Model Answer Novel Review (1) A Christmas Carol Booklet P 39 11) A- Charles Dickens 1. On February 7 th 1812 in Portsmouth, England. His father was sent to prison for debt and Charles was forced to leave school to work at a boot(shoe) blacking factory. He felt that it was the time to say goodbye to his innocence as he felt he was betrayed by the adults who were supposed to take care of him. These miserable circumstances had subtly became a recurring in his writing. He was interested in depicting (showing) the life and conditions of the poor and working class. He also focused on child abuse and how children were taken as young labors in factories owned by the elites. His famous novels were-oliver Twist-David Copperfield-A Tale of Two Cities-Hard Times He worked in a boot blacking factory,clerk in a law court in London&reporter for two major newspapers in London before starting writing novels. 2. Jacob Marley: He was scrooge's only friend and partner, they shared the same business.he was a brilliant and successful business man, yet he was very miser and uncharitable person exactly like scrooge. He died on the Christmas Eve. No one attended his funeral except scrooge who wasn t very sad for his friend death. His ghost appeared to scrooge chained as a kind of punishment for all the bad deeds he did when he was alive. He came to warn scrooge to change his attitude so as not to receive the same doomed fate as Marley. He told scrooge that three spirits would pay him a visit and that was his last chance to change his life. 3. Belle: She was scrooge former Fiancée'. She broke up with him because he made her feel that money was more important than their relation. She had got married to another man, she had a big happy family. She celebrated Christmas with an overwhelming happiness. 4. Tiny Tim: He was Bob's Son. He was a clever boy but he was suffering from a serious illness in his leg. He used to move in an iron frame. Bob Crachit couldn t afford consulting a physician to cure him.
Moreover, his father held his hand tightly during their Christmas meal gathering because he was afraid that he might lose his son. He tried to amuse his family by singing a song in this happy event, yet his sensations were mingled as he deeply felt that he was a burden over his family's shoulders and he couldn't help them financially like his siblings so he came up with a melancholic (sad) song called " A Lost Boy travelling in the snow" 5. Bob Crachit: He was scrooge's clerk. He used to earn 15 shillings per week. He had a big family. He happily celebrated Christmas though he was a poverty stricken man. He loved his family. He was a loyal person to his Boss despite the harsh way scrooge used to deal with him. His loyalty had subtly showed during the Christmas meal with his family when he raised a toast wishing scrooge Merry Christmas and his wife hit the roof and was very offensive against scrooge, he didn t share this attitude with her. On the contrary, he tried to calm her down demanding from her not to have such hard feelings towards anyone especially on this holy event. 6. Fred: He was scrooge s nephew. He was married and happily celebrated Christmas. Every Christmas he used to wish his uncle a Merry Christmas and invite him to spend Christmas with him,yet scrooge used to refuse his invitation. He had greatly pitied his uncle and told his wife that despite being rich, his money was like a curse on him, he didn t use it to feel the happiness of life. Furthermore, he told his wife that he would keep inviting his uncle every year to celebrate Christmas with him. (2) Comparison between the two Spirits Spirit of Christmas Past Spirit of Christmas Present Strange figure like a child, but also an old man with a white hair. His face was smooth. His arm was long and strong. He was wearing white robe and was holding a branch of green Holly. From the top pf his head there came a bright clear light and a cap on his head. He took scrooge to visit many places: a) The Spirit took scrooge to the country side where he was Giant, (happy) jolly was holding a torch so that scrooge could see everything in the room. The Spirit was wearing a simple green robe that represented the prosperity and the continuous giving especially during Christmas time. Its feet were bare and on its head there was a branch of holly from which icicles hung. It had a dark, brown curly hair that represented the youth and the strength of the youth. Its voice was cheerful and friendly. He took scrooge to visit many places: a) To a very dirty part of a town due to
