A christmas carol
Dear students,
Read and listen to a christmas carol (links below) by Charles Dickens then choose two of the following questions and answer them.Write your answers on the comment section in the end of the blog .In this way you will be able to see each others' questions and get feedback. Questions:
1. Describe Ebenezer Scrooge. How is he as a person?
2. What does Scrooge refuse to spend money on in the chapter 1 of the story? Why do you think he does that?
3. What does "humbug" mean?
4. What does Scrooge see in his door gets home from work in Chapter 1?
5. Why is Marley's ghost wearing chains?
6. Why is Marley's ghost visiting Scrooge?
7. Describe the Ghost of Christmas Past.
8. Who is Belle? Why is the Ghost of Christmas Past bringing Scrooge to her?
https://esl-bits.net/ESL.
https://esl-bits.net/ESL.
https://esl-bits.net/ESL.
Chapter 5: The End of It
Yes! and the bedpost was his own. The bed was his own, the room was his own. Best and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own, to make amends in!
‘I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.’ Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed. ‘The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Oh, Jacob Marley, Heaven, and the Christmas Time be praised for this. I say it on my knees, old Jacob, on my knees.’
He was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions, that his broken voice would scarcely answer to his call. He had been sobbing violently in his conflict with the Spirit, and his face was wet with tears.
‘They are not torn down!’ cried Scrooge, folding one of his bed-curtains in his arms, ‘they are not torn down, rings and all. They are here — I am here — the shadows of the things that would have been, may be dispelled. They will be! I know they will.’
His hands were busy with his garments all this time; turning them inside out, putting them on upside down, tearing them, mislaying them, making them parties to every kind of extravagance.
‘I don’t know what to do!’ cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath; and making a perfect Laocoon of himself with his stockings. ‘I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy! I am as giddy as a drunken man! A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!’
He had frisked into the sitting-room, and was now standing there: perfectly winded.
‘There’s the saucepan that the gruel was in,’ cried Scrooge, starting off again, and going round the fireplace. ‘There’s the door, by which the Ghost of Jacob Marley entered. There’s the corner where the Ghost of Christmas Present, sat. There’s the window where I saw the wandering Spirits. It’s all right, it’s all true, it all happened! Ha ha ha!’
Really, for a man who had been out of practice for so many years, it was a splendid laugh, a most illustrious laugh. The father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs.
‘I don’t know what day of the month it is,’ said Scrooge. ‘I don’t know how long I’ve been among the Spirits. I don’t know anything. I’m quite a baby! Never mind. I don’t care. I’d rather be a baby! Hallo! Whoop! Hallo here!’
He was checked in his transports by the churches ringing out the lustiest peals he had ever heard. Clash, clang, hammer; ding, dong, bell! Bell, dong, ding; hammer, clang, clash. Oh, glorious, glorious.
Running to the window, he opened it, and put out his head. No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. Oh, glorious. Glorious.
‘What’s to-day?’ cried Scrooge, calling downward to a boy in Sunday clothes, who perhaps had loitered in to look about him.
‘Eh?’ returned the boy, with all his might of wonder.
‘What’s to-day, my fine fellow?’ said Scrooge.
‘To-day?’ replied the boy. ‘Why, Christmas Day!’
‘It’s Christmas Day!’ said Scrooge to himself. ‘I haven’t missed it! The Spirits have done it all in one night. They can do anything they like. Of course they can. Of course they can. Hallo, my fine fellow!’
‘Hallo!’ returned the boy.
‘Do you know the Poulterer’s, in the next street but one, at the corner?’ Scrooge inquired.
‘I should hope I did,’ replied the lad.
‘An intelligent boy!’ said Scrooge. ‘A remarkable boy. Do you know whether they’ve sold the prize Turkey that was hanging up there — Not the little prize Turkey: the big one?’
‘What, the one as big as me?’ returned the boy.
‘What a delightful boy!’ said Scrooge. ‘It’s a pleasure to talk to him. Yes, my buck!’
‘It’s hanging there now,’ replied the boy.
‘Is it!’ said Scrooge. ‘Go and buy it!’
‘Walk-er!’ exclaimed the boy.
