A Synopsis
This timeless story takes place in the Victorian Era in London England. It is about Ebenezer Scrooge a wealthy, greedy unkind man who really only cares for himself. One Christmas Eve, which seemed to be ordinary, turned out to be a night full of spooks and lessons learned.
Maybe it was Scrooge’s cold heart, or his selfishness that brought on the ghosts that visited him that night. His old business partner and friend Jacob Marley was the first of four ghosts. Jacob told him of the ghosts to come and that if he did not change his ways he would end up like him, dead and alone eternally walking the earth with nowhere to rest.
Sure enough the ghosts came and went with lessons and words of wisdom. The ghost of Christmas Past showed Scrooge far off places that jogged his memory. Times when Scrooge was a boy and left alone at school, and when he had grown older and found his first love, Belle.
The Ghost of Christmas Present took Scrooge across the city showing him people that her knew. These people were enjoying each other and the holiday cheer, even though they were not nearly as wealthy as Scrooge. Then the Ghost showed Scrooge people that he didn’t know and how they celebrated Christmas even though they were the most unfortunate.
The last ghost was the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. This ghost was the most revealing to Scrooge, even though he did not speak a word. He showed Scrooge that people would not mourn the death of mean greedy Scrooge, but did mourn sweet, poor Tiny Tim. This touched Scrooge and he decided that it was not too late to change future Christmas’s yet to come. He awoke on Christmas morning a kind, grateful man with a kind and grateful heart and soul.
…Michelle Reynoso |
Vocabulary in” A Christmas Carol”
1. Benevolence-goodwill or kindness
2. Covetous-Marked by extreme desire to acquire or possess
3. Implore-To mare an earnest appeal: To beg for urgently; entreat
4. Lamentation-expression of deep sorrow
5. Resolute-Firm or determined; unwavering.
6. Solitary-Existing, living, or going without others; alone
7. Trifle-Something of little importance or value
8. Aspiration-A strong desire for high achievement. 2. Expulsion of breath in speech
9. Avarice-greed
10. Fraught-filled
11. Jocund-cheerful, happy
12. Loath-unwilling or reluctant; disinclined
13. Adamant-unyeilding
14. Desolation-ruin and waste
15. Avarice-Immoderate desire for wealth
16. Beseech-To request earnestly; beg for:
17. Dwindle-To become gradually less until little remains.
18. Foreshadowed-To present an indication or a suggestion of beforehand; presage.
19. Immortal-lasting forever
20. Strive-To exert much effort or energy; endeavor.
21. Amends-To change for the better; improve.
22. Endeavor-A conscientious or concerted effort toward an end; an earnest attempt
23. Hearty-Expressed warmly, exuberantly, and unrestrainedly
24. Jiffy-A short space of time; a moment.
25. Pang-A sudden sharp spasm of pain. A sudden, sharp feeling of emotional distress
26. Poulterer-one that deals in poultry
27. Recompense-To award compensation for; make a return for
28. Haunted-troubled
29. Idle-inactive; lazy
30. Spectacles-glasses
31. Chamber-room
32. Phantom-ghost
33. Apparition-ghost
34. Ignorance-lack of knowledge
35. Want-desire |
Why Charles Dickens Wrote A Christmas Carol
By Eddie Duran
Author Charles Dickens grew up in a poor family in 19th century London. His father was thrown into jail for not being able to pay his debts and he worked long hours labeling pots of boot polish. His own experiences made him sensitive to the plight of other poor people.
He became an outspoken critic of the conditions that existed for the poor, the sick, the elderly and orphans, especially through his writing. He wrote A Christmas Carol after the summer of 1843, which he spent teaching in a program that provided basic instruction to poor children. Barely clothed, hungry and already turning to a life of thieving, these children would inspire a central image for A Christmas Carol: the two children Ignorance and Want.
Dickens announced that the story would hit his readers over the head like a “sledge-hammer.” In fact, only one of ten people in Victorian England could read, but legend has it that each person who read A Christmas Carol went out and read it to many other anxious listeners. These retellings became the first “adaptations” of the beloved story. Today, A Christmas Carol has been loved by millions of people all over the world, not only as a novel, but also in plays and films.
Discussion or a Writing Project: Today, how can we help make lives better for all children? Here in America and all around the world? |
But why a Ghost Story
at Christmas?
Most of us associate ghost stories with Halloween or with cozy nights by the camp fire, but at Christmas? This may seem strange, but in 1843 telling ghost stories at Christmas was as typical as hanging Christmas lights on the house. Furthermore, monster and ghost stories were considered excellent tools for instructing children towards the path of virtue. Think about this and how it relates to Scrooge. Was Scrooge scared straight?
GHOST STORY STARTER Finish this ghost story in your own words:
It was a dark, moonlit night and the wind was howling. The door creaked open, then shut with a bang. I felt a cold shiver run down my spine as I crept down the stairs. In the moonlight, I saw…(The children can write a finish or the children can sit in a circle and add to the story one by one out loud.) |
