A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

who wrote
A Christmas Carol?

Charles Dickens                             1812-1870

• Charles Dickens was an English writer and social critic. 
• When he was twelve, his father was imprisoned because of personal debt. 
• Charles was withdrawn from school and forced to work in a warehouse that handled shoe polish to support the family. 
• This experience was of great impact on his life and career. 
• After his father's prison release he returned to school.

• Beyond his personal reasons for writing "A Christmas Carol," Dickens felt a strong need to comment on the enormous gap between the rich and poor in Victorian Britain.
  
• It touched many people and was very popular.
  
• it helped Christmas become established as a major holiday in Victorian Britain

video assignment

Watch the video, then answer questions.

what is a novella?

1. a short story
2. a very long novel
3. just a story
4. a short novel

what did A Christmas Carol (1843) call attention to?

1. the spirit of Christmas
2. the poor and deprived
3. the reading of stories

what word did people use for "chapter" in the 19th century?

1. chapter
2. part
3. stave
4. number

Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by 4 spirits (ghosts). Who is the first to visit him?

1. Marley, his deceased business partner
2. Marley, his deceased boss
3. Marley, his deceased relative

What does Marley tell him to do?

1. change his mean and heartless life
2. continue to live as he lives now
3. Celebrate Christmas

the Spirit of Christmas Past makes Scrooge revisit

1. his childhood
2. his past Christmas years
3. his marriage
4. his student years

The Spirit of Christmas Present shows Scrooge how his enormously underpaid employee celebrates Christmas

1. true
2. false

Scrooge's employee has a son who

1. is singing Christmas carols
2. is going to take over the business
3. doesn't like Christmas
4. is very ill and will probably die

the Spirit of Christmas yet to Come shows Scrooge how everyone will be devastated the day Scrooge dies

1. true
2. false

It is Christmas morning. What is the effect on Scrooge after having been visited by 4 spirits?

Speaking assignment

You each receive a text about the life and works of Charles Dickens. Take 5 min. to prepare what questions to ask your partner: (Where...?When...?Why...?How old....? etc.). Take care to use proper grammar. Then ask and answer each other's questions to complete your text.

Complete the Crossword

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!