What drastic event happened when Charles Dickens was twelve years old?
He was removed from school and sent to work in a factory. This happened because his father was imprisoned for debt.
100
What were the four classes of society?
aristocracy, trading class, working class, poor
100
Give a synonym and antonym for INCOHERENT.
synonym - confused; antonym - clear
100
"Money does not buy happiness" is an example of a key _______ in the story.
theme
100
Name a BEFORE and AFTER quality of the protagonist of the story.
Answers will vary. Possible answer: BEFORE - greedy & mean; AFTER - generous and kind
200
When did he write A Christmas Carol, and how long did it take? How long did it take to sell out?
1843; 6 weeks; 5 days
200
Why did people try to avoid the workhouses?
The conditions in workhouses were very harsh. Families were separated, people worked long and hard hours, food was not plentiful or varied, strict routines were followed, and much more.
200
Define currency.
money in any form
200
Who is the PROTAGONIST in the story?
Ebenezer Scrooge
200
How many ghosts appear in the play?
4 (Marley, Ghost of Christmas Past, Ghost of Christmas Present, Ghost of Christmas Future)
300
Who is the Cratchit family based on?
They are based on the family of Charles Dickens when he was a boy.
300
Name one difference between rich homes and poor homes.
Rich - plumbing, gas lighting, decorated, many rooms
Poor - no plumbing, no lighting, no decorations, only 2-4 rooms, often share by multiple families
300
Which vocabulary word means "made very angry; enraged"?
infuriated
300
What are the central conflicts in this story? (Hint: There are three.)
Scrooge vs. fate, Scrooge vs. others, Scrooge vs. himself
300
Which ghost didn't speak?
the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
400
Name another book by Charles Dickens.
Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Hard Times, A Tale of Two Cities, Oliver Twist
400
What was the purpose of the Poor Law of 1834
reduce the cost of looking after the poor, take beggars off the streets, encourage poor people to work hard to support themselves
400
Use the word BRUSQUE in a sentence.
Answers will vary. Possible answer: The cranky old man spoke in a brusque way to the disrespectful teenager.
400
What is the RESOLUTION of this story?
Scrooge changes his ways and has become more generous and giving. He know celebrates Christmas and remembers the lessons he learned from the spirits.
400
What do the beggar children Hunger and Ignorance symbolize?
Hunger represents the poor and destitute that suffered everyday in Victorian London, and Ignorance represents how the upper classes preferred to deny the existence of such suffering (or didn't care about it).
500
Why did Dickens write this story?
He read a government report about child labor abuse and wrote this as a response to it. Also, he was in need of money because his story in monthly publication wasn't selling well.
500
State something interesting about children from the lower classes.
Answers will vary. Possible answers: children as young as 5 worked; given tough labor jobs; abuse was common; homelessness was common; many children didn't have parents; kids stole to get money and food
500
Which vocabulary word means "to approach and speak unpleasantly to"?
accost
500
What is the setting of this story?
London, England in the mid-1800s
500
Which character said, "The chain?...Yours was as heavy as this I wear seven years ago and you have labored to build it since."