An old man with glasses on his hooked nose, with clawed hands, wearing a red scarf and a
top hat. Holding a light/ a candle
He looks mean / dangerous/ stingy
I can see a city. The scene takes place at the beginning of the century/ in the 19th century :
there is no electricity, there are no cars.... Ladies are wearing long dresses and men are
wearing suits. They’re gentlemen.
2nd poster : the man is holding the hand of a spitit / a ghost and flying in the sky
The spirit is taking the man on a journey.
The scene takes place in London ( BB in the background)
The man looks frightened/scared whereas the spirit is smiling
CHARLES DICKENS
Full name : Charles John Huffam Dickens
Birth : 7th February 1812
PLACE OF BIRTH : Portsmouth
PARENTS : John Dickens (1786–1851), Elizabeth (née Barrow, 1789–1863).
ADDRESS : Camden Town, London
STUDIES : William Giles' school, Chatham.
PROBLEM : father in Marshalsea prison for debt
CONSEQUENCE : stopped school / worked at a Blacking Warehouse to support his family
WORK : clerk in a law office, a court stenographer, a political journalist, a writer
MARRIAGE : Catherine Thomson Hogarth / 1836 - separated : 1858
CHILDREN : 10
DEATH : 9th June 1870
PLACE OF DEATH : his home in Gad's Hill Place.
Irregular verbs :
go
have
went
had
aller
avoir
A Christmas Carol ( part 1)
Marley is dead, to begin with – there’s no doubt about that.
Marley and Ebenezer Scrooge were business partners a long time ago*. But then Marley died
and now their firm belongs *.to Scrooge, who is a stingy and heartless old man.
On Christmas Eve, Scrooge sits in his office. It is very cold outside and in Scrooge’s office it
is very cold too. Suddenly*, a cheerful person enters the office. It is Scrooge’s nephew, Fred.
“A merry Christmas, uncle! God save you!” Fred says.
“Bah!” said *Scrooge, “Humbug*!”
“Christmas a humbug, uncle!” says Scrooge’s nephew. “You don’t mean that, I am sure?”
“I do,” says Scrooge. “What’s Christmas time to you? You have to pay bills* without money!
You’re a year older but not an hour richer! Keep Christmas in your way, and let me keep it in
mine.”
“Keep it? But you don’t keep it,” says Scrooge’s nephew, who is a very friendly young man.
He even tries to cheer *Scrooge up and invites him for dinner on Christmas Day. But Scrooge
says no and sends him out*.
When Scrooge’s nephew leaves, two gentlemen come in to collect money for the poor who
have no place they can go. Stingy Scrooge, however*, doesn’t give the gentlemen any money.
“Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses*.?” he asks sarcastically and tells them to go
away.
When it is time to close the office, Scrooge talks to his clerk, Bob Cratchit.
“You want all day off *tomorrow, don’t you?” says Scrooge.
“If that is okay, Sir,” answers the clerk.
“It’s not okay,” said Scrooge, “and it is not fair*. After all, I have to pay you for the day
although*. you don’t work. But if it must be, I want you to start work even earlier the
following morning.”
Cratchit promises that he will; and the two go home.
Scrooge lives all alone in an old house. The yard is very dark and scary that night and when
Scrooge wants to unlock* the door, he thinks that he sees Marley’s face there. This is rather
spooky, but Scrooge is not frightened easily. “Humbug,” he says, opens the door and walks
in. He locks himself in*, however*., which he usually*. doesn’t do. But then he feels safe
again and sits down before the fire.
Suddenly, Scrooge hears a noise, as if somebody is dragging *a heavy chain. The noise comes
*nearer and nearer, and then Scrooge sees *a ghost coming right through the heavy door. It is
Marley’s ghost, and his chains are long; they are made of cash-boxes, keys and heavy purses.
“Who are you?” says Scrooge
“In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley.”
“But why do you come to me now?”
“I must wander through the world and I wear the chains because I was so stingy in life. I only
cared about* business but not about the people around me. Now, I am here to warn* you. You
still have a chance, Ebenezer. Three spirits* will come to you. The first will come tomorrow,
at one.”
