A Christmas Carol
Novel by Charles Dickens, Play by Frederick Gaines
Images and Discussion Questions
English 7/7H Mrs. Gennosa
Scene 1
Fred wishes his Uncle Ebenezer Scrooge a Merry
Christmas. Describe Fred and compare him to Scrooge.
The Gentleman Visitor arrives and asks for a
donation to help the poor. What does he say on
page 256 to convince Scrooge to care enough to
donate? How does he describe the condition many
poor people are in?
Scrooge asks the Gentleman Visitor several
questions to defend his decision to not donate.
These questions are repeated in the play to show
Scrooge his faults. Identify and copy down the
questions (page 256). What is he implying in these
questions? What do they show about Scrooge’s
character?
Bob Cratchit asks for Christmas Day off. How
does Scrooge react?
What does Scrooge say to Fred and Cratchit as a
response to their wishes for a Merry Christmas?
Scene 2
The ghost of Jacob Marley appears to Scrooge
on Christmas Eve, seven years from the day of
his death. What are some of the warnings
Marley shares with Scrooge?
Describe Jacob Marley’s condition. How and
why is he suffering in the afterlife?
Scene 3
The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge
several scenes from his own life. Describe
Scrooge’s childhood, based on what is shown to
Scrooge. What do we learn about Scrooge?
Scrooge then sees a Christmas from his young
adulthood, when he worked for Mr. Fezziwig.
Describe what Scrooge is remembering about
Fezziwig. How do we know that Scrooge is
beginning to reflect upon himself?
Scrooge then sees his former fiancé breaking up
with him. Why does she leave him, and what
does Scrooge say about it now?
The Ghost of Christmas Present comes next. He guides Scrooge to Bob
Cratchit’s house. On their way they pass a funeral procession for a child.
Describe the scene at the Cratchit’s house. What does the funeral
foreshadow?
Scrooge asks to see “happiness in Christmas Present” and the ghost offers to
take Scrooge to his nephew Fred’s house. In the play Scrooge refuses to go,
but in the film he does go and sees how happy everyone is at Fred’s house. In
the play, why do you think Scrooge does not want to go?
Scrooge asks the Ghost of Christmas Present if Tiny Tim will live,
and the ghost replies, “If he be like to die, he had better do it
and decrease the surplus population.” Explain why this quote is
significant.
At the feet of the Ghost of Christmas Presence are two thin,
pale children wearing filthy rags. They are Hunger and
Ignorance. The ghost tells Scrooge, “They walk your streets,
look to you for comfort. And you deny them. Deny them not
too long Scrooge. They will grow and multiply, and they will
not remain children.” Explain this quote.
Scene 5
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to come says nothing but shows Scrooge
what will happen on the day he dies. What does Scrooge see? How
does Scrooge react to what he sees?
Scrooge next observes the family of Bob Cratchit.
Describe what has happened and how is Scrooge
partly responsible for it? How does Scrooge react?
Why do you think the author decided to make
the ghost remain silent?
Scene 6
Scrooge pledges to reform himself and begs to have a second
chance at life. He says, “I will honor 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. I will
not shut out the lessons that they teach.” Explain this quote.
Describe what Scrooge does to prove he is a changed man.