1. Guided Comprehension Questions
A Christmas Carol
Guided Comprehension Questions

2. Up to 10 points extra credit for each of the Spirits you draw accurately. Use the text, not a movie!

3. A Christmas Carol ?s Chapter 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

4. A Christmas Carol ?s Chapter 1 (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

5. A Christmas Carol ?s Chapter 1 (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

6. 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 Chapter 1,
how you feel because of them.
Remember to write as Scrooge, and not yourself!
5-10 sentences per entry
Scrooge Diary

7. A Christmas Carol ?s Chapter 2 (pages 8-14)
Where will the first ghost take Scrooge?
What was Scrooge’s childhood like?
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

8. Continue on the same piece of paper as you used for the diary before.
Write a diary entry as if you are Ebenezer Scrooge. Include:
the events of Chapter 2,
how you feel because of them.
Remember to write as Scrooge, and not yourself!
5-10 sentences per entry
Scrooge Diary

9. A Christmas Carol ?s Chapter 3 (pages 15-22)
How is the Second Ghost different than the first?
Describe the Cratchit family.
What will happen to Tiny Tim?
What does Bob say about Scrooge at Christmas dinner? What does his wife say in response?
What does Scrooge’s nephew say about him?
Why does the Ghost repeat Scrooge’s words back to him? What effect does this have?
A Christmas Carol ?s

10. Continue on the same piece of paper as you used for the diary before.
Write a diary entry as if you are Ebenezer Scrooge. Include:
the events of Chapter 3,
how you feel because of them.
Remember to write as Scrooge, and not yourself!
5-10 sentences per entry
Scrooge Diary

11. A Christmas Carol ?s Chapter 4 (pages 22-28)
From the second word, we know this Ghost is different than the other one. What do you think this ghost will be like? Why is it different?
What do these people do with the dead man’s things?
How does Scrooge react to this?
Who feels “any emotion caused by this man’s death”? What emotion do they feel?
Who else is dead?
Who was the dead man on the bed?
What promise does Scrooge make?
A Christmas Carol ?s

12. Continue on the same piece of paper as you used for the diary before.
Write a diary entry as if you are Ebenezer Scrooge. Include:
the events of Chapter 4,
how you feel because of them.
Remember to write as Scrooge, and not yourself!
5-10 sentences per entry
Scrooge Diary

13. A Christmas Carol ?s Chapter 5 (pages 28-30)
What does Scrooge notice about his bed curtains? Why does this matter?
What is Scrooge’s first act of kindness? To whom is it given?
What is his second act of kindness? To whom is it given?
Where does Scrooge go for Christmas? How is he received there?
What does Scrooge do to Bob Cratchit the next day?
What happens to Tiny Tim?
What do people think about Scrooge’s “alteration” (change)? Does this matter to him?
A Christmas Carol ?s

14. Continue on the same piece of paper as you used for the diary before.
Write a diary entry as if you are Ebenezer Scrooge. Include:
the events of Chapter 5,
how you feel because of them.
Remember to write as Scrooge, and not yourself!
5-10 sentences per entry
Scrooge Diary