‘No, no,’ said Scrooge, ‘I am in earnest. Go and buy it, and tell them to bring it here, that I may give them the direction where to take it. Come back with the man, and I’ll give you a shilling. Come back with him in less than five minutes and I’ll give you half-a-crown!’
The boy was off like a shot. He must have had a steady hand at a trigger who could have got a shot off half so fast.
‘I’ll send it to Bob Cratchit’s,’ whispered Scrooge, rubbing his hands, and splitting with a laugh. ‘He shan’t know who sent it. It’s twice the size of Tiny Tim. Joe Miller never made such a joke as sending it to Bob’s will be.’
The hand in which he wrote the address was not a steady one, but write it he did, somehow, and went down-stairs to open the street door, ready for the coming of the poulterer’s man. As he stood there, waiting his arrival, the knocker caught his eye.
‘I shall love it, as long as I live,’ cried Scrooge, patting it with his hand. ‘I scarcely ever looked at it before. What an honest expression it has in its face! It’s a wonderful knocker! — Here’s the Turkey! Hallo! Whoop! How are you? Merry Christmas!’
It was a Turkey. He never could have stood upon his legs, that bird. He would have snapped them short off in a minute, like sticks of sealing-wax.
‘Why, it’s impossible to carry that to Camden Town,’ said Scrooge. ‘You must have a cab.’
The chuckle with which he said this, and the chuckle with which he paid for the Turkey, and the chuckle with which he paid for the cab, and the chuckle with which he recompensed the boy, were only to be exceeded by the chuckle with which he sat down breathless in his chair again, and chuckled till he cried.
Shaving was not an easy task, for his hand continued to shake very much; and shaving requires attention, even when you don’t dance while you are at it. But if he had cut the end of his nose off, he would have put a piece of sticking-plaster over it, and been quite satisfied.
He dressed himself all in his best, and at last got out into the streets. The people were by this time pouring forth, as he had seen them with the Ghost of Christmas Present; and walking with his hands behind him, Scrooge regarded every one with a delighted smile. He looked so irresistibly pleasant, in a word, that three or four good-humoured fellows said, ‘Good morning, sir. A merry Christmas to you!’ And Scrooge said often afterwards, that of all the blithe sounds he had ever heard, those were the blithest in his ears.
He had not gone far, when coming on towards him he beheld the portly gentleman, who had walked into his counting-house the day before, and said, ‘Scrooge and Marley’s, I believe.’ It sent a pang across his heart to think how this old gentleman would look upon him when they met; but he knew what path lay straight before him, and he took it.
‘My dear sir,’ said Scrooge, quickening his pace, and taking the old gentleman by both his hands. ‘How do you do? I hope you succeeded yesterday. It was very kind of you. A merry Christmas to you, sir.’
‘Mr Scrooge?’
‘Yes,’ said Scrooge. ‘That is my name, and I fear it may not be pleasant to you. Allow me to ask your pardon. And will you have the goodness’— here Scrooge whispered in his ear.
‘Lord bless me!’ cried the gentleman, as if his breath were taken away. ‘My dear Mr Scrooge, are you serious?’
‘If you please,’ said Scrooge. ‘Not a farthing less. A great many back-payments are included in it, I assure you. Will you do me that favour?’
‘My dear sir,’ said the other, shaking hands with him. ‘I don’t know what to say to such munificence.’
‘Don’t say anything, please,’ retorted Scrooge. ‘Come and see me. Will you come and see me?’
‘I will!’ cried the old gentleman. And it was clear he meant to do it.
‘Thank you,’ said Scrooge. ‘I am much obliged to you. I thank you fifty times. Bless you!’
He went to church, and walked about the streets, and watched the people hurrying to and fro, and patted children on the head, and questioned beggars, and looked down into the kitchens of houses, and up to the windows, and found that everything could yield him pleasure. He had never dreamed that any walk — that anything — could give him so much happiness. In the afternoon he turned his steps towards his nephew’s house.
He passed the door a dozen times, before he had the courage to go up and knock. But he made a dash, and did it:
‘Is your master at home, my dear?’ said Scrooge to the girl. Nice girl. Very.
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Where is he, my love?’ said Scrooge.
