for the poor and destitute; “Nothing…. I don't
make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I
help to support the establishments I have mentioned-they cost enough; and
those who are badly off must go there.''If they would rather die,' said Scrooge,
'they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”
5. What did Scrooge say about giving his clerk a day off to celebrate Christmas?
A poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth of December!
6. What happened to the door knocker when Scrooge was opening his door?
It changed into Marley’s face
7. Who appeared to Scrooge? What did he tell Scrooge?
Marley; 'I am here to-night to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of
escaping my fate. A chance and hope of my procuring, Ebenezer.' 'You will be
haunted,' resumed the Ghost, 'by Three Spirits.'
8. This visitor told Scrooge about some other visitors who would be coming. Who were they?
When would they come?
'You will be haunted,' resumed the Ghost, 'by Three Spirits.' Expect the first tomorrow, when the bell tolls One.' 'Expect the second on the next night at the
same hour. The third upon the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has
ceased to vibrate.
9. What did Scrooge do after his visitor left? Scrooge closed the window, and examined
the door by which the Ghost had entered. It was double-locked, as he had locked
it with his own hands, and the bolts were undisturbed. He tried to say 'Humbug!'
but stopped at the first syllable. And being, from the emotion he had undergone,
or the fatigues of the day, or his glimpse of the Invisible World, or the dull
conversation of the Ghost, or the lateness of the hour, much in need of repose;
went straight to bed, without undressing, and fell asleep upon the instant.
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ STUDY/QUESTIONS A Christmas Carol Stave Two The First of the Three Spirits
1. What did Scrooge notice about the church chimes when he woke up? What did he think had
happened?
2. Describe what the first Spirit looked like. Who was the first Spirit? What was its purpose?
3. Scrooge asked the Spirit what business brought him there. What was the Spirit's answer?
4. Describe the first scene Scrooge and the Spirit visited. How did Scrooge feel about what he
saw?
5. Who was Fan? Describe the scene with her.
6. Describe the scene at Fezziwig's warehouse. What did Scrooge say to the Ghost about the
scene?
7. Describe the scenes with Belle.
8. How did Scrooge try to get rid of the Ghost? What happened?
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ STUDY/QUESTIONS A Christmas Carol KEY KEY Stave Two The First of the Three Spirits KEY KEY
1. What did Scrooge notice about the church chimes when he woke up? What did he think had
happened?
To his great astonishment the heavy bell went on from six to seven, and from
seven to eight, and regularly up to twelve; then stopped. Twelve! It was past two
when he went to bed. The clock was wrong. An icicle must have got into the
works. Twelve!
'Why, it isn't possible,' said Scrooge, 'that I can have slept through a whole day
and far into another night. It isn't possible that anything has happened to the sun,
and this is twelve at noon!'
2. Describe what the first Spirit looked like. Who was the first Spirit? What was its purpose?
It was a strange figure-like a child: yet not so like a child 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 child's proportions. Its
hair, which hung about its neck and down its back, was white as if with age; and
yet the face had not a wrinkle in it, and the tenderest bloom was on the skin. The
arms were very long and muscular; the hands the same, as if its hold were of
uncommon strength. Its legs and feet, most delicately formed, were, like those
upper members, bare. 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; and, in singular contradiction of that wintry emblem, had
its dress trimmed with summer flowers. But the strangest thing about it was, that
from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light, by which all this
was visible; and which was doubtless the occasion of its using, in its duller
moments, a great extinguisher for a cap, which it now held under its arm.
Even this, though, when Scrooge looked at it with increasing steadiness, was not
its strangest quality. For as its belt sparkled and glittered now in one part and
now in another, and what was light one instant, at another time was dark, so the
figure itself fluctuated in its distinctness: being now a thing with one arm, now
with one leg, now with twenty legs, now a pair of legs without a head, now a head
without a body: of which dissolving parts, no outline would be visible in the
dense gloom wherein they melted away. And in the very wonder of this, it would
be itself again; distinct and clear as ever. The voice was soft and gentle.
Singularly low, as if instead of being so close beside him, it were at a distance.
3. Scrooge asked the Spirit what business brought him there. What was the Spirit's answer?
Your welfare; your reclamation
4. Describe the first scene Scrooge and the Spirit visited. How did Scrooge feel about what he
saw?
Boyhood home; pleased and filled with nostalgia
5. Who was Fan? Describe the scene with her.
His younger sister; she has come to bring him home. Home, for ever and ever.
Father is so much kinder than he used to be, that home's like Heaven! He spoke
so gently to me one dear night when I was going to bed, that I was not afraid to
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ ask him once more if you might come home; and he said Yes, you should; and
sent me in a coach to bring you. And you're to be a man!' said the child, opening
her eyes,' and are never to come back here; but first, we're to be together all the
Christmas long, and have the merriest time in all the world.'
6. Describe the scene at Fezziwig's warehouse. What did Scrooge say to the Ghost about the
scene?
…the floor was swept and watered, the lamps were trimmed, fuel was heaped
upon the fire; and the warehouse was as snug, and warm, and dry, and bright a
ball-room, as you would desire to see upon a winter's night. In came a fiddler ….