When he has said these words, Marley’s ghost disappears; and the night becomes quiet again.
Scrooge goes to bed, without undressing, and falls asleep immediately.
-
a long time ago : il y a longtemps
belong : appartenir
suddenly : soudain
Humbug ! : sottises ! balivernes !
pay bills : payer des factures
cheer : réjouire / amuser
however : cependant
workhouses : maison de correction
day off : jour de congé
although : bien que
unlock : déverouiller
locks himself in : s’enferme
usually : habituellement
as if somebody is dragging : comme si quelqu’un tire
I only cared about : la seule chose qui m’interessait était
warn : avertir
spirits : esprits/ fantômes
Questions on the text
1- Who is who?
1- Jacob Marley ●
● collect money for the poor
2- Fred ●
● is Scrooge’s nephew
3-Bob Cratchit ●
● works for Scrooge
4- Scrooge ●
● is a businessman
5- The two gentlemen ●
● is dead
2- Where and when ?
Where does the scene take place ? .............................................................................
When does the scene take place ?................................................................................
3- What happens first? Put these sentences in the right order, and rewrite
them (reécris ces phrases dans le bon ordre)
a He hears the noise of a heavy chain down below.
b Then he sits by the fire
c Bob Cratchit goes home.
d The spirits tells him that because he was a bad man when he was alive, he must
wander through the world as a punishment
e Then the ghost disappears
f Scrooge gives them nothing.
g After Fred leaves, two men come into Scrooge’s office.
h Fred comes to visit him.
i He shuts the door and sits by the fire.
j They come to collect money for the poor
k Finally Scrooge goes to bed
l He also tells Scrooge that three spirits will come to visit him.
mA spirit appears : the spirit of his former partner, Jacob Marley
n The two men leave the room.
oScrooge refuses the invitation.
p F red invites Scrooge to dinner.
q Scrooge is in his office.
r He refuses to give Bob Cratchit a day off for Christmas
Chapter 2 – The First of the Three Spirits
When Scrooge wakes up, it is very foggy and extremely cold, and there is no noise of people
in the streets.
Marley’s ghost bothers* him. He doesn’t know if it was a dream or not. Then he remembers
that a spirit will visit him at one o’clock. So Scrooge decides to wait what happens.
Suddenly, the clock strikesone. Light flashes up in the room and a small hand draws back the
curtains of his bed. Then Scrooge finds himself face to face with the visitor. It is a strange
figure – like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man. Its hair, which hangs about its
neck and down its back, is white as if with age; and yet the face has not a wrinkle in it.
“Who, and what are you?” Scrooge asks the ghost.
“I am the Ghost of Christmas Past. Rise *and come with me.”
The ghost takes Scrooge back in time, to a place where Scrooge is a boy. There Scrooge can
see his younger self playing with other children. They are cheerfully running around the
Christmas tree; and although they are poor, they have lots of fun.
The spirit also takes Scrooge to a warehouse, where Scrooge is an apprentice. Scrooge sees
the merry Christmas Eve they spend in the office with their boss Mr Fezziwig and his family.
There is food and music and dancing and everybody is happy.
Then the spirit takes Scrooge to yet another place. Scrooge is older now. He is not alone, but
sits by the side of a beautiful young girl, Belle. There are tears* in her eyes.
“It is sad to see,” she said, softly. “that another love has displaced me – the love of gold*.
Your heart was full of love once*, but now …? I think it is better for us to part*. May you be
happy in the life you have chosen*.”
“Spirit,” said Scrooge, “show me no more. Take me home. Why do you torture me?”
“Then they are in another scene and place; a room, not very large or handsome, but full of
comfort. There is a happy family celebrating Christmas with all their warmth and heartiness.
Scrooge recognises Belle, his former girlfriend. She is married now and has children.
“Belle,” says her husband with a smile, “I saw an old friend of yours this afternoon. Mr
Scrooge it was. I passed his office window; and as it was open, and he had a candle inside, I
could see him there. His partner is dying, I hear; and there he sat alone. Quite alone in the
world, I do believe.”
“Spirit,” says Scrooge in a broken* voice, “Take me back! I cannot bear* it any longer.”
