A CHRISTMAS CAROL Grade 7 Term 2 By Charles Dickens SURNAME, NAME: CLASS:
CONTENTS AND OBJECTIVES TOPIC PAGE PRE-READING: WHAT S IN A NAME?...2 SCENE 1: Scrooge s Counting House.....3-4 SCENE 2: In Scrooge s Bare and Gloomy Chambers...5-8 SCENE 3: The Ghost of Christmas Past.. 9-12 SCENE 4: The Ghost of Christmas Present 13-16 SCENE 5: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come....17-20 SCENE 6: The End of It 21-24 EXTRA ACTIVITIES 25-28 EVALUATION AND REFERENCE. 29 NOTES..20-31 OBJECTIVES: To learn and use vocabulary related to our class reader. To infer the meaning of vocabulary words from context clues in the text. To analyse, compare and contrast characters in the story. To make deductions based on explicit details in the reader. To make inferences based on the implicit details in the reader. To find different ideas, point of views and themes through a text. To summarise ideas from different parts of the text. To recognise implied meaning e.g. expression of opinion, inference of a character, irony. 1
PRE-READING WHAT IS IN A NAME? A. What is a Christmas carol? Do you know any examples? B. Why do you think Charles Dickens has chosen these names for the characters? What can you predict and expect from each character? 1. SCROOGE What does the word scrooge mean? Use the QR code to access an online dictionary. 2. Why do you think Charles Dickens has chosen this name for this character? What can you predict about him? Express your ideas explicitly. 3. What are your predictions about this character? Marley: 4. What are your predictions of this character? Tiny Tim: 2
SCENE 1: Scrooge s Counting House A. Match the words to the definition and write the part of speech in the brackets. The first one is done for you. 1. Grim ( _Adjective_ ) e 2. Threshold ( ) 3. Derive ( ) 4. Quarrel ( ) 5. Endeavour ( ) 6. Desirable ( ) a. To try to do something b. Worth having and wanted by most people c. An angry disagreement between 2 or more people d. The floor of an entrance to a building or room e. Very unpleasant f. To get or obtain something B. Choose three words from part A and write meaningful sentences for each word. Do not forget to use context clues to make your sentences meaningful. 1. 2. 3. C. Choose a word from the other vocabulary box below and write a meaningful sentence. Other vocabulary: Covetous (adj.): wanting to have something too much, especially something that belongs to someone else. Shrewd (adj.): having or based on a clear understanding and good judgment of a situation, resulting in an advantage. Morose (adj.): unhappy, annoyed, and unwilling to speak or smile. Resolute (adj.): determined in character, action, or ideas. Multitude (n.): a large number of people or things. Consent (v.): to agree to do something 3
SCENE 1: Scrooge s Counting House D. Read the questions below and answer the questions using full sentences. 1. Why does Mr Dickens describe Scrooge as a covetous old sinner? Use explicit details from the scene to explain your answer. 2. Who is Bob Cratchit? Why is he timid and submissive towards Scrooge? Make an inference about his relationship with Scrooge. Find at least two implicit details to support your answer. 3. What is Scrooge s attitude and feelings towards Christmas? Give at least one example from the scene to support your answer. 4. Make an inference about why Scrooge is so resolute about Christmas. Support your answer with details. 5. Why does Fred describe Scrooge as morose? 6. How do you feel about Christmas or New Year celebrations? Explain your answer explicitly. 4
SCENE 2: In Scrooge s Bare and Gloomy Chambers A. Use the QR codes and the play script to help you complete the vocab boxes for each word. Definition: A large metal pin to lock a door / something v Sentence from the play: Online thesaurus: Synonyms: Antonyms: Bolt (noun) My meaningful sentence: Vocabulary.com: Definition: Sentence from the play: Synonyms: weakness Antonyms: Fatigue (noun) My meaningful sentence:. Definition: Sentence from the play: Online dictionary: Synonyms: Antonyms: Remorse (noun) My meaningful sentence: He did all those bad stuff but never showed any remorse! 5