In came Mrs Fezziwig, one vast substantial smile. In came the three Miss
Fezziwigs, beaming and lovable. In came the six young followers whose hearts
they broke. In came all the young men and women employed in the business. In
came the housemaid, with her cousin, the baker. In came the cook, with her
brother's particular friend, the milkman. In came the boy from over the way, who
was suspected of not having board enough from his master; trying to hide
himself behind the girl from next door but one, who was proved to have had her
ears pulled by her mistress. …, There were more dances, and there were forfeits,
and more dances, and there was cake, and there was negus, and there was a
great piece of Cold Roast, and there was a great piece of Cold Boiled, and there
were mince-pies, and plenty of beer. … fiddler … struck up 'Sir Roger de
Coverley.' Then old Fezziwig stood out to dance with Mrs Fezziwig. … Mr and Mrs
Fezziwig took their stations, one on either side of the door, and shaking hands
with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry
Christmas.
'It isn't that, Spirit. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our
service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words
and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and
count them up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a
fortune.' I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now. That's
all.'
7. Describe the scenes with Belle.
Belle “releases” Scrooge of their engagement because a “golden idol” has
replaced her. “I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the
master-passion, Gain, engrosses you.”
Novel only: As an older woman (seven years ago, the night Marley died), she has
a husband and large, boisterous family. They are not rich, but are full of comfort.
8. How did Scrooge try to get rid of the Ghost? What happened? He takes the extinguishercap and tries to snuff out the light, but the light still streams from under the cap.
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ STUDY/QUESTIONS A Christmas Carol Stave Three The Second of the Three Spirits
1. How did Scrooge find the second Spirit?
2. Describe the scene when Scrooge found the second Spirit.
3. Who was the second Spirit? Describe him.
4. Describe the first place they went.
5. What was the second place they visited?
6. Who was Tiny Tim? What did Scrooge ask the Ghost about Tiny Tim? What was the Ghost's
reply?
7. Describe the Cratchit family's toast to Scrooge.
8. What were some of the other places the Ghost took Scrooge? What did Scrooge find at each
place?
9. What did Scrooge's nephew and nieces say about him?
10. What did Scrooge think about when he heard the harp music?
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ 11. What did Scrooge do while his nephew and the others were playing games?
12. Describe the "Yes and No" game. What was the subject of the game?
13. How did Scrooge feel by the time he and the Spirit left his nephew's house?
14. What happened to the way the Ghost and Scrooge looked as the night went on?
15. Who were the two children the Ghost had under its robe? What did the Spirit tell Scrooge
about them?
16. What was the Spirit's reply to Scrooge's question: "Have they no refuge or resource?"
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ STUDY/QUESTIONS A Christmas Carol KEY KEY Stave Three The Second of the Three Spirits KEY KEY
1. How did Scrooge find the second Spirit?
He sees a light streaming under the door of the next room.
2. Describe the scene when Scrooge found the second Spirit.
It is full of holiday greenery and food; a huge fire is lit and the room is very warm.
3. Who was the second Spirit? Describe him.
Christmas Present is giant and has curly hair like Dionysus, god of wine and
revelry. He wears a green robe hanging loosely as if he does not want to be
contained. He carries a cornucopia as a torch.
4. Describe the first place they went.
The streets of London are full of people and festivity. The poor are cooking their
dinners in the otherwise closed bakeries. Even the abundant food appears
decked out and personified as celebratory.
5. What was the second place they visited?
The Cratchits.
6. Who was Tiny Tim? What did Scrooge ask the Ghost about Tiny Tim? What was the Ghost's
reply? The son of Scrooge’s clerk, Bob Cratchit. He will die within a year “if these
shadows remain unaltered.” He repeats Scrooge’s words, “If he be like to die, he
had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.'
7. Describe the Cratchit family's toast to Scrooge.
Bob Cratchit calls him the founder of the feast; Mrs. Cratchit objects, finding him
the ogre of the family; they all toast, but without pleasure.
8. What were some of the other places the Ghost took Scrooge? What did Scrooge find at each
place? Mines, ships, lighthouse; all the people celebrate the day.
9. What did Scrooge's nephew and nieces say about him?
He’s a comical old fellow whose offences carry their own punishment; he’s rich;
his niece has no patience with him; his nephew thinks he moved him.
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ 10. What did Scrooge think about when he heard the harp music? He remembered his sister
playing it as a child. When this strain of music sounded, all the things that Ghost
had shown him, came upon his mind; he softened more and more; and thought
that if he could have listened to it often, years ago, he might have cultivated the
kindnesses of life for his own happiness with his own hands, without resorting to
the sexton's spade that buried Jacob Marley.
11. What did Scrooge do while his nephew and the others were playing games?
Played along with them.
12. Describe the "Yes and No" game. What was the subject of the game? It is like 20
questions. When Fred was “thinking of an animal, a live animal, rather a
disagreeable animal, a savage animal, an animal that growled and grunted
sometimes, and talked sometimes, and lived in London, and walked about the
streets, and wasn't made a show of, and wasn't led by anybody, and didn't live in
a menagerie, and was never killed in a market, and was not a horse, or an ass, or
a cow, or a bull, or a tiger, or a dog, or a pig, or a cat, or a bear,” the answer was
Scrooge.
