Lieke van der Made
V6B
10-03-2020
Engels
,
, Book description
Title A Christmas Carol
Author Charles Dickens
First publication 1843
I Summary
A mean-spirited, miserly old man named Ebenezer Scrooge sits in his counting-house on a frigid
Christmas Eve. His clerk, Bob Cratchit, shivers in the anteroom because Scrooge refuses to spend
money on heating coals for a fire. Scrooge's nephew, Fred, pays his uncle a visit and invites him to his
annual Christmas party. Two portly gentlemen also drop by and ask Scrooge for a contribution to
their charity. Scrooge reacts to the holiday visitors with bitterness and venom, spitting out an angry
"Bah! Humbug!" in response to his nephew's "Merry Christmas!"
Later that evening, after returning to his dark, cold apartment, Scrooge receives a chilling visitation
from the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley. Marley, looking haggard and pallid, relates his
unfortunate story. As punishment for his greedy and self-serving life his spirit has been condemned
to wander the Earth weighted down with heavy chains. Marley hopes to save Scrooge from sharing
the same fate. Marley informs Scrooge that three spirits will visit him during each of the next three
nights. After the wraith disappears, Scrooge collapses into a deep sleep.
He wakes moments before the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas Past, a strange childlike phantom
with a brightly glowing head. The spirit escorts Scrooge on a journey into the past to previous
Christmases from the curmudgeon's earlier years. Invisible to those he watches, Scrooge revisits his
childhood school days, his apprenticeship with a jolly merchant named Fezziwig, and his engagement
to Belle, a woman who leaves Scrooge because his lust for money eclipses his ability to love another.
Scrooge, deeply moved, sheds tears of regret before the phantom returns him to his bed.
The Ghost of Christmas Present, a majestic giant clad in a green fur robe, takes Scrooge through
London to unveil Christmas as it will happen that year. Scrooge watches the large, bustling Cratchit
family prepare a miniature feast in its meager home. He discovers Bob Cratchit's crippled son, Tiny
Tim, a courageous boy whose kindness and humility warms Scrooge's heart. The specter then zips
Scrooge to his nephew's to witness the Christmas party. Scrooge finds the jovial gathering delightful
and pleads with the spirit to stay until the very end of the festivities. As the day passes, the spirit
ages, becoming noticeably older. Toward the end of the day, he shows Scrooge two starved children,
Ignorance and Want, living under his coat. He vanishes instantly as Scrooge notices a dark, hooded
figure coming toward him.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come leads Scrooge through a sequence of mysterious scenes relating
to an unnamed man's recent death. Scrooge sees businessmen discussing the dead man's riches,
some vagabonds trading his personal effects for cash, and a poor couple expressing relief at the
death of their unforgiving creditor. Scrooge, anxious to learn the lesson of his latest visitor, begs to
know the name of the dead man. After pleading with the ghost, Scrooge finds himself in a
churchyard, the spirit pointing to a grave. Scrooge looks at the headstone and is shocked to read his
own name. He desperately implores the spirit to alter his fate, promising to renounce his insensitive,
avaricious ways and to honor Christmas with all his heart. Whoosh! He suddenly finds himself safely
tucked in his bed.
Overwhelmed with joy by the chance to redeem himself and grateful that he has been returned to
Christmas Day, Scrooge rushes out onto the street hoping to share his newfound Christmas spirit. He
V6B
10-03-2020
Engels
,
, Book description
Title A Christmas Carol
Author Charles Dickens
First publication 1843
I Summary
A mean-spirited, miserly old man named Ebenezer Scrooge sits in his counting-house on a frigid
Christmas Eve. His clerk, Bob Cratchit, shivers in the anteroom because Scrooge refuses to spend
money on heating coals for a fire. Scrooge's nephew, Fred, pays his uncle a visit and invites him to his
annual Christmas party. Two portly gentlemen also drop by and ask Scrooge for a contribution to
their charity. Scrooge reacts to the holiday visitors with bitterness and venom, spitting out an angry
"Bah! Humbug!" in response to his nephew's "Merry Christmas!"
Later that evening, after returning to his dark, cold apartment, Scrooge receives a chilling visitation
from the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley. Marley, looking haggard and pallid, relates his
unfortunate story. As punishment for his greedy and self-serving life his spirit has been condemned
to wander the Earth weighted down with heavy chains. Marley hopes to save Scrooge from sharing
the same fate. Marley informs Scrooge that three spirits will visit him during each of the next three
nights. After the wraith disappears, Scrooge collapses into a deep sleep.
He wakes moments before the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas Past, a strange childlike phantom
with a brightly glowing head. The spirit escorts Scrooge on a journey into the past to previous
Christmases from the curmudgeon's earlier years. Invisible to those he watches, Scrooge revisits his
childhood school days, his apprenticeship with a jolly merchant named Fezziwig, and his engagement
to Belle, a woman who leaves Scrooge because his lust for money eclipses his ability to love another.
Scrooge, deeply moved, sheds tears of regret before the phantom returns him to his bed.
The Ghost of Christmas Present, a majestic giant clad in a green fur robe, takes Scrooge through
London to unveil Christmas as it will happen that year. Scrooge watches the large, bustling Cratchit
family prepare a miniature feast in its meager home. He discovers Bob Cratchit's crippled son, Tiny
Tim, a courageous boy whose kindness and humility warms Scrooge's heart. The specter then zips
Scrooge to his nephew's to witness the Christmas party. Scrooge finds the jovial gathering delightful
and pleads with the spirit to stay until the very end of the festivities. As the day passes, the spirit
ages, becoming noticeably older. Toward the end of the day, he shows Scrooge two starved children,
Ignorance and Want, living under his coat. He vanishes instantly as Scrooge notices a dark, hooded
figure coming toward him.
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come leads Scrooge through a sequence of mysterious scenes relating
to an unnamed man's recent death. Scrooge sees businessmen discussing the dead man's riches,
some vagabonds trading his personal effects for cash, and a poor couple expressing relief at the
death of their unforgiving creditor. Scrooge, anxious to learn the lesson of his latest visitor, begs to
know the name of the dead man. After pleading with the ghost, Scrooge finds himself in a
churchyard, the spirit pointing to a grave. Scrooge looks at the headstone and is shocked to read his
own name. He desperately implores the spirit to alter his fate, promising to renounce his insensitive,
avaricious ways and to honor Christmas with all his heart. Whoosh! He suddenly finds himself safely
tucked in his bed.
Overwhelmed with joy by the chance to redeem himself and grateful that he has been returned to
Christmas Day, Scrooge rushes out onto the street hoping to share his newfound Christmas spirit. He