SCENE 2: In Scrooge s Bare and Gloomy Chambers Definition: Sentence from the play: Quizlet: Synonyms: to apologize to fix a problem Antonyms: (to make) Amends ( verb ) My meaningful sentence: Other vocabulary: Persecute (v.): to treat someone unfairly or cruelly Apparition (n.): the spirit of a dead person appearing in a form Chime (v.): (of bells) to make a clear ringing sound B. The next scene is called In Scrooge s Bare and Gloomy Chambers. Where do you think does this scene take place? Why is do you think Dickens describes it as bare and gloomy? C. Read and then answer the questions using full sentences. 1. Read the extract below, identify the literary device Dickens uses and what effect he intends to give. Nobody under the table; nobody under the sofa; nobody under the bed; nobody in the closet; nobody in his dressing gown 6
SCENE 2: In Scrooge s Bare and Gloomy Chambers 2. The chimes that Scrooge hear suggest the hour as he enters his house. What do you think is the time? Why? 3. Why do you think Scrooge checks the house, then double locks and bolts himself into the house? Give at least one explicit detail to support your answer. 4. In the previous scene, Fred says Christmas is the time when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely. In this scene Dickens emphasises there is nobody in the house and points out that Scrooge bolts himself in his house, shutting himself off from the world. Do you think Scrooge will consent to opening up his shut-up heart and home this Christmas? Explain your answer explicitly. 5. How does Dickens create a sense of tension and suspense, before the appearance of Marley s ghost? Support your answer using quotations. 6. You are fettered (pg. 13, line 71) means you are chained. Why does Marley s Ghost wear chains? What do the chains symbolise? Support your answer using implicit and explicit details. 7
SCENE 2: In Scrooge s Bare and Gloomy Chambers 7. Why do you think Jacob Marley is tortured by remorse after death? Do you think he was similar to Scrooge when he was alive? Support your answer with examples from the text. 8. Read the extract below and deduce how Marley s mortal and after life compares to Scrooge s current way of life. You may use examples from the previous scene about Scrooge to help you. Captive, bound and double-ironed! Not to know that any Christian spirit may find its mortal life too short for its vast means of usefulness! Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one life s opportunities misused! Yet such was I! Oh, such was I! 9. How does Scrooge feel at the end of Scene 2? Use quotations to support your answer. 10. Marley was actually warning Scrooge. How can we warn people who are mean in real life and help them be a better person without hurting them? 11. Sometimes we make mistakes and hurt someone s feelings that later causes remorse. Have you ever regretted your actions before? How did you try to make amends for your actions? 8
SCENE 3: The Ghost of Christmas Past A. Complete the table below. You may use the QR code to access online thesaurus to find synonyms for each word. Word Definition My Sentence Synonym Welfare (n.) Neglected (adj.) physical and mental health and happiness, especially of a person not receiving enough care or attention Relentlessly (adv.) Appalling (adj.) in an extreme way that continues without stopping shocking and very unpleasant Recollection (n.) a memory of something Solitary(adj.) alone / single B. Annotate (label) the diagram below about the shades of Scrooge s past he recollects with the Ghost of Christmas Past. The first one is done for you. Had no friends, found comfort in books and the made friends with story characters. Lived in poverty His loneliness caused melancholy. Solitary and neglected boy Young apprentice The Young man He pities his former self and remembers the boy who tried to sing a Christmas carol in his counting house and how he badly he acted towards the boy. The memory hurts and he starts feeling remorse. 9
SCENE 3: The Ghost of Christmas Past C. Read the questions and then answer them in full sentences. 1. Why was Scrooge astonished? 2. What does the Ghost of Christmas Past mean when he says he is there for his welfare? 3. What was the role of the Ghost of Christmas Past? Why did he visit Scrooge? 4. Why did Scrooge start to feel remorse? Give at least one example from the scene. 5. How did each memory shown by the Ghost of Christmas Past compare to his current life? The first one is done for you. 1 st memory: The first memory he remembers how poor, lonely and neglected he was as a child. This leads him to remember the boy who came into the counting house sing a Christmas carol and how harshly he strikes a ruler, scaring the boy away. He feels remorse for his actions and wishes to have behaved differently to make amends for his behaviour. 2 nd memory: 3 rd memory: 10
