A Christmas Carol-Reading-Guide

“A CHRISTMAS CAROL”: READING GUIDE
A) Burgess, A. English Literature / Chapter 18, pages 178-185


1- What does Burgess say about the Victorian era?
2- What does Burgess say about morality?
3- What is the relevance of the following phrase, “behind the suit of clothes of prosperity lay the naked truth of poverty”? Can you find examples of this idea in the novel?
4- What wereDickens’s faults as a writer according to Burgess? What were his strong points?
5- What are the characteristics of “The world created by Dickens” according to Burgess?
6- What issues did he cover in his novels?
7- What does Burgess say about “A Christmas Carol”?


B) Comprehension Questions

STAVE ONE

1- Why does Marley wait seven years to appear?
2- Page 12. Analyze theuse of these references:
(Cain and Abel
(Pharaoh
(Queen of Sheba
(Abraham
(Belshazzar
(Apostles
(Prophet’s rod
3- Describe Marley’s appearance.
4- Page 13. What’s the meaning of the expression “to have no bowels”?
Why does Scrooge use this expression here?
5- What’s the difference among these words: goblin, ghost, spectre,phantom, apparition and ghoul?
6- Page 15. What’s the meaning of the expression: “to place the deuce with somebody”?
7- Page 16. Explain the meaning of the following passage:
“I wear the chain I forged in life”, replied the Ghost. “I made it link by link and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it”.
8- What kind of business does Scrooge run?9- P age 17. Explain the meaning of the following exchange between Scrooge and Marley’s Ghost:
“But you were always a good man of business, Jacob”, faltered Scrooge.
“Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing his hands again. “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business, charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business”.
“At this time of the rollingyear,” the spectre said, “I suffer most. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow- beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor homes to which its light would have conducted me?”

STAVE TWO

10- Page 23. How is the First Ghost described?
11- Page 25. What is the connection between smells and memories?
12- Page26. Why does Scrooge sob?
13- Page 27. Explain Scrooge’s remembrances.
14- On page 27, there are signs that Scrooge has started to repent. Mention these signs.
15- Who is “Fan”? What is Scrooge’s reaction to her appearance? Page 28.
16- Why, do you think, does the Ghost take Scrooge to see Old Fezziwig? Pages 30-31.
17- Mention the stylistic device used on page 31.
18- What does Scroogereflect about after seeing the scene at Mr. Fezziwig’s? Page 33.
19- Which is the “idol” the young lady speaks of? Who is that young lady? What happens to her later on?

STAVE THREE

20- Describe the Ghost of Christmas Present.
21- Where does the Second ghost take Scrooge?
22- Who is “Tiny Tim”? What problem does he have?
23- What does the Ghost say about Tim’s future?
24- What doesScrooge’s nephew think about his uncle?
25- What do Scrooge’s nephew and friends play?
26- What do the girl and the boy described on page 61 represent?
27- What do the Spirit’s words mean? “They are Man’s?
28- Explain the relevance of these lines:
“Are there no prisons?” said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. “Are there no workhouses?”

STAVE FOUR

29-Why, do you think, is the Third Ghost called a “Phantom”?
30- Explain the dialogue among the businessmen on pages 64-65.
31- Who is “The Old Scratch”?
32- Analyze the following passage. Can you make any connections with any of the topics studied in class?


“They left the busy scene, and went into an obscure part of the town, where Scrooge had never penetrated before although he...