13. How did Scrooge feel by the time he and the Spirit left his nephew's house?
Happy.
14. What happened to the way the Ghost and Scrooge looked as the night went on?
He aged.
15. Who were the two children the Ghost had under its robe? What did the Spirit tell Scrooge
about them?
Ignorance and Want. “This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their
degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is
Doom, unless the writing be erased.”
16. What was the Spirit's reply to Scrooge's question: "Have they no refuge or resource?"
“Are there no workhouses? Are there no prisons?”
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ STUDY/QUESTIONS A Christmas Carol Stave 4 The Last of the Spirits
1. How did Scrooge feel about the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?
2. What did the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come look like?
3. Where did Scrooge and the Spirit go first?
4. What were the business men talking about?
5. What was Scrooge's attitude about being with the third Spirit?
6. Where did they go second? What did they see?
7. What was Scrooge's reaction to the scene?
8. What did Scrooge think about when he saw the dead man?
9. Scrooge asked the Spirit to show him someone who felt emotion at the man's death. Describe
the person the Spirit showed him.
10. What did Scrooge ask the Ghost to show him next? What did the Ghost show him?
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ 11. Who had been kind to Bob Cratchit, and what was the kindness?
12. Who was the dead man? How did Scrooge discover who it was?
13. What question did Scrooge ask the Ghost as they stood among the graves?
14. What did Scrooge tell the Ghost he would do?
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ STUDY/QUESTIONS A Christmas Carol KEY KEY Stave 4 The Last of the Spirits KEY KEY
1. How did Scrooge feel about the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?
Fearful.
2. What did the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (Future) look like?
The grim reaper.
3. Where did Scrooge and the Spirit go first?To the City, the ‘Change (stock exchange).
4. What were the business men talking about?A man has finally died. They don’t care at
all.
5. What was Scrooge's attitude about being with the third Spirit?
“I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man
from what I was, I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful
heart.”
6. Where did they go second? What did they see?
Old Joe’s in the bad part of the city. People are selling the goods they stole from
a dead man.
7. What was Scrooge's reaction to the scene?He is horrified and considers them demons.
8. What did Scrooge think about when he saw the dead man?
‘Oh cold, cold, rigid, dreadful Death, set up thine altar here, and dress it with such
terrors as thou hast at thy command: for this is thy dominion! But of the loved,
revered, and honoured head, thou canst not turn one hair to thy dread purposes,
or make one feature odious. It is not that the hand is heavy and will fall down
when released; it is not that the heart and pulse are still; but that the hand was
open, generous, and true; the heart brave, warm, and tender; and the pulse a
man's. Strike, Shadow, strike! And see his good deeds springing from the wound,
to sow the world with life immortal!
9. Scrooge asked the Spirit to show him someone who felt emotion at the man's death. Describe
the person the Spirit showed him. He showed him a woman named Caroline and her
family who are relieved that the man died because they owed him money and he
was heartless and without pity.
10. What did Scrooge ask the Ghost to show him next? What did the Ghost show him?
They went to the Cratchits’ where the family is grieving Tiny Tim, whose body is
much visited and cared for in an upstairs room.
11. Who had been kind to Bob Cratchit, and what was the kindness?
His nephew Fred expressed sorrow and gave him his card, telling him to come to
him.
12. Who was the dead man? How did Scrooge discover who it was?
Scrooge. He saw the name on the tomb.
13. What question did Scrooge ask the Ghost as they stood among the graves?
Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things
that May be, only?'
14. What did Scrooge tell the Ghost he would do? 'I will honour Christmas in my heart,
and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.
The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ STUDY/QUESTIONS A Christmas Carol Stave 5 The End of It
1. Describe Scrooge's behavior when he woke up.
2. What day was it when Scrooge woke up?
3. What did Scrooge ask the boy under his window to do, and why?
4. How did Scrooge act when he went outside?
5. What did Scrooge do when he met the man who had asked for a donation the day before?
6. Whom did Scrooge visit? What was the reaction?
7. What happened at the office the next morning?
8. How did Scrooge spend the rest of his life?
Name: ______________________ Period: ___________________ Date: __________________ STUDY/QUESTIONS A Christmas Carol KEY KEY Stave 5 The End of It KEY KEY
1. Describe Scrooge's behavior when he woke up.
Giddy and joyful.
2. What day was it when Scrooge woke up?
Christmas day.
3. What did Scrooge ask the boy under his window to do, and why?
To buy the turkey for the Cratchits.
4. How did Scrooge act when he went outside?
Open and jovial. He greeted everyone.
5. What did Scrooge do when he met the man who had asked for a donation the day before?
He apologized and made a contribution to make up for all the years.
6. Whom did Scrooge visit? What was the reaction?
His nephew. Surprise, joy, and welcome.
7. What happened at the office the next morning?
He played a trick on Cratchit, gave him a raise, told him to buy more coal, and
took him for a drink.
8. How did Scrooge spend the rest of his life?
He kept his promise and was a second father to Tiny Tim, celebrating Christmas
well.