Ms. Gerbig—Freshman English
Study Guide for A Christmas Carol
Stave One:
1. Why does Dickens make such a point about Marley being dead?
2. In what way(s) does Dickens describe Scrooge? Give examples. What might
Scrooge represent?
3. Why does Scrooge scold his nephew for being “merry” at Christmas? What does
this suggest about Victorian attitudes of Christmas? What is Christmas like in
Victorian England?
4. What is Scrooge’s solution to the problems of the poor? Why might these be
insufficient?
5. What did the clerk request of Scrooge regarding Christmas day?
6. How much does his clerk make a week? Is this a “livable wage” according to the
Victorian PowerPoint?
7. What happened when Scrooge reached his front door?
8. How do we know that Scrooge was a little uneqsy this particular night? What
unusual things happened?
9. Explain Scrooge’s line to Marley’s ghost: “There’s more of gravy than of grave
about you, whatever you are!”
10. Why has the ghost come?
11. What does Scrooge conclude, finally, of this visit?
Stave Two
1. Describe the Ghost of Christmas Past.
2. Where does this spirit take Scrooge?
3. Scrooge is emotionally moved by many sights and smells (imagery); to what in
particular does he react?
4. Upon seeing himself as a child, what does Scrooge regret concerning the young
boy who came singing (caroling) to his door?
5. Who is it that brings news to Scrooge (the boy) that he may return home?
6. Who is Old Fezziwig?
7. What do we learn about Scrooge and a particular young lady? How does this
incident develop Scrooge’s character?
8. Though Scrooge protests, what last shadow does the ghost insist that he see?
Stave Three
1. What did Scrooge discover was the source of the blazing light in the adjoining
room?
2. What does the spirit mean when he claims to have “more than eighteen hundred
brothers…”?
3. How has Scrooge’s attitude toward the spirit changed?
4. How does Dickens describe the scene on the street where Scrooge finds himself
with the ghost?
5. What is the flavor which the spirit sprinkles from his torch?
6. Who is Bob Cratchit? What is his home like? Name the members of his family.
7. Why did Tiny Tim hope that the people had seen him in church? What does Tiny
Tim represent, do you think?
8. What news from the Ghost of Christmas Present shocks and saddens Scrooge?
Give one example of another place to which the ghost takes Scrooge.
9. Why is Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, enjoying a good laugh?
10. How does Scrooge respond to the games played at his nephew’s house?
11. What is revealed beneath the spirit’s robe? What do they symbolize? (Refer to the
Victorian PowerPoint)
Stave Four
1. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come does not arrive as the other two do. How is
his appearance (actually at the conclusion of Stave Three) different?
2. What did the spirit look like?
3. Who is Old Scratch?
4. Describe one of the scenes we are given which Scrooge sees as he accompanies
this spirit.
5. According to the spirit, what was the future for Tiny Time?
Stave Five
1. How does the chapter begin? In what frame of mind do we find Scrooge?
2. Give two passages which show the change in Scrooge.
3. What do you think was Scrooge’s new philosophy which is referred to as the
Total Abstinence Principle?
4. Did Scrooge have any m ore visits from spirits? Why or why not?