A Christmas Carol
By Charles Dickens
Comprehension Questions
The Story:
1. What is a Stave?
2. How many staves are in this story?
3. What is the setting (time and place) of the story?
4. What kind of story is this?
5. List the main characters.
Stave 1 “Marley’s Ghost”
1. Who was Marley?
2. What kind of business was it?
3. Describe Ebenezer Scrooge as we first meet him.
4. What was the weather like?
5. How was the clerk, Bob Cratchit, getting along?
6. Who came to wish Scrooge a “Merry Christmas”?
7. How did Scrooge answer?
8. Why did Fred come to see his uncle?
9. After Fred, who came to the office?
10. Describe the place where Scrooge lived.
11. What did Scrooge see on the knocker of the door?
12. What were the second and third strange things that happened?
13. Who visits Scrooge at his home? Why?
14. How many spirits will visit him?
15. How did the ghost leave?
16. What is the meaning of Marley’s chains?
StaveII “The First of the Three Spirits”
1. What surprised Scrooge when the clock chimed?
2. Why did he wait for one o’clock?
3. Describe the ghost of Christmas Past?
4. Where does this spirit take scrooge first?
5. Where do they go next?
6. What was the third place where they went?
7. Where did they go for the fourth scene?
8. Fifth place?
9. At last, where did Scrooge find himself?
Stave III “The Second of the Three Spirits”
1. Explain how the arrival of the second Spirit differed from that of
the first.
2. Describe the second Spirit.
3. Where did Scrooge and the Spirit go?
4. How many children are there in the Cratchit family?
5. Describe their Christmas.
6. Where did the Spirit take scrooge next?
7. Where did they stop next?
8. What was the next scene?
9. Where did they finally stop?
10. Who are the children?
Stave IV “ The Last of the Spirits”
1. Describe the Phantom.
2. What is the name of this Spirit?
3. How is it different from the other spirits?
4. Where did they go?
5. Who is dead?
6. What did the businessmen call Scrooge?
7. Where did the Ghost take Scrooge next?
8. Who seems to run this place?
9. Who comes to the beetling shop? What is the purpose of the
undertaker, Mrs. Dilbur, and the Charwoman’s visit?
10. Where do they go next?
11. At what particular thing does the Phantom point?
12. What does Scrooge promise the Phantom?
StaveV “The End of it All”
1. What did Scrooge finally do?
2. What did Scrooge learn?
3. Where did he send the boy?
4. What took place at the office the next morning?
5. What did Bob Cratchit think at first?
6. How about Tiny Tim?
7. What are Tiny Tim’s famous words?
8. How does the story end?
**************************************************************
Book Reporting Projects
Select one of the following book report projects:
1. Poster of settings: draw a map showing a bird’s eye view of the area.
Number each location (minimum of 10) on the map. Make a list of the locations
and describe briefly what happened there in the book.
• Drawn map showing birds eye view = 30pts
• 10 numbered locations = 10pts
• List of each location accompanied by a written description of what
happen
there = 50pts
• Creativity = 10pts
2. Five Drawings: complete a series of five drawings that show five of
the
major events in the plot of the book. Write captions for each of the drawings
so that someone who did not read the book can understand the illustrations
• Five (5) drawings showing major events (scenes) in the plot = 45 pts
• Captions for each of the drawings (min. 3 sentences each) = 45pts
• Creativity = 10pts
3. Diorama: make a shoebox diorama of an important scene from the book
you
read. Write two paragraphs explaining the scene and attach it to your
diorama.
• Diorama depicts an important scene from the book (diorama is detailed
and
not vague, it is obvious it is from the book you read) = 50 pts
• Two paragraphs explaining the scene = 40 pts
• Creativity = 10pts
4. Time Line: make a time line of the major vents in the book you read.
Be
sure the divisions on the time line reflect the time periods in the plot. Use
drawings of magazine cutouts to illustrate events along the time line. Be
creative!!!
• Time line reflect major events in the book (explain plot)(at least 5)
= 50 pts
• Drawings or magazine cutouts illustrate events = 40 pts
• Creativity = 10pts
5. Poster of Characters: draw or use cutouts of at least 5 characters and
write an explanation of their roles in the story.
• Drawn or cutouts of 5 characters presented = 35pts
• Explanation of each character’s role in the story (8 sent. Min of each
character) = 55pts
• Creativity = 10pts
Book selection (Must be in your reading level and NOT a movie) due date Friday
10/16
Book Report Due date – Friday 11/20
