A Christmas Carol
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS IN ABOUT 150-175 WORDS
1.
What is the attitude of Ebenezer Scrooge to Christmas as seen in the play, in the
beginning?
2. What is the importance of the gentleman’s meeting with Ebenezer Scrooge?
3. Do you think Jacob Marley is a sincere friend of Scrooge? Why?
4. What is the significance of the visit of the First Ghost, in Scrooge’s life?
5. Analyze the character and life of Bob Cratchit.
6. How could the second Ghost influence Scrooge’s life?
7. What do you think Scrooge has learnt from the scenes showed by the Third Ghost? What
did the Ghost show him to change him?
8. Bring out the Supernatural element in the play ‘The Christmas Carol’. How does it affect
Scrooge?
9. Scrooge was a wealthy man, yet he was poor. How?
10. Examine and comment upon the changes in Scrooge as found in the last part of the play
11. What is the message of the play?
12. Do you think Fred is a perfect contrast to his uncle? How?
EBENEZER SCROOGE
1. He is a miserly owner of a London warehouse.
2. An Anti-Christmas Figure: considers Christmas a humbug; does not like revelry and
celebration of Christmas.
3. Money – Minded And Stingy: Scrooge loves to be a shrewd man of business. For him
money is everything. He hates to part with his money in charity. He exploits his clerk
Bob Cratchit by underpaying him and by making him over work.
4. Lonely and Hated: Scrooge’s greed for money, his dislike for socialization and
festivities and his pre-occupation with his business make him more and more isolated
and lonely
BOB CRATCHIT
1. An underpaid clerk of Scrooge, very hardworking, poor but contented, deeply religious,
takes suffering in his stride, knows no ill-will for anyone, not even for his hard –hearted
stingy, unfeeling employer, Scrooge.
TINY TIM
1. Youngest among the Cratchit
2. A crippled boy who moves Scrooge to pity for he reminds him of his own age – he wants
people at the Church to pray to God to heal his cripple ness
3. Deeply religious like his father.
JACOB MARLEY
1. Appears as a ghost in the play
2. Former partner of Scrooge.
3. Died on Christmas Eve Seven years ago.
4. Was a shrewd man of business, hard hearted, stingy and money – minded.
5. He experiences only remorse even after death.
6. Visits Scrooge to warn him to mend his ways to avert a similar fate as his own.
FRED
1.
2.
3.
4.
Scrooge’s nephew, a genial man who loves Christmas.
Invite Scrooge to his Christmas party only to be refused by his grumpy Uncle
Does not want anything from Scrooge.
Fun – loving and imbued with the spirit of Christmas.
BELLE
1. Beautiful woman
2. Scrooge loved her deeply when he was a young man.
3. Broke off their engagement after Scrooge became consumed with greed and the lust for
wealth – values relationships over money.
4. Later married another man – happily married – has loving family.
FAN
1.
2.
3.
Scrooge’s sister; Fred’s mother
Loving towards Scrooge
Fan picks Scrooge up from school and gets him home.
1. Three Ghosts appeared to Scrooge, presenting various people to him. Name the
people the Ghosts presented to Scrooge and their relationship with him. What
lesson did he learn from the third Ghost?
2. At the beginning of the play, how do we know that Scrooge does not like Christmas
? Give any two reasons. How does he turn into a benevolent person ?
3. In the play ‘A Christmas Carol,’ who was Fred ? Discuss two important traits of
Fred’s character. How was he totally different from Scrooge ?
4. What does the Ghost of Christmas Present, show Scrooge ? Explain, How does it
effect him.
1.
Read the following extract from ‘A Christmas Carol’ and answer the questions
that follow.
‘Scrooge was better than his word. He did everything he promised’.
(a) Who is the speaker of these lines?
(b) What all did Scrooge do ?
(c) How was Scrooge a reformed man ?
2.
From the play “A Christmas Carol,” give a brief character analysis of Bob
Cratchit.
3.
In the play ‘A Christmas Carol’ what does Scrooge realize after visiting Bob
Cratchit’s house with the Ghost of Christmas Present ?
4.
Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
Gentleman : Then I have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving
partner.
(a) Who is the surviving partner referred to by the gentleman?
(b) What favour does the gentleman want of Scrooge ?
(c) Does Scrooge agree to favour the gentleman ? What does he say ?
5.
In the play who is Belle? Why did she walk out of Scrooge’s life?
6.
Give a brief character sketch of Fred.
7.
In the play who were the people whose images the first Ghost showed to Scrooge?
What was Scrooge’s relationship with these people?
8.
