A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Playwright : Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens (1812 - 1870) was a great English novelist and a very popular writer even in his time. Dickens was a keen observer of human nature. He sympathised with the poor and helpless and mocked the greedy and the cruel.
As a young boy Dickens had to work in a London factory pasting the labels on bottles of shoe polish. His father, a clerk had to go through the misfortune of being penniless and in prison. His father was able to later send Charles Dickens to school where he wasn't very happy. All these experiences lend colour to the various characters and situations portrayed lovingly by Charles Dickens. Some of his more famous books are - Pickwick papers, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, Great Expectations. He has to his credit 15 novels, 5 short novels, sketches, travel books and some non-fiction.
INTRODUCTION
'A Christmas Carol' is one of the most famous novels of Charles Dickens. Charles Dickens was the most popular novelist of his time.
The novel is set in the time of Christmas and celebrates the joy of 'giving' and 'loving'.
The novel has been re-written and presented as a play. You must remember that this was written as a Radio Play.

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'A Christmas Carol'
'A Christmas Carol' is a one-act play that is supposed to be 'enacted' over the radio. So, the play depends largely on the language and the sounds.
Scrooge is a miser. He makes his clerk, Bob Cratchit work hard for him, but pays him very less. In fact, he hates giving him a holiday even for Christmas. He does not believe in Christmas and calls it 'humbug' (meaning 'nonsense').
Scrooge's partner, Jacob Marley, is dead. His ghost appears in front of him on the night before Christmas. Jacob Marley wants to 'reclaim' Scrooge. He wants to make him a better person. So, he sends three ghosts to help him perceive life differently.
The first ghost comes to him at the stroke of one. He represents Scrooge's past. He shows him scenes from his younger days.
When Scrooge sees himself as a young boy in school and later as the brother of 'sweet Fan', he repents for not having treated Fan's son Fred in a better way. He also sees Belle, whom he refused to marry, as he loved money more.
The Second Ghost represents the present. He shows Bob Cratchit's family to Scrooge. He is impressed by their love for each other. He is touched that even though he pays Bob very less, Bob prays for him. At dinner, they all drink a toast to the health of Scrooge. Bob's fifth child, Tim, is a cripple. Scrooge feels sorry for him. The Second Ghost taunts him. Scrooge repents his actions in the past. He would like to change his way of life.
The Third Ghost shows him scenes of the future. When Scrooge is shown his own death, he feels pained. He does not wish to die a hated man. He wants to become kind and loving. He wishes to change himself.
Soon, the Ghosts leave. It is the dawn of Dec 25th (Christmas). Scrooge remembers all the visions he saw the previous night. He is a changed man.
He sends a surprise gift of a huge turkey to Bob's house. He decides to increase Bob's salary, take care of Tim's medical expenses and visit Fred.
Thus, Scrooge is reclaimed. He is transformed into a soft hearted and compassionate human being.
Today, a person who is cruel and hates the joy of Christmas is often called a 'Scrooge'. Next time you read of someone who is selfish, money-minded and cruel, you could say, 'He is a Scrooge'!

Questions & Answers

Question (1): 'Despite the bitterly cold weather, all of London is in a festive mood. But there is no happy expression on Ebenezer Scrooge's lined face.'

a) What does this show of Scrooge?

b) What would the reaction of the society be to such a man?

Answer: a) Scrooge is not religious. He hates Christmas as he is expected to give charity and give Bob Cratchit a holiday.

b) Society will not respect such a man. Question (2): 'You're nothing but an undigested bit of meat Blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese.'

a) Who is being described here?

b) Why has the person made his appearance?

Answer: a) Scrooge describes Jacob Marley's Ghost.

b) Jacob Marley is in Chains. These chains represent the selfish acts done in his days on earth. Jacob has come to scrooge as a Ghost to try and correct him. Question (3): 'Another idol has displaced me, a golden one.'

a) Who is speaking to whom?

b) Why does the speaker say this?

c) Reflect on the character of the person spoken about.

Answer: a) Belle to Scrooge.

b) He does not marry Belle as a family involves expenditure and he hates spending money.

c) Scrooge is mean and cruel right from his youth. He holds gold and money in greater importance than necessary. Emotions and feelings mean nothing to him. Question (4): 'To them, that meagre goose is a sumptuous feast.'

a) What festival are they celebrating?

b) What lesson did Scrooge learn here?

Answer: a) Christmas.

b) Scrooge learnt that love, charity and togetherness are more important than money.
Question (5): Gentlemen: Most of them would rather die than do that.

Scrooge: Then let them do that and help decrease the surplus population

a) Why has the gentleman come?

b) Who are they talking about?

c) What character of Scrooge is revealed here?

