Stave 1, part 1
1. List 3 things that prove the setting is England, 1843.
2. Give 2 examples from the text that proves Scrooge’s lifestyle is inconsistent with his
wealth.
3. Do you think Scrooge enjoys life? Give 1 example from the text to support your
answer.
4. Why did Fred come to visit Scrooge? Provide support.
5. What did Scrooge think should happen to anyone who goes around saying “Merry
Christmas”?
6. Who said, “I have always thought of Christmas time ...as a good time; a kind,
forgiving, charitable, pleasant time....And...though it has never put a scrap of
gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good.”?
7. Why did the two portly gentlemen go see Scrooge? Provide support.
8. Scrooge and his visitors had different opinions about prisons and workhouses.
Explain those two very different viewpoints with evidence from the text.
9. What did Scrooge say when the men said many people would rather die than go to
the poorhouse?
10. Explain the quote: “Want is keenly felt and Plenty rejoices.”
11. Why was Scrooge irritated with his clerk (Bob Cratchit) at closing time? Provide
support.
12. What comparison is there between Scrooge’s personality/attitude and the weather?
Provide support.
13. Identify the type of humor in the following examples: (euphemism, hyperbole, pun,
sarcasm/irony, satire, understatement).
a. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office
in the dog days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas.
b. “You’re quite a powerful speaker, sir,” he [Scrooge] added, turning to his
nephew. “I wonder you don’t go into Parliament.”
c. Scrooge said that he would see him [his nephew] -- yes, indeed, he did. He
went the whole length of the expression, and said that he would see him
in that extremity first.
14. Authors use allusions for a number of purposes. The following list gives an idea of
some of those purposes:
a. to make a story more realistic/believable
b. to make an idea/image easier to perceive
c. to give the reader the flavor of a particular era
d. to establish a character’s attitude/personality
e. to convey the mood of a scene
Why does Dickens include the following allusions:
a. “There’s another fellow,” muttered Scrooge, who overheard him; “my
clerk, with fifteen shillings a week and a wife and family, talking
about a merry Christmas. I’ll retire to Bedlam.”
b. Piercing, searching, biting cold. If the good Saint Dunstan had but
nipped the Evil Spirit’s nose with a touch of such weather as that,
instead of using his familiar weapons, then, indeed, he would have
roared to lusty purpose.
1. List 3 things that prove the setting is England, 1843.
2. Give 2 examples from the text that proves Scrooge’s lifestyle is inconsistent with his
wealth.
3. Do you think Scrooge enjoys life? Give 1 example from the text to support your
answer.
4. Why did Fred come to visit Scrooge? Provide support.
5. What did Scrooge think should happen to anyone who goes around saying “Merry
Christmas”?
6. Who said, “I have always thought of Christmas time ...as a good time; a kind,
forgiving, charitable, pleasant time....And...though it has never put a scrap of
gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good.”?
7. Why did the two portly gentlemen go see Scrooge? Provide support.
8. Scrooge and his visitors had different opinions about prisons and workhouses.
Explain those two very different viewpoints with evidence from the text.
9. What did Scrooge say when the men said many people would rather die than go to
the poorhouse?
10. Explain the quote: “Want is keenly felt and Plenty rejoices.”
11. Why was Scrooge irritated with his clerk (Bob Cratchit) at closing time? Provide
support.
12. What comparison is there between Scrooge’s personality/attitude and the weather?
Provide support.
13. Identify the type of humor in the following examples: (euphemism, hyperbole, pun,
sarcasm/irony, satire, understatement).
a. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office
in the dog days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas.
b. “You’re quite a powerful speaker, sir,” he [Scrooge] added, turning to his
nephew. “I wonder you don’t go into Parliament.”
c. Scrooge said that he would see him [his nephew] -- yes, indeed, he did. He
went the whole length of the expression, and said that he would see him
in that extremity first.
14. Authors use allusions for a number of purposes. The following list gives an idea of
some of those purposes:
a. to make a story more realistic/believable
b. to make an idea/image easier to perceive
c. to give the reader the flavor of a particular era
d. to establish a character’s attitude/personality
e. to convey the mood of a scene
Why does Dickens include the following allusions:
a. “There’s another fellow,” muttered Scrooge, who overheard him; “my
clerk, with fifteen shillings a week and a wife and family, talking
about a merry Christmas. I’ll retire to Bedlam.”
b. Piercing, searching, biting cold. If the good Saint Dunstan had but
nipped the Evil Spirit’s nose with a touch of such weather as that,
instead of using his familiar weapons, then, indeed, he would have
roared to lusty purpose.