Study Guide for Staves I-II of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

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Stave I: Marley’s Ghost (pages 1-16)

Part I. “’We have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving partner,’ said the gentleman, presenting his credentials. It certainly was; for they had been two kindred spirits” (Dickens 5).

  1. What does the narrator mean by “It certainly was”?
  1. Why is it important that the reader knows Marley and Scrooge are similar?

Part II.Consider the following dialogue (adapted from page 6)

Gentleman: Many can’t go [to the workhouses and debtor’s prisons]; and many would rather
die.

Scrooge: If they would rather die, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.
Besides—excuse me—I don’t know that.

Gentleman: But you might know it.

Scrooge: It’s not my business. It’s enough for a man to understand his own business, and
not to interfere with other people’s. Mine occupies me constantly. Good afternoon, gentlemen!

  1. What is Scrooge’s attitude towards the poor?
  1. What does Marley’s ghost say about business on page 14 that counters Scrooge’s assertion? (Write the quote and cite it properly.)
  1. In your own words, summarize what is man’s duty on earth according to Marley’s ghost (see pages 13-14).

Part III. The narrator describes Scrooge as being “incredulous” (Dickens 11), “not a man to be frightened by echoes” (Dickens 9) and as having “as little of what is called fancy about him as any man in the City of London” (Dickens 8).

  1. Why is it important that the reader knows this about Scrooge?
  1. How does it heighten the effect of having Scrooge interacting with a ghost?

Part IV. Marley’s chain is described by the narrator on page 11 and then explained by Marley on page 13.

  1. Write down both quotes and cite them properly.
  1. Based on these quotes, what does the chain symbolize?

Stave II: The First of the Three Spirits (pages 16-31)

Part V. Scrooge’s Childhood

  1. What change occurs in Scrooge as he sees scenes from his childhood? What emotions and sentiments does he express? Be specific.
  1. What does Scrooge regret on page 22? Why do you think he feels this way?

Part VI. A foil is a character that contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) and so highlights various facets of the main character's personality. A foil usually has some important characteristics in common with the other character, such as, frequently, superficial traits or personal history. The author may use the foil to throw the character of the protagonist into sharper relief.

  1. How is Fezziwig a foil for Scrooge? Consider what they have in common and how they are different. (See pages 24-26).
  1. What epiphany (an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure) does Scrooge have after being reminded of Fezziwig? (see the bottom of page 26)
  1. Predict: How do you think this will change Scrooge’s behavior towards Bob Cratchit, his clerk?

Part VII. Consider pages 27-28 where Scrooge’s fiancée is breaking up with him.

  1. How is Scrooge’s face described? (Quote and cite properly).
  1. The girl says, “You fear the world too much” (Dickens 27). What does she mean by this?
  1. Do you think she is correct in her assessment of Scrooge’s problem? Explain.
  1. Summarize the reasons she gives for breaking up with him.
  1. Evaluate: Do you think she made the right choice? Explain.

Part VIII. MLA Works Cited Practice

  1. Write the correct works cited entry for this book. Use the following format.

Author’s last name, First name. Title of the Book. Place of Publication: Publisher, Date.

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