Answer: a) To collect some money for charity.

b) They are talking about the poor and needy, who do not have a great income, but will not take any assistance from warehouses.

c) Scrooge is very proud of the money he has. He is cruel, hard hearted and unsympathetic towards the poor.

Question (6): I was glad to be able to go to church. That's because I wanted the people to see that I'm a cripple.

a) Why does Tim want the people to see him?

b) What future does the second ghost predict for him?

c) What actually happened?

Answer: a) Tim wants the people in the church to pray for him.

b) Tim would die as Bob has no money for his treatment.

c) Scrooge is transformed. From a cruel and selfish man he becomes kind. He pays for Tim's treatment and Tim recovers.

Question (7): Cratchit: My dear, remember, Christmas day.

Mrs. Cratchit: I'm sorry. Very well. I'll drink to his health.

a) Why does Cratchit reprimand (scold) Mrs.Cratchit?

b) What character of Bob is revealed here?

Answer: a) Mrs. Cratchit is upset that Scrooge pays Bob very less and so she says something harsh about Scrooge. Bob does not approve of such talk on Christmas Day and therefore reprimands her.

b) Bob is a hardworking clerk who is a sincere worker. He is also a true Christian. He does not like talking ill of Scrooge, instead he drinks to his health.

Question (8): Third Ghost: That tombstone... Read the name on it.

Scrooge: Before I do, answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that may be only?

a) Whose tombstone was it?

b) What does Scrooge mean by this question? Does this reveal a change?

Answer: a) Ebenezer Scrooge

b) Scrooge does not wish to die as a miser and a cruel man. He would like to know if it was possible to change the course of the future. Yes, we see a change in Scrooge. Perhaps he has realised his mistakes and would like to be a good Christian.

Question (9): Do you know the poulterer's in the next street?

a) What is the purpose of this question?

b) How successful has Jacob Marley been?

Answer: a) These lines are by Scrooge to a young boy on Christmas day. He is asking him to take the large Turkey in the poulterers to Bob Cratchit's house as a surprise gift.

b) Jacob Marley had come to Scrooge and sent the 3 ghosts only to transform him into a loving compassionate person. We find that in the end he has been successful.

Question (10): From now on I am going to be one of your most persistent guests.

a) What character of the speaker is revealed here?

b) Is Fred worthy of this attention?

Answer: a) Scrooge has realised that he has done Fan (his sister) a great wrong. He would like to correct his mistake. He therefore begins to renew his relationship with Fred his nephew.

b) Fred has been respectful and affectionate towards Scrooge. He had come to invite him for Christmas. So he is worthy of this attention from Scrooge.

Question (11): How does the entry of the Gentleman introduce the theme?

Answer: The Gentleman asks for money for charity during Christmas. Though Christmas is a season of giving, Scrooge refuses to give money. This introduces the audience to the stingy nature of Scrooge and to the fact that it is Christmas.

Question (12): Why has Jacob Marley come?

Answer: Jacob is in chains that he forged by his selfish deeds.

He has come to transform Scrooge and tell him that he will also be in chains if he continues to be selfish.

He wants to reclaim Scrooge and make him kind and religious.

Question (13): What did Scrooge regret when he saw the School Boy scene (first ghost)?

Answer: He regretted not giving some thing to the boys who sang Christmas carols.

Question (14): Who is Belle?

Answer: Belle was a nice girl who had wanted to marry Scrooge. But Scrooge rejects her, as he loves money more. Belle marries another man and leads a loving and caring family life with five children.

Question (15): What opinion of Bob Cratchit have you formed?

Answer: i) Sincere and hardworking

ii) Loyal to his master

iii) Good husband and father

iv) Takes care of Tiny Tim

v) Religious.

Question (16): How important is the role of Tiny Tim?

Answer: Tiny Tim has a gentle nature.

He has faith in God and the power of prayer.

When Scrooge sees him, he feels sorry for him. This begins the reformation of Scrooge.

Question (17): Describe Scrooge as a sinner.

Answer: i) Scrooge is harsh towards Bob Cratchit.

ii) He never gives charity.

iii) He does not believe in Christmas.

iv) He is a miser and very selfish.

Question (18): Describe Scrooge the 'saint'.

Answer: Scrooge is totally transformed by the end of the story.

He vows to take up the medical expenses of Tiny Tim.

He raises Bob Cratchit's salary.

He often visits Fred his nephew.

On Christmas Day, he sends a gift of a large Turkey to Bob's house without revealing his identity.

Question (19): What changed Scrooge from a Sinner to a Saint?

Answer: Marley's Ghost began the transformation by telling him that Mankind was more important than money.

The first Ghost began his feeling of regret by showing him his childhood and youth.

The second ghost showed him scenes of a happy family and his own loneliness. This brought repentance.