He struggles* with the ghost to take him back. And finally Scrooge finds himself in his own
bed again. He is very exhausted and sinks into a heavy sleep.
-
bother: tracasser
Rise : leve-toi
Tears : des larmes
Gold : l’or
Part : se séparer
You have chosen : (que) tu as choisie
Broken : brisée
Bear : supporter
He struggles : il lutte
Questions on the text :
Choisis la bonne réponse et justifie en citant le texte :
a) The ghost of Christmas Past : - is half young and half old
 is an old ghost
 is a young ghost
justification : .........................................................................................................
b) When Scrooge was a boy, he …
- liked Christmas
- did not like Christmas
justification: .................................................................................................................
c) When he was an apprentice, he.... - celebrated Christmas happily
 - did not celebrate Christmas
justification : ..........................................................................................................
d) Why did Belle leave Scrooge?
- Scrooge was only interested in money
- she did not love him
justification : .............................................................................................................
e) When Marley was dying, Scrooge …- was alone in his office
- was with his family
justification :.........................................................................................................
f)
All these visions .....- are not a problem for Scrooge
- are very painful for him
justification : .............................................................................................................
g) At the end of the Ghost of Christmas Past’s visit .......- Scrooge falls asleep
- Scrooge does not sleep
justification : .............................................................................................................
Chapter 3 – The Second of the Three Spirits
Scrooge wakes up, just before the clock strikes one again. He sits up in his bed and waits for
the second ghost to come. And there it is – the Ghost of Christmas Present. It has curly brown
hair, sparkling * eyes and it wears a simple green robe with white fur. Its feet are bare and on
its head it wears a holly wreath*.
The ghost takes Scrooge to Bob Cratchit’s house – a very poor man. In the kitchen you can
see Mrs Cratchit preparing Christmas dinner. Her children are cheerfully running around.
Then the door opens and Bob Cratchit comes in with Tiny Tim upon his shoulders. Tiny Tim
is Bob Cratchit’s youngest son. He has an iron frame *around his limbs*.
“On our way home, Tiny Tim told me that he hoped the people saw him in the church,
because he was a cripple*. It might be pleasant to them to remember on Christmas Day, that
Jesus helped blind men and cripple men.” Bob’s voice trembles when he says this.
Then Christmas dinner is ready, and everyone sits down at the table. As the Cratchits are very
poor, it is not much they have for Christmas dinner. But still everyone is joyful and you can
feel that they all have the Christmas Spirit in their hearts.
“A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears! God bless us!” says Bob Cratchit.
“God bless us every one!” says Tiny Tim.
He sits very close to his father’s side upon his little stool. Bob holds his little hand, as if he
feared to lose him.
“Spirit,” says Scrooge, who feels sorry for the boy, “tell me if Tiny Tim will live.”
“I see an empty seat,” replies the ghost, “and a crutch without an owner*. This makes Scrooge
very sad, but the spirit goes on and takes Scrooge to his nephew’s house. Fred and his friends
have a very cheerful party and play games. Scrooge really enjoys their party and wants to stay
for another while but in a second it all fades and Scrooge and the spirit are again on their
travels.
They visit many homes in many places: they see sick people who are cheerful; people in
foreign lands who are close at home, poor people who feel rich that day – all because of the
Christmas Spirit.
Suddenly, Scrooge notices something strange about the ghost. Two children-like figures are at
the ghost’s feet – a boy and a girl. But, they look old and dreadful, like little monsters.
Scrooge is shocked.
“Spirit, are they your creatures?” Scrooge asks.
“They are Man’s creatures,” says the spirit “The boy is Ignorance. The girl is Want. Beware *
them both, but most of all beware this boy” says the spirit.
“Have they no place they can go?” asks Scrooge.
“Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” the spirit turns on Scrooge with his own
words.
The bell strikes twelve. The Ghost of Christmas Present disappears. And at the last stroke of
the bell, Scrooge sees the third ghost coming towards him.