SCENE 3: The Ghost of Christmas Past 6. How did Scrooge change over time? Support your answer with quotations. 7. Why did Scrooge try to stop the Ghost of Christmas Past in his last recollection? How did he stop the Ghost? 8. Why was the Ghost relentlessly trying to make him remember and feel the pain of his breakup with his fiancée? 9. Do you think our experiences change our personalities? How does this happen? Give an example from your own life. What happened? How did you change? 11
SCENE 3: The Ghost of Christmas Past D. Annotate the character analysis diagram of Scrooge below. Use quotations from the play to support your ideas. Physical traits What does he look like? What is his appearance? Personality traits What are his thoughts, feelings, words and ideas? What do they tell us about his personailty? 12
SCENE 4: The Ghost of Christmas Present A. Use the QR code to access Cambridge s online dictionary to find the definition of the following words. Make sure you use the learner s dictionary option. Online dictionary: 1. Humble (adjective) 2. Sparse (adjective) 3. Vacant (adjective) 4. Wretched (adjective) 5. Refuge (noun) B. Read the sentences and fill in the gaps using words from Part A. ( Use the word in the correct form. ) 1. We took from the storm in an old barn to protect ourselves. 2. The poor family had to have a meal for dinner with only some rice. 3. That room is, nobody uses it. 4. They were very poor. They had a amount of food at the table. 5. Seeing the poor children that were in a condition broke our hearts. C. Pick 3 words from part A and write a meaningful sentence of your own for each word. 1. 2. 3. 13
SCENE 4: The Ghost of Christmas Present D. Language evolves (changes) in time. Charles Dickens wrote this story in the Victorian era and since then use of language has changed. The definitions may stay the same but the connotation and use changes in time. We will look at some of the words Dickens uses that now have different connotations. But first, what does connotation mean? Connotation: Connotation Example: visitor has a neutral connotation. See synonyms below: Guest has a positive connotation the person who is visiting is welcomed. Intruder has a negative connotation the person who is visiting is not welcomed. 1. Dickens uses the word lame and crippled as a synonym for disabled. What feeling does the word lame and crippled evoke (suggests) in you? Explain why. 2. The words lame and crippled have a negative connotation and people find it offensive. Both crippled and lame is what we can all politically incorrect word (not polite/ insensitive) to use because of the connotations it carries. Which synonyms of crippled or lame would be more appropriate to use nowadays? 3. Can you think of other politically incorrect words and a synonym that is politically correct to use so the negative connotation does not offend (hurt) anyone? See some examples below. Retard /Dumb/Stupid (politically incorrect) Mentally disabled (politically correct) Midget (politically incorrect) Dwarf or little person (political correct) Fat (politically incorrect) (politically correct) 14
SCENE 4: The Ghost of Christmas Present E. The Cratchit family. 1. Who are the Cratchits and why are they important in Scrooge s life? 2. How many members of the Cratchit family are there? _ 3. What characteristics does each member of the family have? Write them down in the space below. Use a quote / an example to support your answer. Bob Cratchit: Mrs. Cratchit: Martha Cratchit: Belinda Cratchit: Peter Cratchit: The smaller Cratchits: Tiny Tim: 15
SCENE 4: The Ghost of Christmas Present F. Answer the following comprehension questions. 1. The Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to the Cratchit s humble home. Describe the Cratchit Family Christmas Celebrations. Write a descriptive paragraph that includes adjectives and evidence or examples from the text. 2. Read the following quotation from scene 4 and answer the following questions: The founder of the feast, indeed! I wish I had that nasty mean old Scrooge with us here! I d give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, I would, and I hope he d have a good appetite for it! Which character in the play said this? When did they say it? Why did they say it? How does this character feel about Scrooge? Which implicit or explicit words suggest the characters feelings? Why do you think they feel this way? 16