The third ghost showed him the future, his lonely dead body lying unmourned by anyone. This finally transformed him.

Question (20): Mention the various methods used to make us think of Christmas.

Answer: i) Christmas Carols.

ii) Church bells.

iii) Dinner in Bob's house.

iv) Idea of charity and happiness.

v) Sailors on the ship saying 'Merry Christmas'.

Question (21): Do you think scrooge would have needed to the three ghosts without the appearance of Jacob Marbey's ghost.

Answer: No. Scrooge would not have needed to the ghost had Jacob marley not appeared. Jacob Marley appears in chains and shows scrooge what suffering there would be after his death if scrooge did not change his way of life. He warns scrooge of the arrival of the three ghosts and tells him to listen to their advice if he wishes to escape Jacob marley's miserable fate.

Question (22): What is the theme of the play "The Christmas Carol"?

Answer: The theme of the play is that people should honor the spirit of christmas. Christmas is the time of caring and sharing and this should be observed. The drama traces the change of scrooge from a stingy, hard, unfeeling man to a generous, loving man, this transformation is possible because of the three ghosts who show his past, present and the future.

Question (23): Why do you think scrooge was what he was?

Answer: He had a very harsh childhood and had not enjoyed the love of his family. He was sent away to a boarding school by a very strict father, for four years. As a result he was an unfeeling man. He was not allowed to celebrate Christmas at home.

Question (24): Second ghost: Its all bob cratch it can afford.
1) Who is bob cratch it? What can be afford?

2) Does his family complain?

3) What is his reaction towards him employer? Hoe is it different from his wife's?

Answer: 1) Bob cratch it is an underpaid clerk in scrooge's office. He could only a small goose for Christmas.


2) His family does not complain. To them the meager goose is a grand meal. They are content with what they have and do not complain.


3) How is it different from his wife's? Bob cratch it is loyal and grateful towards Mr. Scrooge his employer. He raises a toast to his health. On the other hand his wife is bitter and angry with scrooge. She thinks he is a hard, stingy unfeeling ma

Question (25): Scrooge: Let me see some tenderness connected with a death.

1) Who is Scrooge speaking to? What has scrooge just seen?

2) What is Scrooge shown later?

Answer: 1) Scrooge is speaking to the third ghost. Who is showing him his future. Scrooge had just seen a lonely unclaimed dead body which he recognizes as his own. He has seen two men refusing to go for his funeral unless they get a free meal.

2) Later the third ghost shows scrooge bob cratchit's house where all of them are mourning tiny tim's death. Tony tim is missed by everybody after his death. Then the ghost shows scrooge a tombstone with his name written on it.

Question (26): What does scrooge mean when he says "I will live in the past, the present and the future"?

Answer: Scrooge has realized that he has been a hard stingy and unfeeling man. He promises not to repeat the mistakes of the past, change his present attitude so that his future will be happier and he will not die lovely and unmourned.

Multiple Choice Questions


Question (1): Which of these is not associated with Christmas?
1. Holly
2. Carols
3. Charity
4. Muffler
Ans: 4 Question (2): Why does scrooges dislike Christmas?
1. It's too cold
2. Christmas can be expensive
3. Christmas is noisy
4. He dislikes the pudding
Ans: 2 Question (3): Fred has come to Scrooge's home to
1. invite him home
2. wish him
3. ask for money
4. have dinner with him
Ans: 1 Question (4): How many days of Christmas vacation does Cratchit get?
1. One
2. Two
3. Three
4. Four
Ans: 1 Question (5): Marley the Ghost visits Scrooge to
1. take revenge
2. scare him
3. warn him
4. entertain him
Ans: 3 Question (6): The first Ghost is the Ghost of Christmas past and is
1. like a child with white hair
2. like a giant
3. like a fairy with wings
4. like a baby with golden hair
Ans: 1 Question (7): The first ghost takes Ebenezer to his
1. home
2. old school
3. church
4. girl friend
Ans: 2 Question (8): Fan is Fred's
1. sister
2. mother
3. friend
4. aunt
Ans: 2 Question (9): Why does scrooge tell the first Ghost that he does not wish to see anymore?
1. he regrets the past
2. he feels sorry for himself
3. he is tired
4. he is bored
Ans: 1 Question (10): What lesson does Ebenezer learn in Cratchit's house?
1. The Cratchit's are very poor
2. Tim is a cripple
3. Mother is a good cook
4. Mere money does not bring happiness
Ans: 4 Question (11): The third Ghost shows Ebenezer two men discussing his death. They express feelings of
1. regret
2. contempt
3. affection
4. blame
Ans: 2 Question (12): Why was Bob Cratchit left gasping?
1. The winter was too severe
2. His salary was raised
3. He was gifted a turkey
4. Tim became healthy
Ans: 2