born and there he met two boys in the field that he used to know. b) He also took him to the boarding school that scrooge used to go where he met scrooge when he was young, Ali Baba his imaginary friend, the school master and his sister. - c) The Spirit took scrooge to the Town. - They went to the warehouse where scrooge saw his old Boss Mr. Fezziwig. He also saw his old friend "Dick Wilkin" they used to work together. D) Then the Spirit took scrooge when he was himself and his old Fiancée Belle while she was crying. (She was scrooge former Fiancée. She wanted to break up with scrooge because he made her feel that money in his life was more important than their relation and he didn t want to be poor. He didn t tell her to break up with words, but through his attitude towards her.) - ( the white robe that the spirit wore represented the purity and the innocence in this world) - The light that was coming from the top of his head was like the eye opener for scrooge to show him all the bad things that he did in his life.*- the thick black smoke coming from the thousands of chimneys above the houses. The streets were covered with snow. (Despite the poor conditions of the people who were living in this town, they were very happy celebrating Christmas and went to and fro buying their Christmas things. They were going to the church for the Christmas religious rituals unlike scrooge despite being rich he had never celebrated Christmas) b) He took him to the Crachits family where he saw them celebrating Christmas and saw Tiny Tim and his illness which made him ashamed of himself. c) He took him to the miners where a light shone from the window of a hut. There were old man, woman, their children and their grandchildren. All were wearing bright clothes. The old man was singing an old song for Christmas. d) Second place: The Spirit took him to the sea where two men who looked after the light house. They joined their hands and wished each other Merry Christmas. Their Duty didn t hinder them from celebrating Christmas. e) Third Place: The Spirit took him to a ship and the officers on duty sang a Christmas tune and enjoyed Christmas f) Fourth Place: The Spirit took him to his nephew's Party (Fred) Fred was talking about his uncle and how much he was a money lover and how he deeply believed that Christmas was Humbug. g) Then he took him to see sick people and happy people. They were all happily celebrating Christmas ( the green robe that the spirit wore and the green colour that dominated the scene represented the continuous giving during Christmas) The Torch that the spirit held was like the eye opener for scrooge to show him all the bad things that he
did in his life. 3 The personality of scrooge before and after meeting the two Spirits Before After The least generous man on earth. Miser Mean Hard-hearted Uncharitable He didn t like to be accompanied by people. Money was the essence of life, from his perspective. He never celebrated Christmas and called it HUMBUG, as he believed it was a waste of time and money. He left his clerk cold in the office because he locked all the coal in his office. He didn t pay his clerk enough wages. He refused to donate money for the Poor when the two gentlemen came to his office asking for donation. He had never accepted his nephew's Christmas dinner invitation. He was hated by most of his neighbors. Dogs with blind masters used to pull them away whenever they glimpse scrooge down the street. He was about to hit the boy who came to his office singing carols with the stick. He told the Spirit of Christmas Present that he was ready to learn as many lessons as the Spirit wanted to teach him because last night he had seen many things that had subtly moved his feelings. He had regretted all the bad attitude that he had before the two spirits visit: Calling Christmas Humbug. Not wishing his clerk Merry Christmas. Not being a gentle Boss like Mr Fiz. Abandoning Belle and not having a happy family like hers. Refusing his nephew's invitation and his harsh way in dealing with Fred whenever he used to pass by. Not giving the boy who stepped in his office anything. Not giving Bob enough wages to enable him to cure his sick Tiny Tim. Being enthusiastic to share the games in Fred's party showed that the hard feelings between him and Christmas had vanished. His attitude towards the boy and the girl under the spirit of Christmas Presents Robe was totally different than the boy who came to his office. He realized that money wasn t the essence of life. Having family and friends were
away more important than gaining money. (4) Scrooge and Mr Fezziwig as employers with EXAMPLES Boss Scrooge Boss Mr Fezziwig Miser, mean, hard hearted Boss. He used to give his clerk 15 Shillings per weeks and made him work for long hours. He locked all the coal in his office leaving his clerk suffering from the bitterness of the winter especially during Christmas. He called him fool because he used to celebrate Christmas He had hardly accepted to give Bob a day off for Christmas and told him that he should come very early in the morning the next day. When Bob clapped when Fred said that he wasn t waiting to gain anything from Christmas, scrooge threatened Bob that if he didn t mind his own business, he would fire him. He used to celebrate Christmas and hold a big party. Furthermore, he invited all his employees, neighbors and all who used to do business with. He paid his clerks enough wages. His power was in his words and the way he used to look to his employees. He cared for all his employees and he was charitable person. He made his employees love working with him. The happiness that Mr. F. gave them was more precious than a fortune Wishing you the Best of Luck The English Department Upper Primary