SCENE 5: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come A. Scene 4 ends with a description of the Ghost of Christmas yet to come. See quote below. solemn phantom It is the third spirit, draped and hooded entirely in black that comes like a mist along the ground towards him. Make a prediction about what the spirit may show Scrooge. What do you think he will see next? B. Read the words and then skim through the chapter to find the words. Complete the table below accordingly. The first one is done for you. Word Quote from book Part of speech Possible meaning Dictionary definition To where the merchants People doing someone whose job is buying Merchants hurry up and down, and Noun business or trade and selling goods, usually in (pg.39) chink the money in their with money large amounts pockets... Converse (pg. 39) Obscure (pg. 40) adjective Decent Something or someone that is (pg. 46) appropriate or suitable Agony noun (pg.52) 17
SCENE 5: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come C. Choose 3 words from part B and write a meaningful sentence for each word. 1. 2. 3. Other vocabulary: Stockbroker (n.): a person or company that buys and sells stocks and shares for other people Dread (n.): a strong feeling of fear or worry D. Read the following questions and then answer the questions explicitly using quotations from the book. 1. Why do you think Scrooge filled with solemn dread by the presence of the ghost of Christmas Yet to Come? 2. The spirit takes Scrooge to a few places before the graveyard. Where does the spirit take Scrooge? 3. Why is each shade of the future important and what does it show him? 4. What is the common attitude (feeling) of the stockbrokers towards Scrooge? Why do you think they call him Old Scratch? 18
SCENE 5: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come 5. Who is old Joe? What kind of person is he? 6. Who are old Joe s visitors? Why are they there? How do they speak of Scrooge? 7. What does miser mean? Why do they call Scrooge old miser? 8. Why does Scrooge desperately want to know if he can change his future? 9. Make an inference about why the spirit is so relentless and immovable. 10. What causes Scrooge s agony? 11. How did Scrooge reverse (turn back) his fate and made the spirit disappear? E. How do you think Scrooge has changed after the visits of the four ghosts? What do you think may happen next? 19
SCENE 5: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come F. Each ghost teaches Scrooge a different lesson and after each visit, Scrooge starts to gradually change into a better person. Complete the diagram below to show how he changes with every visit. Scrooge sees his old friend Marley s ghost. He speaks to him, questions why he is chained and why he is visiting. Scrooge still is grumpy after Marley disappears; he checks the locks and bolts. He tries to say Humbug! in disbelief but is too tried so he falls into a deep sleep. 20
SCENE 6: The End of It A. Study vocabulary words on Quizlet. Then use the words given to create your WORD WEB by connecting the words to each other using lines. Write meaningful sentences on the lines about what happened / will happen in the story. mystified(adj.) obliged(adj.) to toast(v.) salary(n.) glorious (adj.) timid(adj.) 21
SCENE 6: The End of It B. Read the quote below and annotate the descriptive techniques Dickens uses to create an atmosphere of joy and happiness. (Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath, finds and tries to put on his most extravagant clothes.) I don t know what to do!...i am as light as a feather!...i am 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, there!... Hallo!... (Scrooge is checked, temporarily, in his joyful outpourings by the sound of church bells ringing out the lustiest peals he has ever heard. He appears to run to a window, to open it, and to put his head.) No fog?... No mist?... Clear, golden sunlight!... Heavenly sky!... Sweet fresh air!... Merry bells!... Oh glorious!... C. Read and then answer the questions below using full sentences. 1. How does Scrooge feel after waking up? Support your answer with quotes. 2. The streets of London were cold, grim and dark in the previous scenes, how has this changed in this scene? Why do you think Dickens changed the atmosphere dramatically? 3. Who is the poulterer? Why does Scrooge want to buy the big turkey prize? 22