‘He’s in the dining-room, sir, along with mistress. I’ll show you up-stairs, if you please.’
‘Thank you. He knows me,’ said Scrooge, with his hand already on the dining-room lock. ‘I’ll go in here, my dear.’
He turned it gently, and sidled his face in, round the door. They were looking at the table (which was spread out in great array); for these young housekeepers are always nervous on such points, and like to see that everything is right.
‘Fred,’ said Scrooge.
Dear heart alive, how his niece by marriage started. Scrooge had forgotten, for the moment, about her sitting in the corner with the footstool, or he wouldn’t have done it, on any account.
‘Why bless my soul!’ cried Fred, ‘Who’s that?’
‘It’s I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?’
Let him in! It is a mercy he didn’t shake his arm off! He was at home in five minutes. Nothing could be heartier. His niece looked just the same. So did Topper when he came. So did the plump sister when she came. So did every one when they came. Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity, wonderful happiness.
But he was early at the office next morning. Oh, he was early there. If he could only be there first, and catch Bob Cratchit coming late. That was the thing he had set his heart upon.
And he did it; yes, he did. The clock struck nine. No Bob. A quarter past. No Bob. He was full eighteen minutes and a half behind his time. Scrooge sat with his door wide open, that he might see him come into the Tank.
His hat was off, before he opened the door; his comforter too. He was on his stool in a jiffy; driving away with his pen, as if he were trying to overtake nine o’clock.
‘Hallo!’ growled Scrooge, in his accustomed voice, as near as he could feign it. ‘What do you mean by coming here at this time of day?’
‘I am very sorry, sir,’ said Bob. ‘I am behind my time.’
‘You are,’ repeated Scrooge. ‘Yes. I think you are. Step this way, sir, if you please.’
‘It’s only once a year, sir,’ pleaded Bob, appearing from the Tank. ‘It shall not be repeated. I was making rather merry yesterday, sir.’
‘Now, I’ll tell you what, my friend,’ said Scrooge, ‘I am not going to stand this sort of thing any longer. And therefore,’ he continued, leaping from his stool, and giving Bob such a dig in the waistcoat that he staggered back into the Tank again; ‘and therefore I am about to raise your salary.’
Bob trembled, and got a little nearer to the ruler. He had a momentary idea of knocking Scrooge down with it, holding him, and calling to the people in the court for help and a strait-waistcoat.
‘A merry Christmas, Bob,’ said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. ‘A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year! I’ll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss your affairs this very afternoon, over a Christmas bowl of smoking bishop, Bob. Make up the fires, and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit.’
Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Some people laughed to see the alteration in him, but he let them laugh, and little heeded them; for he was wise enough to know that nothing ever happened on this globe, for good, at which some people did not have their fill of laughter in the outset; and knowing that such as these would be blind anyway, he thought it quite as well that they should wrinkle up their eyes in grins, as have the malady in less attractive forms. His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him.
He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle, ever afterwards; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!
5. Why is Marley's ghost wearing chains?
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήMarley is Scrooge's dead business partner. When his ghost appears to Scrooge, Marley is wrapped up with chains made of cashboxes, keys, padlocks and ledgers all items connected with his job wrought in steel and dragging them along with him. These represent the metaphorical chains that he put on himself in life. He was chained by his greed and self-imposed isolation.
Moreover Marley's chain is symbolic of his guilt as well. He says that he forged it during his life, of his own free will. He is guilty, of heavy sins that he chose to commit against other people, and guilt that he chose to accrue. Furthermore Marley's chains contain ledgers and cash boxes, indicating the specific ways in which he is guilty of failing humanity. likewise, the ghost has a chain containing a huge iron safe, which probably indicates that he failed his fellows by hoarding his money rather than helping those in need. Also he is forced to wear this chain in the afterlife to remind him of his neglect of others and to encourage redemption, reinforcing the idea that he is suffering due to his own actions. Last but not least the symbolism of chains has a long and storied history. They are symbols of slavery and imprisonment.
