| Question (1): |
'Despite the bitterly cold weather, all of London is in a festive mood. But there is no happy expression on Ebenezer Scrooge's lined face.'
a) What does this show of Scrooge?
b) What would the reaction of the society be to such a man?
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Answer: a) Scrooge is not religious. He hates Christmas as he is expected to give charity and give Bob Cratchit a holiday.
b) Society will not respect such a man. |
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| Question (2): |
'You're nothing but an undigested bit of meat
Blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese.'
a) Who is being described here?
b) Why has the person made his appearance?
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Answer: a) Scrooge describes Jacob Marley's Ghost.
b) Jacob Marley is in Chains. These chains represent the selfish acts done in his days on earth. Jacob has come to scrooge as a Ghost to try and correct him.
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| Question (3): |
'Another idol has displaced me, a golden one.'
a) Who is speaking to whom?
b) Why does the speaker say this?
c) Reflect on the character of the person spoken about.
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Answer: a) Belle to Scrooge.
b) He does not marry Belle as a family involves expenditure and he hates spending money.
c) Scrooge is mean and cruel right from his youth. He holds gold and money in greater importance than necessary. Emotions and feelings mean nothing to him.
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| Question (4): |
'To them, that meagre goose is a sumptuous feast.'
a) What festival are they celebrating?
b) What lesson did Scrooge learn here?
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Answer: a) Christmas.
b) Scrooge learnt that love, charity and togetherness are more important than money. |
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| Question (5): |
Gentlemen: Most of them would rather die than do that.
Scrooge: Then let them do that and help decrease the surplus population
a) Why has the gentleman come?
b) Who are they talking about?
c) What character of Scrooge is revealed here?
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Answer: a) To collect some money for charity.
b) They are talking about the poor and needy, who do not have a great income, but will not take any assistance from warehouses.
c) Scrooge is very proud of the money he has. He is cruel, hard hearted and unsympathetic towards the poor. |
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| Question (6): |
I was glad to be able to go to church. That's because I wanted the people to see that I'm a cripple.
a) Why does Tim want the people to see him?
b) What future does the second ghost predict for him?
c) What actually happened?
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Answer: a) Tim wants the people in the church to pray for him.
b) Tim would die as Bob has no money for his treatment.
c) Scrooge is transformed. From a cruel and selfish man he becomes kind. He pays for Tim's treatment and Tim recovers.
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| Question (7): |
Cratchit: My dear, remember, Christmas day.
Mrs. Cratchit: I'm sorry. Very well. I'll drink to his health.
a) Why does Cratchit reprimand (scold) Mrs.Cratchit?
b) What character of Bob is revealed here?
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Answer: a) Mrs. Cratchit is upset that Scrooge pays Bob very less and so she says something harsh about Scrooge. Bob does not approve of such talk on Christmas Day and therefore reprimands her.
b) Bob is a hardworking clerk who is a sincere worker. He is also a true Christian. He does not like talking ill of Scrooge, instead he drinks to his health.
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| Question (8): |
Third Ghost: That tombstone... Read the name on it.
Scrooge: Before I do, answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that may be only?
a) Whose tombstone was it?
b) What does Scrooge mean by this question? Does this reveal a change?
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Answer: a) Ebenezer Scrooge
b) Scrooge does not wish to die as a miser and a cruel man. He would like to know if it was possible to change the course of the future.
Yes, we see a change in Scrooge. Perhaps he has realised his mistakes and would like to be a good Christian.
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| Question (9): |
Do you know the poulterer's in the next street?
a) What is the purpose of this question?
b) How successful has Jacob Marley been?
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Answer: a) These lines are by Scrooge to a young boy on Christmas day. He is asking him to take the large Turkey in the poulterers to Bob Cratchit's house as a surprise gift.
b) Jacob Marley had come to Scrooge and sent the 3 ghosts only to transform him into a loving compassionate person. We find that in the end he has been successful. |
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| Question (10): |
From now on I am going to be one of your most persistent guests.
a) What character of the speaker is revealed here?
b) Is Fred worthy of this attention?
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Answer: a) Scrooge has realised that he has done Fan (his sister) a great wrong. He would like to correct his mistake. He therefore begins to renew his relationship with Fred his nephew.
b) Fred has been respectful and affectionate towards Scrooge. He had come to invite him for Christmas. So he is worthy of this attention from Scrooge. |
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| Question (11): |
How does the entry of the Gentleman introduce the theme?
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| Answer: The Gentleman asks for money for charity during Christmas. Though Christmas is a season of giving, Scrooge refuses to give money. This introduces the audience to the stingy nature of Scrooge and to the fact that it is Christmas. |
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| Question (12): |
Why has Jacob Marley come?
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Answer: Jacob is in chains that he forged by his selfish deeds.
He has come to transform Scrooge and tell him that he will also be in chains if he continues to be selfish.
