A Christmas Carol Reading and Literature 8 -- Munnier

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A Christmas Carol Reading and Literature 8 --
Munnier
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Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol during
Queen Victorias (Queen of England) reign
(1837-1901)

• The celebration of Christmas was in decline
• The Industrial Revolution was taking place
  (beginning of true industry things were not
  made as much by hand but rather in factories
  involving humans and machinery)
• Workers had little time to celebrate Christmas
  emphasis was on making money, not as much on
  family

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Watch the cartoon of Christmas Carol!

• http//hk.youtube.com/watch?v-hA5T1G7rxg

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Author Charles Dickens

• Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was born in England.

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Author Charles Dickens

• When Charles was eleven years old, his father was
  sent to prison for debt.
• Charles was sent to live by himself and work in a
  warehouse where he pasted labels on bottles for
  six shillings a week.

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Charles felt abandoned and betrayed by the adults
who were supposed to take care of him he had to
quit school to supplement his familys income.
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Author Charles Dickens

• In his late teens, Dickens went to work in a law
  office, but the law was not his real calling.
• He taught himself shorthand and was able to
  report parliamentary (government) debates.
• From his excellent reputation as a reporter he
  was asked to write for publication.
• Dickens early books were often comic, but as he
  grew older he became more concerned with the
  injustices of British society.

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Setting

• Like many of Dickens' novels, A Christmas Carol
  is set mainly in London sometime in the middle of
  the 19th century (the 1800s.)

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Themes in A Christmas Carol

• Important values in life
• Poverty and wealth
• Selfishness and generosity

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Characters

• Ebenezer Scrooge - The owner of a London
  counting-house. The three spirits of Christmas
  visit him. They want to change Scrooge's greedy,
  cold-hearted approach to life.
• Bob Cratchit  -  Scrooge's clerk, a kind, very
  poor man with a large family. Though treated
  harshly by his boss, Cratchit remains a humble
  and hard-working employee.
• Tiny Tim -  Bob Cratchit's young son, crippled
  from birth.

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Characters

• Jacob Marley -  In the living world, Ebenezer
  Scrooge's equally greedy partner. He appears to
  Scrooge as a ghost hoping to save his old partner
  from suffering a similar fate.
• The Ghost of Christmas Past  -  The first spirit
  to visit Scrooge, a curiously childlike spirit.
• The Ghost of Christmas Present  -  The second
  spirit to visit Scrooge. He escorts Scrooge on a
  tour of his holiday celebrations.

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Characters

• The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come  -  The third
  and final spirit to visit Scrooge. He presents
  Scrooge with a picture of his lonely death.
• Fred -  Scrooge's nephew, a friendly man who
  loves Christmas. He invites Scrooge to his
  Christmas party every year, only to be refused by
  his uncle.
• Belle -  A beautiful woman who Scrooge loved
  deeply when he was a young man. They soon
  separated after Scrooge became consumed with
  greed and the love for wealth. (Not in our play.)

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Characters

• Mrs. Cratchit -  Bob's wife, a kind and loving
  woman.
• Mr. Fezziwig Scrooges first employer

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As you read, think about this What does it mean
to live a fulfilling life?
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Other works by Charles DickensOliver
TwistGreat ExpectationsDavid CopperfieldA Tale
of Two Cities