Stave 1
Why do two portly gentlemen visit Scrooge?
To ask for a charitable donation
Why does Dickens show us Scrooge's lonely childhood?
To make readers feel sorry for Scrooge and understand how his past shaped him
Scrooge desperately wants to join in the games and festivities at Fred's party. What does this desire reveal?
Scrooge is beginning to realize he's missing companionship, joy, and connection
How does Scrooge likely feel when he discovers that people are grateful the dead man is gone because they owed him money?
Shocked and horrified at how he was perceived
Examine Scrooge's visit to Fred's house for Christmas dinner. Why is this moment particularly important to his transformation? What does Fred's reaction tell us about the power of forgiveness and family?
It shows that Scrooge has changed and that Fred is accepting of him.
What does Marley's chain symbolize?
The burden of his greed and selfishness in life
How does Fan's character reveal something important about Scrooge's past?
She shows that Scrooge was once capable of loving relationships and being loved
Fred says Scrooge's "offenses carry their own punishment." What does Fred mean by this?
Scrooge's mean behavior punishes himself by making him lonely and unhappy
What is a key difference between how people mourn Tiny Tim versus how they respond to Scrooge's death?
Tiny Tim is mourned with genuine love and sorrow; Scrooge's death brings relief or indifference
Dickens writes that Scrooge "knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge." What does it mean to "keep Christmas well" according to the story? How is this different from simply celebrating the holiday?
He had a positive and generous spirit. Christmas became his "thing."
According to Marley, what is Scrooge's chain like?
Even longer and heavier than Marley's chain
Why does Scrooge have such a hard time watching the scenes from the past?
He is forced to see the person he once was and the happiness he lost
Fred makes a toast to Scrooge at his party, even though Scrooge rejected his invitation. What does this reveal about Fred's character?
Fred is kind, forgiving, and believes family is important despite differences
How does Scrooge's reaction to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come differ from his reactions to previous spirits?
He is more fearful and desperate, showing his character development
In Stave 5, why does Scrooge feel uncertain and overwhelmed about how to act?
He has spent his whole life focused on money, not kindness, and must learn a new way of living
Even though Scrooge has a bigger fire than his clerk, the text suggests his clerk is warmer. This is because:
Scrooge is emotionally cold and miserable
Why did Scrooge pity his former self in Stave Two?
Because he was left alone at school during the holidays
Fred's guests play games and laugh together, including the game where they mock Scrooge without knowing he's there. How do you think Scrooge feels watching people laugh at him? Why doesn't he get angry like he normally would?
He doesn't get upset because he is realizing the validity of their opinions and he wants to change.
What do the items stolen from Scrooge's home after his death suggest about how he lived?
He lived without meaningful relationships or respect from others
What does Scrooge's encounter with the gentleman he refused in Stave 1 reveal about his transformation?
He now understands charity and generosity, offering a large donation
What does Marley's ghost tell Scrooge will happen next?
Three spirits will visit him
Describe the spirit that appeared in Scrooge’s room in Stave 2. What is its name?
The Ghost of Christmas Past appears as a strange, childlike figure with a glowing head like a bright light, with a cap under its arm that could extinguish its light.
What kinds of thoughts and feelings do you think Scrooge is having when he hears Bob Cratchit's family talking about him over dinner?
Scrooge likely feels shame, guilt, and discomfort hearing the Cratchits' mixture of gratitude and resentment toward him, realizing how his miserly behavior affects good people who depend on him yet still show grace and kindness despite his cruelty.
Why does Dickens show Scrooge the Cratchit family mourning Tiny Tim before revealing Scrooge's own fate?
To contrast genuine love and loss with a lonely, unmourned death
How does Scrooge handle Bob Cratchit arriving late to work differently than before?
He playfully scolds him then raises his salary, showing compassion over strictness