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 did Scrooge see “in the knocker” of his door? (pg. 10)
What would “half a dozen gas-lamps” have been insufficient to do well? (pg. 11)
What did Scrooge do that “was not his custom”? (pg. 12)
What kind of scenes are depicted on Scrooge’s fireplace? (pg. 12)
Who appears to Scrooge in his room and what does he look like? (pg. 13-14)
What is Scrooge’s initial reaction to the apparition in his room? (pg. 14)
What caused Scrooge to fall “upon his knees” and clasp “his hands before his face”? (pg. 15)
What is “required of every man” according to the ghost? (pg. 15-16)
According to the ghost, who put the chains upon him which he wears? (pg. 16)
What, according to the ghost, was (or should have been) his real business in life? (pg. 17)
What did the ghost give as its purpose in coming to Scrooge? (pg. 18)
What did Scrooge see outside his window? (pg. 19)
What word, usually so easily drawn from Scrooge’s lips, did he not find in his capacity to utter after this encounter with the ghost? (pg. 20)
Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)
Why might Dickens note that Scrooge lives where Marley used to? (pg. 10)
What four facts does Dickens establish, concerning the incident of Scrooge and the door knocker, and why does he take pains to do so? (pg. 10)
What word does Dickens repeat five times on page 12 and why is it important?
Dickens stated that the bell, which began to ring, was connected to “a chamber in the highest story of the building” (pg. 12-13) and that it was followed by “a clanking noise deep down below…in the wine-merchant’s cellar.” (pg. 13) Why would Dickens be specific about these two locations?
Dickens notes that Scrooge “heard the noise”, he “looked the phantom through and through, and saw it standing before him” and also that Scrooge “felt the chilling influence”. (pg. 13) What is Dickens trying to do and why?
What should we make of the fact that Marley tells Scrooge to “ask me who I was” rather than who he is? (pg. 14)
The ghost is described as having an “infernal glow” and although the ghost itself is still “its hair, and skirts, and tassels, were still agitated as by the hot vapour from an oven.” (pg. 15) What is Dickens suggesting about the state of this ghost?
Dickens emphasizes that in his former life the ghost had “free will”, repeating that phrase twice, but on the same page the ghost uses the term “cannot” four times and once says “nor can I”. (pg. 16) How should we understand this contrast presented to us?
Compare Scrooge’s use of the term “business” when talking to the men collecting for the poor (pg. 7) with that of the Ghost’s use of the term “business”. (pg. 17) How does what the Ghost says here speak against Scrooge’s understanding?
Throughout Scrooge’s encounter with the ghost Dickens never uses pronouns like “he” or “him” but rather calls the ghost “it”. Why would he do that?
How is nature personified throughout all of Stave 1? Give some examples.
Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)
What is the difference between ignorance and unbelief? How do we see unbelief in Scrooge’s character? Do you think his unbelief is justified? Why or why not?
Marley said to Scrooge, “What evidence would you have of my reality, beyond that of your senses?” (pg. 14) Are our senses the only thing at our disposal to perceive reality? If yes, why do you think so? If no, what else would you say there is?
Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)
Read Luke 16:19-31. How might you relate this passage to Stave 1 as a whole? How many connections can you make to what Scripture says here to elements of the story thus far?
Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)
Courage, Unbelief, Light vs. Darkness, Ignorance, Hope, Friendship