6. Why is Marley's ghost visiting Scrooge?
Marley's visiting purpose is to begin the saga of the three spirits that visit Scrooge. He is there to explain to Scrooge his bad deeds and wrong doings and warn him of the terrible fate that will come if he does not change his ways. Also he informs Scrooge on his "ponderous chain" he has forged. Moreover it is Marley who visits Scrooge as a ghost and acts as his conscience, reminding him of all the indifference they, as business partners, showed in their efforts to grow wealthy. Marley comes to warn him of the future that is waiting for him if he does not change his ways. He says that it is the job of men to live among and help their fellow man when they are alive. If they do not do so, they are condemned to do so in death. Marley says that he wears the chain that he created in his life. Finally he warns him that his own chain was as full and heavy as Marley's seven years ago, and that he has been working on it since owing to his indifference to the poor. Scrooge's chain is now ponderous and to avoid an eternity of purgatory Scrooge must show penance to assist him with this Marley has interceded for Scrooge to be visited by three Spirits who will offer him the chance of escaping the same fate.
Χρόνια Πολλά και Καλή Πρωτοχρονιά !!!!!
Διαγραφή- Ζωζάς Βαγγέλης
Διαγραφή1. Describe Ebenezer Scrooge. How is he as a person?
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήEbenezer Scrooge is a weird stingy man who took care to spread his personal misery to those around him. Our vicious protagonist is introduced on Christmas Eve, a day when most of us put aside worries and problems to enjoy the company of friends and relatives. But he does not share public opinion and not only refuses to dine with his family, but does not follow the Christian customs that require donations to beggars. The only good deed we could recognize in the first part, is the permission he gives to his employee, Bob Cratchit. It should be noted, of course, that even as an employer he does not have to show anything commendable, since he is strict and does not give a sufficient salary to a man who has to feed six mouths and himself. In the end, however, after the visit of the ghosts, he promises to change from now on and the next day he is no longer the same crooked and stingy man, but a philanthropic and compassionate hawk.
3. What does "humbug" mean?
Ebenezer Scrooge seems to use the term "humbug" to describe anything that he thinks of as nonsense. It's his way of expressing his disdain for whatever subject is being discussed or whatever event is at hand. For example, when Scrooge's nephew, Fred, comes to wish him a Merry Christmas, Scrooge replies with "Bah! Humbug!", because he considers Christmas nonsense.
Βαρβάρα Καραγκούνη Α2
καλή χρονιά με υγεία!!!
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφή1. Describe Ebenezer Scrooge. How is he as a person?
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήEbenezer Scrooge is a introverted person. he is a stringy man and he wants only to work. he doesh t have friends and he doesh t like christmas. he doesh t offer to his emploee, Bob, a good salary and he put him to work until christmas. He doesh t care about Bob s personal life and he is very immorar. Bob has a big family to feed but Scrooge doesh t let him to have more free time for his children. Also he doesh t have christmas spirit and he is not generous with other people. Moreover, he is very tough with his nephew. But in the end, after the visit of the ghosts he became a better peson. From that day, he became generous and kind with other people and he had a better quality of life.
Χαδουλίτση Ελένη Α1
Διαγραφή8. Who is Belle? Why is the Ghost of Christmas Past bringing Scrooge to her?
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήScrooge fell in love with Belle when he was young. she was his girlfriend. When they were young they had ambitions for the future. But when Scrooge became rich she broke up with Belle because she was poor. In other words he chose to live with his money than have a happy life with Belle.The Ghost of Christmas Past brought Scrooge to her in order for Scrooge to understand that he was greedy. It was a way for Scrooge to understand his mistakes.
Χαδουλίτση Ελένη Α1
5. Why is Marley's ghost wearing chains?
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήMarley's ghost was wearing chains because Marley was not a good person during his life . He had done a lot of sins and he had never regretted or apologized for his actions. Moreover , another reason of wearing chains is that he wanted to terrify Ebenezer Scrooge trying to show him that if he doesn't change himself immediately , he will pass the whole of his next life with the chains and the bad actions of the past
4. What does Scrooge see in his door gets home from work in Chapter 1?
As Ebenezer Scrooge is about to enter his house after a tiring day in his shop, he suddenly sees the face of his dead friend Marley. At the beginning of this moment he was afraid but after a while he entered his house thinking that this was a game of his brain. In reality the figure of Marley was not a brain game but a message from Marley trying to show that he would visit his friend for the last time.