He wants to reclaim Scrooge and make him kind and religious.
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| Question (13): |
What did Scrooge regret when he saw the School Boy scene (first ghost)?
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| Answer: He regretted not giving some thing to the boys who sang Christmas carols. |
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| Question (14): |
Who is Belle?
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| Answer: Belle was a nice girl who had wanted to marry Scrooge. But Scrooge rejects her, as he loves money more. Belle marries another man and leads a loving and caring family life with five children. |
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| Question (15): |
What opinion of Bob Cratchit have you formed?
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Answer: i) Sincere and hardworking
ii) Loyal to his master
iii) Good husband and father
iv) Takes care of Tiny Tim
v) Religious. |
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| Question (16): |
How important is the role of Tiny Tim?
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Answer: Tiny Tim has a gentle nature.
He has faith in God and the power of prayer.
When Scrooge sees him, he feels sorry for him. This begins the reformation of Scrooge. |
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| Question (17): |
Describe Scrooge as a sinner.
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Answer: i) Scrooge is harsh towards Bob Cratchit.
ii) He never gives charity.
iii) He does not believe in Christmas.
iv) He is a miser and very selfish. |
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| Question (18): |
Describe Scrooge the 'saint'.
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Answer: Scrooge is totally transformed by the end of the story.
He vows to take up the medical expenses of Tiny Tim.
He raises Bob Cratchit's salary.
He often visits Fred his nephew.
On Christmas Day, he sends a gift of a large Turkey to Bob's house without revealing his identity. |
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| Question (19): |
What changed Scrooge from a Sinner to a Saint?
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Answer: Marley's Ghost began the transformation by telling him that Mankind was more important than money.
The first Ghost began his feeling of regret by showing him his childhood and youth.
The second ghost showed him scenes of a happy family and his own loneliness. This brought repentance.
The third ghost showed him the future, his lonely dead body lying unmourned by anyone. This finally transformed him. |
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| Question (20): |
Mention the various methods used to make us think of Christmas.
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Answer: i) Christmas Carols.
ii) Church bells.
iii) Dinner in Bob's house.
iv) Idea of charity and happiness.
v) Sailors on the ship saying 'Merry Christmas'. |
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| Question (21): |
Do you think scrooge would have needed to the three ghosts without the appearance of Jacob Marbey's ghost.
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| Answer: No. Scrooge would not have needed to the ghost had Jacob marley not appeared. Jacob Marley appears in chains and shows scrooge what suffering there would be after his death if scrooge did not change his way of life. He warns scrooge of the arrival of the three ghosts and tells him to listen to their advice if he wishes to escape Jacob marley's miserable fate. |
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| Question (22): |
What is the theme of the play "The Christmas Carol"?
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| Answer: The theme of the play is that people should honor the spirit of christmas. Christmas is the time of caring and sharing and this should be observed. The drama traces the change of scrooge from a stingy, hard, unfeeling man to a generous, loving man, this transformation is possible because of the three ghosts who show his past, present and the future. |
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| Question (23): |
Why do you think scrooge was what he was?
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| Answer: He had a very harsh childhood and had not enjoyed the love of his family. He was sent away to a boarding school by a very strict father, for four years. As a result he was an unfeeling man. He was not allowed to celebrate Christmas at home. |
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| Question (24): |
Second ghost: Its all bob cratch it can afford.
1) Who is bob cratch it? What can be afford?
2) Does his family complain?
3) What is his reaction towards him employer? Hoe is it different from his wife's?
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Answer: 1) Bob cratch it is an underpaid clerk in scrooge's office. He could only a small goose for Christmas.
2) His family does not complain. To them the meager goose is a grand meal. They are content with what they have and do not complain.
3) How is it different from his wife's?
Bob cratch it is loyal and grateful towards Mr. Scrooge his employer. He raises a toast to his health. On the other hand his wife is bitter and angry with scrooge. She thinks he is a hard, stingy unfeeling ma |
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| Question (25): |
Scrooge: Let me see some tenderness connected with a death.
1) Who is Scrooge speaking to? What has scrooge just seen?
2) What is Scrooge shown later?
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Answer: 1) Scrooge is speaking to the third ghost. Who is showing him his future. Scrooge had just seen a lonely unclaimed dead body which he recognizes as his own. He has seen two men refusing to go for his funeral unless they get a free meal.
2) Later the third ghost shows scrooge bob cratchit's house where all of them are mourning tiny tim's death. Tony tim is missed by everybody after his death. Then the ghost shows scrooge a tombstone with his name written on it.
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| Question (26): |
What does scrooge mean when he says "I will live in the past, the present and the future"?
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| Answer: Scrooge has realized that he has been a hard stingy and unfeeling man. He promises not to repeat the mistakes of the past, change his present attitude so that his future will be happier and he will not die lovely and unmourned. |
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