A Christmas Carol: Reccommended Reading Schedule

A Christmas Carol: Reccommended Reading Schedule:

Sun. Mon. Tue. Wed. Thu. Fri. Sat. Dec. 19 Dec. 20 Dec 21 Dec. 22 Dec. 23 Dec. 24 Dec. 25 Christmas Eve Christmas Stave I: Marley’s Ghost Stave II: The 1st of the 3 Spirits (don’t have to read) (don’t have to read) Dec. 26 Dec. 27 Dec. 28 Dec. 29 Dec. 30 Dec. 31 Jan. 01 Stave III: The 2nd of the 3 Spirits Stave IV: The Last of the Spirits New Year’s (don’t have to read) Jan. 02 Jan. 03 Jan. 04 Jan. 05 Jan. 06 Jan. 07 Jan. 08 Stave V: The End of It

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: PLACES, PEOPLE, & ALLUSIONS

BALANCE WHEEL – a device which GENIUS OF THE WEATHER served at Victorian holiday celebrations was a functions like a pendulum and is used to --personification of the weather. steamed, cake-like dessert made with dried fruit regulate movement in clocks and watches. GOV'NER --slang address showing respect; sir, and spices. BLINDMAN'S BUFF – a parlor game in which mister. RAG AND BONE SHOP --a store where one player, blindfolded, tries to catch and GRINDSTONE --a large stone used to grind second-hand goods are bought and sold, among identify someone from among the other players down and sharpen metal objects; a metaphor for the goods are rags that are recycled into paper in the room. one's occupation. and bones and other animal parts that are made BLOOMIN' --blooming; disparaging and GRUEL --thin oatmeal; very cheap to make and into fertilizer. vulgar slang intensifier; a euphemism for therefore a staple in the poorhouses. RAKE --rascal, scoundrel. "bloody." HA'PENNY --half-penny, the smallest SITUATION --job. BOB -- slang term for shilling; implying an denomination of British coin. SOD --disparaging, vulgar slang insult; insignificant amount, a trifle. HOB --shelf near a fireplace or stove where contemptible fellow. BUCK --a stylish young man. food or drink may be kept warm. STAVE --stanza in a musical work. Dickens CARED NOT A BUTTON didn't care at all. HUMBUG --a pretense or hoax; something that calls the chapters of A Christmas Carol CATARRH. LUMBAGO. PNEUMONIA… pretends to be what it is not. "staves." diseases exacerbated by extended exposure to HUMOR --state of mind. STEAMING BISHOP --mulled, spiced port cold, damp weather. Catarrh: infection of the IRONMONGERY --piece of hardware. wine; its purple color brings to mind a bishop's respiratory system. Lumbago: rheumatic pain in JACK ROBINSON --(before a man can say robes. the lower back. Pneumonia: infection and Jack Robinson) immediately; origins of this TONIC --a drug that stimulates and refreshes. inflammation of the lungs. phrase are uncertain, but it seems to have TREADMILL --an instrument of punishment. CHARWOMAN --"chore" woman; cleaning appeared in the 18th century. Prisoners walk around a platform pushing the woman. JACKALS --wild, scavenging dogs, people spokes of a large cylinder. No useful outcome is CHEEKY -- impudent. who rush to take advantage of the weakness of accomplished except that the prisoners are CLERK --an office worker employed, in the others. occupied and tired out. case of Bob Cratchit, to keep records of income LAGGARDS --those who fall behind; also TRÉS BELLE --French; very beautiful. and expenses. slang for lower class people. TRIP THE LIGHT FANTASTIC --dance, COR --shortened form of "Cor blimey," an MAD HOUSE --an institution for the insane. from a poem by John Milton, "L'Allegro" interjection distorted from the phrase "God MATE --common form of address for a (1632): "Come and trip it as you go/ On the blind me;" equivalent of "well, I'll be…" companion or associate, implying solidarity light fantastic toe." COUNTING HOUSE --building or office used based on equality in social standing. WAG --joker. to keep accounts. MILLINERY SHOP --factory which makes WAKE --gathering of mourners to watch over a DOG DAYS --hottest days of the year; related and sells hats. Martha works there fourteen corpse prior to burial. to the appearance in the summer sky of Sirius, hours a day. WORK HOUSE --publicly supported the Dog Star. MUNIFICENCE --generosity. institution for the destitute, also a penitentiary DOWERLESS --without the money that a OLD SCRATCH --slang reference to the devil; for persons guilty of minor offences. Living woman traditionally brought to a marriage. may derive from an old Norse word, scratte conditions in England's 19th-century work FARTHING --monetary unit worth ¼ of a which means goblin or devil. houses were notoriously sub-human. penny; the word is sometimes used to mean PARLIAMENT --the governing body of Great YES AND NO --a parlor game, like Twenty "almost nothing." Britain. Questions, in which players try to guess what FOUNDLING HOMES --institutions POORHOUSE --government institution one person has in mind by asking questions that established to care for children who have been founded to house the poor. must be answered "Yes" or "No." deserted by their parents. PUDDING --plum pudding, a traditional staple

THEMES TO LOOK OUT FOR:  True goodness does not come from social station or wealth. GUIDED READING QUESTIONS:  Law and “justice” are not always the same thing. STAVE I  Change is possible even for the most hardened soul. 1. According to Scrooge, why is Christmas A humbug? 2. Why does Scrooge initially not believe in Marley's ghost? MOTIFS TO LOOK OUT FOR: 3. What does the ghost do that sends Scrooge to his knees?  Class Divisions (rich & poor) 4. Why do ghosts walk on earth?  Redemption & Free Will 5. What are the ghosts forced to witness?  Celebration (parties, funerals, dances, feasts, weddings, etc.) 6. What was going on outside as Marley exits? STAVE II  Ghosts / Spirits 1. What time did Scrooge go to bed? What time is it now? 2. How does Scrooge know that nothing has happened to the sun? SYMBOLISM TO LOOK OUT FOR: 3. Who is the "visitor" and what did it hold in its hand?  Marley’s Chains 4. How does Scrooge react to the vision of his life?  Weather 5. What characters did Scrooge see outside the window?  Children 6. How does the ghost force Scrooge to watch one last scene?  Food 7. In attacking the ghost, what does Scrooge attempt to do? CHARACTERS IN GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Dickens uses many characters in his novels. If you jot down a few notes on each character as he or she is introduced, and keep this with you while you read, it will help you avoid confusion.

Ebenezer Scrooge Fezziwig

Bob Cratchit Belle

Tiny Tim Peter Cratchit

Jacob Marley Martha Cratchit

The Ghost of Christmas Past Fan

The Ghost of Christmas Present The Portly Gentleman

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come Mrs. Cratchit

SETTINGS IN GREAT EXPECTATIONS

This is a place for you to jot down a few notes on each of the major settings as they are introduced. The novel takes place in England during the early 1800’s.

Also, visit the website www.mrlocke.net for additional resources, and an online copy of the entire novel.