Name: Period: Date: A Christmas Carol Guided Reading Introduction and Stave 1 Marley s Ghost Before you Read Read the Introduction to the book and answer the following questions. 1. The introduction states that some ghost stories should haunt readers, what do you think this means? How can a story haunt us? 2. In the introduction there are four themes stated. What are they? List them below. a. b c d. 3. Choose one of the themes from question 2 that you wish to follow throughout the novel and write it below.
4. As we read the novel, you will write examples from the novel below that support the theme that you have chosen. Make sure to copy the quote carefully and to include the page number of where the quote can be found. If you need more room, you can continue on another page. Quote from the Novel that follows your theme (don t forget to include the page number) How does this quote relate to the theme that you have chosen to track Explain why/how it ties to your theme.
While You Read: Making connections: Practice making connections by making one text-to-self connection, one text-to-text connection, and one text-to-world connection. Text to Self Text to Text Text to World
After You Read Answer the following questions in complete sentences. 1. What is the simile in the second paragraph? 2. Why does the narrator make such a point of Marley s being dead? 3. How is Scrooge different from his nephew? 4. How does the knocker on Scrooge s door change? 5. What has Marley s ghost been doing since his death? 6. What is the warning that Marley gives Scrooge? Visual Interpretation: In the box provided below, draw how you imagined Scrooge s meeting with the ghost of Marley. Use lots of details from the text as well as color. This drawing should show your best effort Scrooge and Marley
Stave 2 The First of the Three Spirits Before You Read Accessing Background Knowledge: Answer the following questions. 1. List at least five adjectives that describe Ebenezer Scrooge. 2. Predict: How do you think Mr. Scrooge is going to respond to the Spirits that are coming? While You Read Setting a Purpose: While you read, pay attention to how Ebenezer Scrooge changes from scene to scene. After You Read Understanding relationships Compare/Contrast: Using the Venn Diagram Below, compare and contrast Scrooge s reactions to the different scenes: The way he is in the present time, the way he was at Fezziwig s party and the way he was with his fiancé. Scrooge in the Present Scrooge at Fezziwig s Party Scrooge with his fiancé
Comprehension Questions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences. 1. What was the strangest thing about the way the spirit looked? 2. What kind of people are the Fezziwig s? 3. Why does Scrooge say Remove me? 4. What does this tell us about Scrooge s reaction to this encounter? Stave 3 The Second of the Three Spirits Before You Read Accessing Background Knowledge: Answer the following questions. 1. How did viewing his own past affect Scrooge? 2. Predict: How do you think Scrooge will respond to the second spirit? While You Read Setting a Purpose: Pay attention to the different setting Scrooge and Spirit Visit. Visualize each location in your mind and analyze the tone or mood of each location. After You Read Setting and Mood: In the boxes below, sketch a scene from each of the location Scrooge and Spirit visit. Underneath each sketch, describe the tone or mood associated with each setting. Then list details from the text supporting your answer (characters, events, word choice, etc.) Scrooge s Bedroom The Cratchits Home Nephew Fred s Home Mood: Mood: Mood: Evidence: Evidence: Evidence:
Staves 4 & 5 The Last of the Spirits & The End of It Before You Read Building Content Knowledge: Define the following terms: 1. Allusion: 2. Suspense: 3. Flashback: 4. Flashforward: While You Read Setting a Purpose: Pay attention to the author s use of allusion, suspense, flashback, and flash-forward. After You Read Comprehension Questions: 1. What inference can readers make about the conversation among the group of businessmen? 2. How did Scrooge s previous life lead to his possessions being stolen after his death? 3. How does the author build suspense in this part of the book? List at least three examples. 4. What is the allusion the author includes in this section? 5. Why does the allusion affect Mrs. Cratchit so much? 6. What conclusion/inference can you draw about recent events in the Cratchit family s lives? 7. How has the flash-forward of this stave affected Scrooge? 8. How has Scrooge changed following the visitations of the Spirits? List at least three ways.
Theme Analysis and Reflection 1. What events from Charles Dickens childhood influenced him to write this story? 2. Theme: What message do you think the author, Charles Dickens, is trying to teach his readers with this story? 3. Reflection: How much responsibility does each individual person have to help others who are in need? 4. Reflection: How can one person help make the world a better place? 5. Reflection: What does it take to make people really change their ways? 6. Reflection: If you were shown your past, present and future in one night, how do you think you would change? 7. Making Connections: What are some ways that a teenager could implement the theme of A Christmas Carol into their lives this holiday season? List three ways. 8. Making Connections: How would you respond to the opportunity to spread cheer and goodwill this holiday season?