-
sparkling : brillant / etincelant
a holly wreath : une couronne de houx
a frame : une armature
limbs : membres
a cripple : un infirme
an owner : un propriétaire
it all fades : tout disparait
beware : méfie-toi
Questions on the text :
Write the right words .
sees shoulders running takes die
trip dinner limbs poor
ignorance iron son want
The Ghost of Christmas Now……… Scrooge to Bob Cratchit’s house. There he ……… his
clerk’s family for the first time. Mrs Cratchit is cooking........................... and her children
are............................. around. When Bob comes in he has Tiny Tim, his youngest ………, on
his ……...… because the child can’t walk without an ……… frame around his
.................................... But even if this family is ......................, they all look happy to
celebrate Christmas. The Ghost predicts Tiny Tim is going to ........................ soon.
During the ........................., Scrooge and the Ghost see many people who have problems but
who are very happy on Christmas Day. But then, to finish, the Ghost tells Scrooge that
....................... and ..................... are Man’s big problems.
Chapter 4 – The Last of the Spirits
Slowly and silently the ghost comes nearer. It is very tall and wears a deep black piece of
clothing*, which covers its whole body and leaves nothing of it visible but one outstretched *
hand.
“Are you the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come?” asks Scrooge, “I fear you more than any
other spirit.”
The ghost does not say a word, and Scrooge is really scared. They wander through the city
and Scrooge hears some men talking about a person who has died. Scrooge knows the men
and wants to find out* who they are talking about. But the spirit moves on.
They next stop in an area where thieves* and liars* live. They have stolen* things with
them and make fun of the person who once owned* those things.
“Ha, ha!” laughs a woman, “He frightened everybody when he was alive, to profit us when he
was dead! Ha, ha, ha!”
After that, the ghost leads Scrooge through streets that are familiar to him; and as they go
along, Scrooge looks here and there to find himself, but nowhere is he to be seen. They enter
poor Bob Cratchit’s house and find the mother and the children by the fire. Quiet. Very quiet.
The noisy little Cratchits are as still * as statues. When Bob Cratchit come in, the children
hurry to greet him. Then the two young Cratchits get upon his knees and lay their little cheeks
against his face as if to say, “Don’t mind it, father. Don’t be sad.”
“You went * there today?” says his wife.
“Yes, my dear,” returns Bob. “I wish you could have gone. It would have done you good to
see how green the place is. But you’ll see it often. I promised him that we would walk there
every Sunday. My little, little child.” cries Bob. “My little child.”
He breaks down in tears. He can’t help it*.
The ghost moves on and takes Scrooge to a churchyard*. The spirit stands among the graves
and points down to one. Scrooge slowly goes towards it and following the ghost’s finger reads
upon the stone of the grave his own name, Ebenezer Scrooge.
“Spirit!” Scrooge cries, “hear me. I am not the man I was! I will not be the man I must have
been so far! Why show me this if I am past all hope? Good Spirit, 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 will be within me. I will not ignore the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me
that I may change my fate*!”
Full of fear, Scrooge catches the spirit’s hand. But the spirit suddenly changes – it shrinks and
fades and finally turns into a bedpost.
-
piece of clothing : drap / linge
outstretched : tendue
to find out : découvrir
thieves and liars : voleurs et menteurs
They have stolen : ils ont dérobé
Owned : possédait
Still : immobile
You went there : tu y es allé
He can’t help it : il ne peut pas s’en empêcher
a churchyard : un cimetière
Questions on the text :
Say if these statements are true or false. Then justify :
a) The ghost of Christmas Yet to come is very frightening :
right
wrong
Justification : …………………………………………………………
b) He takes Scrooge to a time when he is dead
right
wrong
Justification : …………………………………………………………
c) Scrooge sees sees and liars who are very sad because of his death :
right
wrong
Justification : …………………………………………………………
d) In Bob Cratchit’s family, the children are very happy
right
wrong
Justification : …………………………………………………………
e) Tiny Tim is dead too
right
wrong
Justification : …………………………………………………………
f) Scrooge is very sad and promises he will become a good man in the future
right
wrong
Justification : …………………………………………………………
g) He also promises he will celebrate the spirit of Christmas
right
wrong
Justification : …………………………………………………………
Chapter 5 – The End of It
“I will live in the past, the present, and the future.” Scrooge repeats, as he gets out of bed. “I
don’t know what to do! I am as happy as an angel! I don’t know what day of the month it is. I
don’t know how long I’ve been among the spirits. Hallo! Hallo there!”