Λευτέρης Γκατζουνης Α2
ΔιαγραφήΑυτό το σχόλιο αφαιρέθηκε από τον συντάκτη.
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφή9. To which locations does the Ghost of Cristmas Present take Scrooge?
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήHe is taken to the Cratchet house, the city, Fred's house, a ship, lighthouse, sub-urban streets, miners, almo houses, and a hospital.
12. Why does the Ghost of Cristmas Yet to Come show Scrooge?
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come reveals to Scrooge the future consequences of his past and present actions: his lack of sympathy for the poor, his ill-treatment of his own clerk Bob Cratchit
that his own death will also result in the death of the Cratchit's disabled young son, Tiny Tim
Γιωργος Κομπος Α2
Διαγραφή4. What does Scrooge see in his door gets home from work in Chapter 1?
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήScrooge has strange visions of the door knocker and tiles bearing the face of his old business partner Jacob Marley. He refuses to believe his eyes, but then Marley's ghost appears and frightens Scrooge.
13. What is the last place The Ghost of Chrismas Yet to Come show Scrooge?
Finally the Ghost shows him a tombstone engraved with the name Ebenezer Scrooge. Clutching at the spirit's robes, Scrooge pledges to change his ways if he can avoid this death. The Ghost disappears and leaves Scrooge clutching at his bed curtains.
Καρακίτσος Θοδωρής
Α2
1.Describe Ebenezer Scrooge.How is he as a person?
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήEbenezer Scrooge is a person who is a rich man .He does not want to give his money in other people because he is stingy and he cares for his own interest.Also,Ebenezer is an only man because he does not have any friends and in the other words he hates the people and especially Christmas.End,he does not help others people because he takes care of himself.
5.Why is Marleys ghost wearing chains?
Marley was an old partner of Ebenezer Scrooge.The ghost of Marley is wearing chains becuse he was not a good person and he was greedy.In his life,he had committed many sins and had not reprented.Also,he is wearing chains because he wants to show to Ebenezer that if he does not change,he will spend the rest of his life with chains like Marley and will carry the bad deeds and sins he has committed.
Ξηρομερίτη Βασιλική
Α1
1. Describe Ebenezer Scrooge. How is he as a person?
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήEbenezer Scrooge is described as a cold hearted person. He seems to find ''happiness'' only on the sight of money. He is parsimonious and really tightfisted. He would not conseder spending and giving money even to a person in need. Nevertheless, I should also mention that he is a person that has been through a lot. By the end of the book/movie though we see him finding the meaning of christmas again and now he wants to offer to the world.
9. To which locations does the Ghost of Cristmas Present take Scrooge?
The ghost of Christmas Present take Scrooge to his clerk's , Bob Cratchit's, house. He there sees Bob and his family ready to eat dinner. He then notices that one of his kids has a leg dissability and when he is said, by the ghost, that the kid will die, instantaneously pities them and feels sorry for them. he even asks if there is somethimg they can do so that the kid will survive. A fact that reveals the more human side of Scrooge.
Maria Boutziou
A1
1.Describe Ebenezer Scrooge. How is he as a person?
ΑπάντησηΔιαγραφήEbenezer Scrooge is a person who used to be kind hearted and cared about people in the past. However now, he has become a skinflint man who takes satisfaction only by watching his profits increase. In addition, not only does he care about his budget, but he is also cruel and absurd once he is always unwilling to help his fellow men. Fortunately his behavior starts to change after the appearance of the three ghosts. That is the moment when Scrooge realizes that money can’t buy happiness. So he chooses to spend Christmas with the people he loves and simultaneously he discovers the pleasure of offering.
6. Why is Marley's ghost visiting Scrooge?
Marley's ghost visits Scrooge in order to warn him to change. To exemplify, Marley was Scrooge's partner who had done terrible mistakes in the pas . He was greedy and didn't share any of his earnings with anyone. In other words he was just like Scrooge. With his appearance he tries to talk to him and persuade him that if he makes the same errors as he did, the consequences of his actions will burden his soul forever.
Λυδία Φαφούτη
Α1’