Characters
This grumpy old man is the main character of the story.
Who is Ebenezer Scrooge?
Scrooge is first visited by this ghostly figure on Christmas Eve.
Who is Jacob Marley?
Scrooge’s signature phrase expressing annoyance at Christmas.
What is “Bah! Humbug!”
Scrooge represents this major theme early in the story.
What is greed (or selfishness)?
Dickens divides A Christmas Carol into these sections rather than chapters.
What are staves?
He is Scrooge’s underpaid and overworked clerk.
Who is Bob Cratchit?
The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge this joyful event hosted by Scrooge’s former boss.
What is Fezziwig’s Christmas party?
Tiny Tim’s famous hopeful line.
What is “God bless us, every one!”
The three spirits symbolize this overall idea about self-improvement.
What is the possibility of redemption/change?
This stave introduces Scrooge and shows his cold personality.
What is Stave One?
This ghost warns Scrooge to change his ways before it’s too late.
Who is Jacob Marley?
Scrooge watches the Cratchit family share this holiday meal.
What is Christmas dinner?
Scrooge says this line to show his vow to live differently after his transformation.
What is “I will honor Christmas in my heart”?
Tiny Tim symbolizes this quality that contrasts Scrooge’s attitude.
What is innocence/hope/kindness?
The Ghost of Christmas Present appears in this stave.
What is Stave Three?
She breaks her engagement to Scrooge because of his growing love of money.
Who is Belle?
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge people stealing and selling items from this place.
What is Scrooge’s house?
Scrooge angrily says this when asked to donate to charity and help the poor.
What is “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”
The chains worn by Marley represent this.
What is the burden of one’s choices (or consequences of greed)?
Scrooge sees the Cratchit family mourning Tiny Tim in this stave.
What is Stave Four?
This minor but symbolic pair of children is revealed from beneath the Ghost of Christmas Present’s robe.
Who are Ignorance and Want?
At the end of the story, Scrooge sends a boy to buy this for the Cratchit family.
What is the prize turkey?
In a moment of fear, Scrooge begs the last spirit saying, “Assure me that…” what?
“I yet may change these shadows you have shown me.”
This repeated symbol represents warmth, family, and emotional richness—something Scrooge lacks early on.
What is fire/heat/light?
The final stave depicts Scrooge’s transformation and new attitude.
What is Stave Five?