1. A Christmas Carol Introduction

2. What do you usually do at Christmas? Decorating a Christmas tree? Singing Christmas carols? Sending Christmas cards?

3. Background information What happened in the past?

4. At the beginning of Queen Victoria’s reign… the celebration of Christmas was in decline. Industrial revolution Workers had little time to celebrate Christmas

5. Decorating a Christmas tree? It is a custom from Germany.

6. Christmas is a Christian holiday on December 25 which celebrates the birth of Jesus.Christianholiday December 25 Jesus People had big feasts and parties. They also exchanged presents to show their love and generosity to each other.

7. Bible scriptures about Christmas And she will give birth to a son; and you will give him the name Jesus; for he will give his people salvation from their sins. (Matthew 1:21) And when they saw the star they were full of joy. (Matthew 2:10)

8. And they came into the house, and saw the young child with Mary, his mother; and falling down on their faces they gave him worship; and from their store they gave him offerings of gold, perfume, and spices. (Matthew 2:11) Bible scriptures about Christmas

9. For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Bible scriptures about Christmas

10. Watch the cartoon of Christmas Carol! http://hk.youtube.com/watch?v=-hA5T1G7rxg

11. Author: Charles Dickens Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was born at Landport near Portsmouth.

12. When Charles was eleven years old, his father was sent to prison for debt. Charles was sent to live by himself and work in a warehouse where he pasted labels on bottles for six shillings a week. Author: Charles Dickens

13. After school, he went to work in a solicitor’s office, but the law was not his real calling. He therefore taught himself shorthand and was able to report parliamentary debates. From his reputation as a reporter he was asked to write. Dickens’ early books were often comic, but as he grew older he became more concerned with the injustices of British society.

14. Setting Like many of Dickens' novels, this one is set mainly in London some time in the middle of the 19th century.

15. Themes Important values in life Poverty and wealth Selfishness and generosity

16. Characters Ebenezer Scrooge - The owner of a London counting-house. The three spirits of Christmas visit him. They want to change Scrooge's greedy, cold-hearted approach to life. Bob Cratchit - Scrooge's clerk, a kind, very poor man with a large family. Though treated harshly by his boss, Cratchit remains a humble and hard-working employee. Tiny Tim - Bob Cratchit's young son, crippled from birth.

17. Jacob Marley - In the living world, Ebenezer Scrooge's equally greedy partner. He appears to Scrooge as a ghost hoping to save his old partner from suffering a similar fate. The Ghost of Christmas Past - The first spirit to visit Scrooge, a curiously childlike spirit. The Ghost of Christmas Present - The second spirit to visit Scrooge. He escorts Scrooge on a tour of his holiday celebrations. Characters

18. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - The third and final spirit to visit Scrooge. He presents Scrooge with a picture of his lonely death. Fred - Scrooge's nephew, a friendly man who loves Christmas. He invites Scrooge to his Christmas party every year, only to be refused by his uncle. Belle - A beautiful woman who Scrooge loved deeply when he was a young man. They soon separated after Scrooge became consumed with greed and the love for wealth. Characters

19. Peter Cratchit - Bob's oldest son, who inherits his father's stiff-collared shirt for Christmas. Martha Cratchit - Bob's oldest daughter, who works in a milliner's shop. (A milliner is a person who designs, produces, and sells hats.) Fan - Scrooge's sister; Fred's mother. In Scrooge's vision of Christmases past, he remembers Fan picking him up from school and walking him home. Characters

20. The Portly Gentlemen - Two gentlemen who visit Scrooge at the beginning of the tale seeking charitable contributions. Mrs. Cratchit - Bob's wife, a kind and loving woman. Characters