He runs to the window, opens it, and puts out his head.
“What’s today?” cries Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes.
“Today?” replieds the boy. “Why, Christmas Day!”
“It’s Christmas Day!” says Scrooge to himself. “I haven’t missed it*.! The spirits have done it
all in one night. Hallo, my fine fellow! Do you know the poulterer’s* at the corner? And do
you know if they’ve sold* the big turkey that was hanging up *.there?”
“What, the one as big as me?” returns the boy. “It’s still hanging there now.”
“Is it!” said Scrooge. “Go and buy it! I am in earnest*.. Go and buy it and come back with the
man that I may give them the direction where to take it. I’ll give you a shilling*. for it. Come
back with the man in less than five minutes and I’ll give you half-a-crown*.!”
The boy is off like a shot.
“I’ll send it to Bob Cratchit,” whispers Scrooge cheerfully. “It’s twice the size*. of Tiny
Tim.”.
He dresses himself all in his best, and at last gets out into the streets. He has not gone far,
when he comes towards the two gentlemen, who have walked into his office the day before.
“My dear Sir,” says Scrooge, “How do you do? I fear I wasn’t pleasant to you yesterday.
Allow me to ask your pardon. And will you have the goodness to …”, here Scrooge whispers
in his ear.
“Lord bless me!” cries the gentleman, “My dear Mr Scrooge, are you serious? I don’t know
what to say to such generosity.”
Scrooge then goes to church, and walks through the streets, and watches the people. He has
never dreamed that anything can give him so much happiness. In the afternoon he goes to his
nephew’s house.
“Fred,” says Scrooge, It’s your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in,
Fred?”
Of course, Fred letsq him in; it is a very hearty welcome and they all have a wonderful party.
But Scrooge is early at the office next morning. Oh, he is early there. If he could only catch
Bob Cratchit coming late. And he does it; yes, he does. Bob is full eighteen minutes and a half
late. Scrooge sits with his door wide open, that he might see him come in.
“Hallo!” growls Scrooge, in his usual way. “What do you mean by coming here at this time of
day? I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore,” he continues,
jumping from his stool, “and therefore I am about to raise your salary. A merry Christmas,
Bob.”
Bob Cratchit is very surprised, and so are many people who find Scrooge so changed. Scrooge
becomes a better person. To Tiny Tim, who does not die, he is a second father. Scrooge
becomes as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or
any other good old city or town in the good old world.
It was always said of Scrooge, that he knew* how to keep Christmas well. May that be truly
said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim would say, God bless us, every one! *.
I haven’t missed it : je ne l’ai pas raté
the poulterer’s : le marchand de volailles
- if they’ve sold : s’ils ont vendu
- that was hanging up : qui était suspendue
- a shilling : un shilling ( pièce de monnaie)
- half-a-crown : 2 shillings et 6 pence
- twice the size : deux fois la taille
- he knew : il savait
God bless us, every one ! : que Dieu bénisse chacun d’entre nous
-
-
-
Questions on the text :
1- In Chapter 5 Scrooge does a lot of things for the first time. Mark the right ones :
a- Scrooge starts singing Christmas carols. 
b- He laughs for the first time in many years. 
d He buys a big chicken for theCratchits. 
c- He gives the two men money for the poor. 
d- He goes to church. 
e- He had dinner with the Cratchits. 
f- He said ‘Humbug’ again. 
2-What does each ghost show Scrooge?
Marley’s ghost
The ghost of
Christmas Past
The ghost of
Christmas Now
The ghost of
Christmas
future
3- A fable is a story that teaches a lesson. The lesson in a fable comes at the end of the
story. We call it a ‘moral’.
A Christmas Carol is a fable. Choose the moral that you like best for the story:
a Our friends and our family are more important than money.
b Money doesn’t make you happy.
c It’s important to help the poor.
d Christmas teaches us to be better people.
e We can all learn how to be better people.
f Adults can change.
g Good food and good schools are very important in a child’s life.