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)
How does Dickens describe the Ghost of Christmas Future? (pg. 63-64)
By what means does the ghost communicate with Scrooge? (pg. 64)
What is the subject matter of the conversation Scrooge first overhears with the Ghost? (pg. 64-65)
What made Scrooge “inclined to be surprised” by the Ghost’s showing him this conversation? (pg. 66)
What was the next scene the Ghost of Christmas Future showed to Scrooge? (pg. 67-70)
What, referring to the deceased man, is said to be “a judgment on him”? (pg. 68)
What items did the man (the undertaker) take from the dead man? (pg. 69)
What items did Mrs. Dilber (the laundress) take from the dead man? (pg. 69)
What items did the last woman (the charwoman) take from the dead man? (pg. 69-70)
Where did the Spirit take Scrooge after this? (pg. 70-72)
How did the couple on pages 72-73 benefit from the death of the man?
Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)
The Ghost of Christmas Future is dark, indistinct, and silent. Why is it portrayed this way? (pg. 63-64)
Speaking of the businessmen on pg. 65 the text says Scrooge always “made a point of standing well in their esteem: in a business point of view, that is; strictly in a business point of view.” What does this infer that Scrooge had not cared about?
Why do the three visitors to the shop in the bad part of town stare at each other in “blank astonishment” and then “burst into a laugh”? (pg. 67)
Joe says to the charwoman “you were born to make your fortune… and you’ll certainly do it.” What did he mean by that? (pg. 69)
Consider the paragraph that begins, “Oh, cold, cold, rigid, dreadful death…” (pg. 71) What is Dickens trying to communicate to the reader in this paragraph?
Scrooge asks to be shown “any person in the town, who feels emotion caused by this man’s death”. (pg. 72) What is he hoping to see and what does he see instead?
Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)
Scrooge said to the Ghost of Christmas Future, “I fear you more than any Spectre I have seen.” (pg. 64) What causes fear? When should we be afraid and when should we not?
In this story there is a dark scene of three people selling goods they stole from a deceased man. Graverobbing is an abhorred crime, potentially more abhorrent to many than stealing from the living. Why do you think that is? Which is actually worse in your opinion and why?
Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)
How does Exodus 20:15 condemn the actions of those in this reading?
Read Deuteronomy 28:25-26. How does this condemnation upon unfaithful Israel relate to our current reading?
Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)
Fear, Wisdom, Light vs. Darkness