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 brief stops did Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present make after leaving the Cratchit’s before arriving at Fred’s? Briefly describe each scene. (pg. 52-54)
What does Dickens want you to do if you know someone like Fred? (pg. 55)
How is Fred’s wife described? (pg. 55)
Who does Topper have his eye on? (pg. 56)
What “chance” does Fred intend to offer Scrooge? (pg. 57)
What entertainments do the guests at Fred’s home take part in? (pg. 57-59)
What “was an outrage on the credulity of human nature”? (pg. 58)
What was the correct answer to Fred’s game of “yes and no”? (pg. 59)
What effect did the scene at Fred’s party have on his “uncle Scrooge”? (pg. 60)
What did Scrooge notice about the appearance of the Ghost of Christmas Present towards the end of their day together? (pg. 60)
What was hidden underneath the Ghost’s robes? (pg. 61)
What happened at the stroke of twelve? (pg. 62)
Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)
What was the Ghost’s purpose in taking Scrooge to all of those various brief scenes of Christmas in more remote parts? Why was it important? (pg. 52-54)
What does Dickens mean by calling the group of “handsome girls…artful witches”? (pg. 52)
The Spirit “bade” Scrooge to “hold his robe” (pg. 53) as he did before (pg. 42). What is the reason for this?
What did Fred mean by saying Scrooge’s “offences carry their own punishment”? (pg. 55) How is this clearly true in the story?
Why does the music which Scrooge’s niece (by marriage) plays have a softening effect on Scrooge? (pg. 57)
Fred toasts his uncle Scrooge’ (pg. 59-60), as did Bob Cratchit before him (pg. 51), what should we make of the fact that this has happened twice on the same day?
What are we to make of the characters “Ignorance” and “Want”? (pg. 61) Is it significant that they were hidden under the robes of Christmas Present?
How many times throughout all of Stave 3 are full fireplaces mentioned? What is Dickens’ purpose in so often drawing our attention to this?
Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)
When Dickens was describing the crew of men out at sea on Christmas he stated that “every man on board, waking or sleeping, good or bad, had had a kinder word for another on that day than on any day in the year; and had shared to some extent in its festivities; and had remembered those he cared for at a distance, and had known that they delighted to remember him.” (pg. 54) Do you think Christmas really has this kind of effect on people, to cause them to behave more kindly? Why or why not? If not, do you think that maybe it once did? Explain your answer fully and make your case.
Fred is notable, in part, for his laughter and its effect on those around him. (pg. 55) There is an old adage that says “laughter is the best medicine.” What truth, if any, is there in this idea? How important is it to be able to laugh and enjoy life even when it is hard? Defend your answer with good reason and examples.
Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)
Read Exodus 12. Why do we have feasts and celebrations? What purpose do they serve?
Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)
Family, Music, Joy, love