If you are looking for the beginning of the study for A Christmas Carol then you can go HERE for a brief introduction. At the bottom of the introduction you will find the links to each section of the study guide as it becomes available. If you would like to see the growing list of available book studies available for free on this site you can go HERE. Enjoy!
Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)
What does Dickens tell his reader “must be distinctly understood” in order to understand the events of this story? (pg. 1)
What “had little influence on Scrooge”? (pg. 2)
What does the text say of Scrooge that it was “the very thing he liked” (pg. 3)
What prayer does Scrooge’s nephew utter upon walking through the door of the counting house? (pg. 3)
Scrooge said, “If I could work my will” he would see to it that, what? (pg. 4)
How does Christmastime affect many people according to Scrooge’s nephew? (pg. 5)
What career path did Scrooge suggest to his nephew after his speech? (pg. 5)
According to Scrooge, when did Marley die? (pg. 6)
About what did Scrooge say, “Besides – excuse me – I don’t know that.” (pg. 7)
What does Scrooge’s clerk do immediately after leaving the counting house? (pg. 9)
Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)
What word is repeated five times on the first page of this story and why is it important? (pg. 1)
What is Dickens’ purpose in referring to Shakespeare’s Hamlet? (pg. 2)
Why might Dickens note that “sometimes people new to the business called Scrooge Scrooge, and sometimes Marley, but he answered to both names: it was all the same to him.” (pg. 2)
How does Dickens conflate the description of the weather with his description of Scrooge? (pg. 2) What is his purpose in doing this?
What does the fact that Scrooge’s clerk was not “a man of a strong imagination” (pg. 3) have to do with his not being able to keep warm? What does Dickens mean by this?
How does the weather have a different effect on Scrooge’s nephew and what might Dickens be telling his reader in light of this? (pg. 4)
Given this exchange between Scrooge and his nephew, “‘What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You’re poor enough.’” ‘Come, then,’ returned the nephew gaily. ‘What right have you to be dismal? What reason have you to be moros? You’re rich enough.”, what truth about happiness might we infer?
In all five usages of the phrase “Good afternoon!” by Scrooge (pg. 5, 6, and 8) what does it mean?
What is meant by the statement Christmastime “is a time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.”? (pg. 7) Why does Dickens capitalize those two words?
What connection is there between the statement, “Scrooge resumed his labours with an improved opinion himself” (pg. 8) and the following statement about the weather?
Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)
Dickens uses the phrase “Once upon a time” (pg. 3) in this story. The phrase is most closely associated in literature with the genre of “fairy tales”. Is The Christmas Carol a fairy tale? Why or why not? What is the proper definition of a fairy tale?
In Scrooge’s nephew’s short speech he raises the question “if anything belonging to it [Christmas] can be apart from that”, namely, the “sacred name and origin” (pg. 5) which is Christ himself. Well, can there be anything to Christmas apart from Christ? What is left of Christmas if Christ is severed from it? Is it a desirable thing which is left?
What do you think is the best way to use our money and resources to help the poor? What do you think is not a good way to help even though it might be common and good hearted? Explain your answers.
Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)
In this story it is alluded to that the system of the day often forced the poor into prisons and workhouses which were often extremely inhumane. In many cases the poor were forced into menial labor for only meager rations. Read Leviticus 19:9-10. How does this commandment of Yahweh our God both provide the opportunity for the poor to have enough food while also encouraging them to work for their living?
Read Exodus 22:25. How would enforcing this commandment in our nation protect the poor from people like Scrooge?
Which character exhibits the truth of Proverbs 19:1 in this reading and which is condemned by the same?
Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)
Death, Light vs. Darkness, Ignorance, Joy