Text Read by Patrick Stewart Varied Online Versions of "A Christmas Carol" Other Links | Humbug transformation redemption blame/guilt motivation (fear/reward) Pre-Reading: A Christmas Carol Trivia
Guiding QuestionsIn what way is A Christmas Carol an allegory? What are the symbolic meanings of the main characters? Answer: A Christmas Carol is an allegory in that it features events and characters with a clear, fixed symbolic meaning. In the novella, Scrooge represents all the values that are opposed to the idea of Christmas--greed, selfishness, and a lack of goodwill toward one's fellow man. The Ghost of Christmas Past, with his glowing head symbolizing the mind, represents memory; the Ghost of Christmas Present represents generosity, empathy, and the Christmas spirit; and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come represents the fear of death and moral reckoning. The Cratchits represent the poor, whom Dickens portrays with warmth and sympathy while seeking to draw attention to their plight. How does the time scheme of A Christmas Carolfunction? Why might Dickens have chosen to structure his book in this way? Answer: Time is very important in A Christmas Carol,which is structurally centered around distinct elements of Past, Present, and Future. But, the time scheme of the story itself seems to make little sense. On Christmas Eve, Jacob Marley's ghost tells Scrooge that he will be visited by three ghosts on three successive nights. On Christmas morning, Scrooge awakes, having already been visited by all three ghosts. The three nights seem to be compressed into a single night. The presence of the spirits apparently bends the normal flow of time. A view further supported by the fact that Scrooge goes to bed at two o'clock in the morning after Marley's visitation and awakes at midnight the same night--two hours after he fell asleep. Dickens uses the temporal inconsistencies to emphasize the supernatural powers of the spirits--when they are around, normal earthly standards, including the flow of time, have no effect.
What role does social criticism play in A Christmas Carol? To what extent is the story a social commentary? Answer: Social Commentary--particularly those statements directed at the Poor Laws governing the lower classes during Dickens' time--plays an important but not a central role in A Christmas Carol. Dickens often uses Scrooge as a mouthpiece to express the more callous justifications and excuses used to defend the harsh treatment of the poor. Malthus' theory that anyone who could not support himself did not have a right to live is a good example of these outrageous claims. Asked whether he wishes to sup port a charity, Scrooge replies that he does support charities--prisons and workhouses, which are all the charity the poor need. Dickens harshly criticizes these attitudes and presents a highly sympathetic view of the poor through his depiction of the Cratchits. On the whole, however, the numerous messages of A Christmas Carol expand far beyond this narrow political critique of Victorian society.
Other Questions:
Compare and contrast the three spirits who visit Scrooge. What are their main similarities? What are their main differences? Do their differences have any thematic significance? (Why, for instance, do they look and dress so differently?)
Compare and contrast the movie with the book. A Christmas Carol, probably the most popular piece of fiction that Dickens ever wrote, was published in 1843. Dickens's Life When Writing A Christmas Carol
Popularity of A Christmas CarolA Christmas Carol was the most successful book of the 1843 holiday season. By Christmas it sold six thousand copies and it continued to be popular into the new year. Eight stage adaptations were in production within two months of the book's publication. The book is as popular today as it was over 150 years ago. Charles Dickens, through the voice of Scrooge, continues to urge us to honor Christmas in our hearts and try to keep it all the year. Ragged SchoolsDickens was involved in charities and social issues throughout his entire life. At the time that he wrote A Christmas Carol he was very concerned with impoverished children who turned to crime and delinquency in order to survive. "This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want." Dickens, as well as others, thought that education could provide a way to a better life for these children. The Ragged School movement put these ideas into action. The schools provided free education for children in the inner-city. The movement got its name from the way the children attending the school were dressed. They often wore tattered or ragged clothing. Themes of A Christmas CarolScrooge's transformation is legendary. At the beginning of the story he's a greedy, selfish person . " . . . every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart." to the man who "knew how to keep Christmas well" Initially Scrooge is a miser who shows a decided lack of concern for the rest of mankind. However after a ghostly night, Scrooge sees life in a whole new way. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Beyond merely urging his readers to not be miserly Dickens seems to be reminding us of the importance in taking notice of the lives of those around us. "It is required of every man," the ghost returned, "that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; and, if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death." Dickens had this to say about A Christmas Carol: I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it. chairns ghost of yet to come - death ghost of Christmas past - enlightenment or truth ghost of Christmas present - Christmas spirit tiny Tim (his employs son - bob cratchits kid) - consequence's or optimism turkey (that he buys for bob cratchit and his family) - generosity bed curtains - life church bells - god Fred (his nephew) - joy or second chances fan (his sister) - hope or reuniting OR 1) Scrooge: penny 2) Marley: chain 3) Ghost of Christmas Past: candle 4) Belle: locket (I chose this because we often keep the picture of someone we loved but no longer have in a locket) 5) Fezzywig: punch glass 6) Ghost of Christmas Present: cornucopia (you can make one from a basket) 7) Bob Cratchit: quill pen 8) Tiny Tim: crutch 9) Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: skeletal hand 10) Scrooge's death: headstone 11) Fred: Music 12) Scrooge's transformation: turkey 13) Christmas: wreath 14) Letting man's spirit walk among his fellow man: show 15) Reminder of redemption: tiny chain bracelet OR 1 one lump of coal (or a rock painted black) to symbolize how stingy Scrooge is with the heat 2 a pair of moth-eaten knitted gloves to represent poor Bob Cratchit 3 a door knocker 4 a long chain (for Marley) 5 a clock set at 1:00 6 a holly branch (for the 1st spirit) 7 a bunch of flowers (for the 1st spirit) 8 an old school book to represent young Ebenezer 9a ring to represent his lost love 10 a bowl full of nuts and fruit and candy (for the 2nd spirit) 11 a sprig of mistletoe and a length of ivy (for the 2nd spirit) 12 a crutch 13 a homemade Christmas ornament to represent the Cratchit family 14 a Bible opened to the nativity story in Luke 15 an old suit coat with pockets turned inside out 16 a Christmas card signed "Merry Christmas! Ebenezer Scrooge" Source(s):http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_some_symbols_in_the_story_of_a_Christmas_carol http://www.enotes.com/christmas-carol/discuss/what-16-symbols-tht-you-can-use-tell-christma-12179 |
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