1. Guided Comprehension Questions
A Christmas Carol
Guided Comprehension Questions

2. A Christmas Carol ?s Day 1 (pages 2- 4)
What kind of man is Scrooge? Write a quote from the text to show who he is, and explain it.
How does Dickens describe Christmas Eve? Is it a happy, positive description? Is this how people normally describe Christmas Eve in literature?
Why does Scrooge keep the coal in his office? What happens when the clerk (Bob Cratchit) tries to get more?
What does Humbug mean?
Who is the opposite of Scrooge? Does having this opposite make Scrooge seem even worse?
A Christmas Carol ?s

3. A Christmas Carol ?s Day 2 (pages 4-7)
What do the two men want from Scrooge? What is his response? How is his response even worse than a simple “no”?
Does Scrooge give his employee the day off at Christmas? Does he want to? Why?
What happens with Scrooge’s knocker? Do you think this bothers him? Use evidence from the text for your answer.
What is wrapped around Marley’s ghost? What might these things mean?
According to Marley, why do spirits walk the earth?
A Christmas Carol ?s

4. A Christmas Carol ?s Day 3 (pages 7-8)
Explain what this quote means: “I wear the chain I forged in life… I made it link by link and yard by yard. … [Yours] was as full and heavy and as long as this seven Christmas Eves ago. You have built on it since…”
What does Marley say about his business? What should he have worried about in life?
Why has Marley visited Scrooge?
What will happen to Scrooge? Why?
A Christmas Carol ?s

5. Scrooge Diary Take out a new piece of paper, and put a heading on it.
After each chapter, you will write a diary entry as if you are Ebenezer Scrooge. Include:
the events of that chapter,
how you feel because of them.
Remember to write as Scrooge, and not yourself!
5-10 sentences per entry
Scrooge Diary

6. A Christmas Carol ?s Day 4 (pages 8-14)
Where does the first Spirit take Scrooge first?
What was Scrooge’s life like in this time?
Did Scrooge love his sister? Do you think this has anything to do with his relationship with his nephew (her son)?
Why did this Spirit show Scrooge the counting house where he first worked?
Why did the Spirit show Scrooge the scenes with the young girl?
A Christmas Carol ?s

7. Scrooge Diary Take out a new piece of paper, and put a heading on it.
After each chapter, you will write a diary entry as if you are Ebenezer Scrooge. Include:
the events of that chapter,
how you feel because of them.
Remember to write as Scrooge, and not yourself!
5-10 sentences per entry
Scrooge Diary