Read the extract from the play and answer the questions that follow :
Scrooge : A poor excuse for picking a man’s pocket every twenty – fifth day of
December. I suppose you must have the whole day. But be here all the earlier the next
day. Understand ?
(a) Who is Scrooge speaking to?
(b) Why is Scrooge irritated with the person he is speaking to ?
(c) What is Scrooge wanting to make the other person understand ?
9.
Read the extract from the play and answer the questions that follow :
First Ghost : He was in to wish you Merry Christmas yesterday.
(a) Who is the first Ghost referring to ?
(b) What is the request of the person the First Ghost refers to ?
(c) Whom has the first Ghost reminded Scrooge of by referring to the person ?
10.
Read the extract below and answer the questions that follow.
Scrooge : A Merry Christmas to you.
(a) Whom is Scrooge finally wishing a Merry Christmas to ?
(b) Why is Scrooge wishing the person ?
(c) How does Scrooge make amends for his mistakes ?
11.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow :
Second Ghost : I see a vacant seat in the chimney corner and a crutch without an owner,
carefully preserved. If these shadows remain unaltered the child will die.
(a) Whom is the second Ghost referring to ?
(b) What is Scrooge’s reaction on hearing the second Ghost’s statement ?
(c) What is the second Ghost’s reply to Scrooge’s reaction ?
12.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow :
Scrooge : Merry Christmas, indeed ! What right have you to be Merry ? You are poor
enough.
Fred : What right have you to be dismal ? You are rich enough.
(a) Who was Fred and why did he visit Scrooge ?
(b) Does Fred react to Scrooge’s criticism ? How ?
(c) Explain the word ‘dismal’.
13.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow :
Mrs. Cratchit : I am certain they must have prayed for you.
(a) Who is Mrs. Cratchit speaking to ?
(b) Who are the ‘they’ referred to ?
(c) Why does Tiny Tim feel they should pray for him ?
14.
Read the extract and then answer the questions that follow :
Scrooge :
An intelligent boy ! A remarkable boy ! Do you know whether they’re
sold the
prize Turkey that was hanging in the window.
(a) Who is the ‘boy’ Scrooge is speaking to ?
(b) What does Scrooge want the boy to do ?
(c) Why is the boy delighted to do this favour for Scrooge ?
15.
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow :
Cratchit : First the founder of this feast, the man who made it possible. I give you
Mr. Scrooge.
(a) What does Cratchit give Mr. Scrooge?
(b) What is Mrs Cratchit’s immediate reaction to this statement ?
(c) Does Cratchit agree to what his wife says ?
16.
Read the extract and answer the questions :
Scrooge : And what is wrong in making money ?
(a) When does Scrooge make this statement ?
(b) What is Scrooge being warned about ?
(c) How does Scrooge react to the warning ?
Read the extract and answer the questions that follow :
17.
Martha : Your eyes, Mother – You’ll strain them working in this bad light.
(a) Who is Martha ?
(b) Does the mother heed to her daughter’s advice ? Why ?
18.
Questions :
(a) In the play ‘A Christmas Carol’, what type of character is Ebenezer Scrooge in
the beginning ?
(b) In what way does he change in the play ?
CHRISTMAS CAROL
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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Who is Jacob Marley ? How does he try to transform scrooge into a real human being?
What is the theme of the play ‘A Christmas Carol’.
Does the name ‘Scrooge’ aptty describe Ebenenzer scrooge in the play? Justify.
Describe Scrooge’s encounter with the gentleman
Who was Bob Cratchit ? What do you know about his family?
Why did Belle free scrooge from marrying her ? What does it show of Scrooge’s character ?
How does the miserly Scrooge interpret Christmas ? Give examples to support your answer.
Describe how Mr. Scrooge turned from an unkind, Shrewd, selfish miser into a kind,
benevolent human being ?
Eh, what am I holding on to ? The bedpost. I am in my own bed …. Home. Those bills ! It
must be Christmas Day – I wonder if it rally is. We shall see. Open the window.
a) Who is the speaker ? Why is he astonished to find himself at home ?
b) His attitude was different at the start of the play. Show the difference. What or who has
effected this change of attitude in him ?
Marley : No And heed them when they appear (Fading) Remember it is your last chance to
escape my miserable fate.
a) Who was marley ?
b) What was marley’s miserable fate ?
c) Who are to appear ?
d) Why does Marley say ‘Heed their’?
Suddenly he awakes with a start. Walking towards him and dragging a heavy chain …..’
who comes to whom and for what ?
Scrooge may have been a successful businessman, but he was a disaster in relationships’.
Do you agree? Support your answer with textual evidence.
Compare and contrast the characters of scrooge and his clerk Bob Cratchit.