SCENE 6: The End of It 4. Why is the Portly Gentleman mystified? How does Scrooge make amends for his harsh words? 5. Why is Fred so pleased with Scrooge s idea? How does he make amends for refusing his nephew s invitation? 6. Why does Cratchit think Scrooge has gone mad? How does he make amends for treating Cratchit so badly and miserly? D. Compare Scrooge at the beginning of the play and the end of it. Use examples. You can use the application Popplet lite to do this. See the example below. How many examples can you find? at the beginning mean "Warm your hands over your candle..." (p.3)...... Scrooge generous "...And therefore I am about to raise your salary!..." (p.59) at the end...... E. In English Literature, a character like Scrooge is called a dynamic character. What do you think this means? Research this using your ipad and write the definition in the space below. 23
SCENE 6: The End of It F. Down below are some of the themes in this story. What did you learn about the following themes in A Christmas Carol? What was the moral for that theme? Charity Money for the poor What I learned from A Christmas Carol about the following themes Regret and Remorse Greed and Social injustice Love and change 24
EXTRA ACTIVITIES A. Who said these sentences? Why do you think they said them? 1. Humbug! (Scene 2, pg 11, line 20) 2. I wear the chain I forged (created) in life. I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded (fastened) it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. (Scene 2, p 13, L 72) B. Think of a special celebration in your country and write about it. Why is it important for the people? Who celebrates it? How it is celebrated? C. Write a short paragraph about something you regret and explain why. 25
EXTRA ACTIVITIES D. Reread the speech on page 2 (beginning Oh! But ). List as many of the descriptive phrases (parts with adjectives) as you can under the following headings. Sense of sight Sense of touch e.g A frosty rime (cover) Hard and sharp as a flint (a type of stone) E. In plays we rely on directions for setting the scenes and for dramatic effect. How do the directions in the play help set the scene? Give examples from scene 4. For example: the chimes of the neighbouring church strike. (page 28). The church bells ringing is a warning that something is going to happen, very soon. F. Identify the figurative language in the following sentences. You can have more than one in a sentence. p = personification s = simile m = metaphor o = onomatopoeia h = hyperbole 1. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. 2. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire, secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. 3. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dogdays; and didn t thaw it one degree at Christmas. 4. A quarter past said Scrooge, counting, Ding, Dong! 5. A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scarping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! 6. The crisp air laughed. 26
EXTRA ACTIVITIES G. Design a Christmas card reflecting Scrooge s feelings about Christmas. The front should have a Victorian scene, or some other picture that reflects the time and history (1800s). On the back side, imagine you are Scrooge and write your feelings to a friend. Front Back Hello dear friend, H. Annotate the image below to give more information about the plot. 27
EXTRA ACTIVITIES I. Let s Remember- What had already/just happened when he E.g., Scrooge had already seen Jacob Marley s ghost when he met the ghost of Christmas Past. Fred had just said Merry Christmas when his uncle Scrooge said Bah Humbug! Now you make at least 5 story related sentences using the similar structures together in one sentence. (Past Perfect Tense & Simple Past Tense) J. Victorian Christmas. Scan the code above / Go to the link Read about Victorian Christmas Traditions. Then explain 2 of your favourites down below. You may add pictures, too. http://www.bbc.co.uk/victorianchristmas/activities.shtml 28
EVALUATION AND REFERENCE 1. Which new words did you learn from A Christmas Carol? Write at least 8 words! 2. What was the most important lesson you have learned from A Christmas Carol? 3. Which exercises or activities in this booklet helped you learn better? How? 4. Rate the effectiveness of this booklet out of 10! 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 5. What would you change in this booklet to make it better? References: http://www.thesaurus.com/ http://www.legacy.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_rsxm3srzk http://www.bbc.co.uk/victorianchristmas/activities.shtml https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/learner-english http://clipart-library.com https://www.britishlibrary.cn/en/works/charles-dickenss-christmas-carol/ https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/zcs8qty 29
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