A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens- Plot

Stave 1- Exposition

  • Reader is introduced to Scrooge (full characterization)

Important Plot Events:

  1. Scrooge’s nephew (Fred) invites Scrooge to Christmas dinner. Fred is happy and joyous and Scrooge rudely says, “no”.
  2. Two gentlemen visit the Counting House asking for donations for the poor. Scrooge believes the poor belong in prisons and workhouses and if they’d rather die than go there, then they should just die.
  3. A young, hungry, poor boy comes to the door of the counting house to sing a song for money, but Scrooge threatens him with a ruler and the child runs away.
  4. Marley’s ghost appears to Scrooge to explain that he will get a chance at redemption through the visit of three spirits over the next three nights.

Stave 2- Rising Action

  • The plot starts moving forward (Ghost of Christmas Past)

Important Plot Events:

  1. The reader is taken to Scrooge’s school. Scrooge is all alone over the holiday with only the characters from his books. *First regret- the way he treated the little caroler boy
  2. The reader stays at the school as Scrooge becomes a teenager. Fan comes to take Scrooge home. *Second regret- how he treats Fred
  3. The reader goes with Scrooge and the spirit to a Christmas Eve party thrown by Fezziwig for his employees, friend, and family. *Third regret- how he treats his clerk
  4. Belle breaks up with him because money is more important to Scrooge than her. *Fourth regret- letting Belle leave without fighting for her
  5. The reader sees Belle’s family, her beautiful daughter and a house full of kids. Scrooge gets to see that Belle and her husband pity him. That is more than he can take. *Fifth regret- that family could have been his
  6. A broken Scrooge returns to his bedroom with the spirit and pulls the cap down over the spirit’s light. Scrooge then falls into bed, emotionally exhausted.

Stave 3- Rising Action continues

  • The plot continues to move toward something (Ghost of Christmas Present)

Important Plot Events:

  1. The spirit takes Scrooge to Bob Cratchit’s house where he is having Christmas dinner with his whole family (Martha, Belinda, Peter, 2 young kids, and Tiny Tim). They have enough (goose, pudding) and are content with each other. There is a toast proposed by Bob to “the founder of the feast” (Scrooge) which make Mrs. Cratchit angry.

*the spirit uses Scrooge’s words against him: Tiny Tim = surplus population; this makes Scrooge ashamed

2. The Spirit takes Scrooge to different places around London (mining camp, lighthouse, ship at sea) to show him that his definition of being happy and being worth of happiness are all wrong. You don’t need money to have hope and appreciation.

3. Now they head to Fred’s house for a Christmas party. Scrooge is the butt of the joke, but he enjoys himself and seems unfazed by their teasing. Fred toasts “Uncle Scrooge” thanking him for providing them with much enjoyment.

4. The Spirit shows Scrooge Ignorance and Want- the wretched children that symbolize the poor and the shabby treatment they receive by society. The spirit uses Scrooge’s words against him again, “Are there no prisons or workhouses?” Scrooge is again ashamed of his former self.

5. As the Stave Ends, a phantom is moving toward Scrooge.

Stave 4- Rising Action and Climax (Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come)

Important Plot Events:

  1. Business men talking about a funeral that no one wants to go to (unless there is lunch provided)
  2. Pawn shop- where dead man’s stolen items are being sold (bed curtains, blankets, shirt).

*no one was with body to mourn/protect him

  1. Spirit takes Scrooge to the body of the dead man- wants Scrooge to uncover the face- Scrooge doesn’t “…have the power.”
  2. Scrooge asks for some emotion associated with THE death- he is shown “pleasure” because a family’s debt was extended due to the man’s death.
  3. Scrooge asks for tenderness associated with A death- we are shown Tiny Tim’s death
  4. CLIMAX: Spirit takes Scrooge to the graveyard- points to the grave with a trembling hand- Scrooge begs to be told if this can be changed. He sees his name on the headstone. The spirit disappears and Scrooge is back in his room.

Stave 5- Falling Action and Resolution

Important Plot Events:

  1. Scrooge feels “…as light as a feather” and promises to live in the past, present and future.
  2. Scrooge discovers that it is Christmas Day and the spirits only took 1 night to teach him the lessons.
  3. Scrooge calls out the window and gets a “very intelligent boy” to go get the prize turkey. He then pays to have it sent anonymously to the Cratchits and gets much joy from doing this.
  4. Scrooge walks the streets of London taking pleasure in everything. He comes across the portly gentleman (charity worker) that had come to the counting house asking for donations for the poor. Scrooge promises the man a large donation and both walk away happy.
  5. Scrooge gathers up his courage and goes to Fred’s house for dinner. Scrooge is worried he may not be welcome, but Fred makes him feel at home right away, and they have a “won-der-ful” time.
  6. Scrooge waits at the counting house the next morning to catch Bob coming late to work. Bob comes in and Scrooge pretends he’s mad, only to shock Bob by giving him a raise! Scrooge promise to help Bob’s family, Tiny Tim lives, and Scrooge becomes a good man!