Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol Stave 1: Marley's Ghost Marley was dead: to begin with. 35 terms. Speak comfort to me, Jacob!’ You’re quite a powerful speaker, sir,’ he added, turning to his nephew. Sometimes people new to the What shall I put you down for?’ `It’s enough for a man to understand his own business, and not to interfere with other people’s. Download A Christmas Carol pdf File size: 0.2 MB What's this? A Christmas Carol Chapter 1 | Marley’s Ghost (Part 1) 10. Even the blind men’s dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; and then would wag their tails as though they said, `No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!’ `A merry Christmas, uncle! answer choices . `Nephew!’ returned the uncle sternly, `keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine.’ and means of warmth. Be here all the earlier next morning.’ `We have no doubt his liberality is well represented by his surviving partner,’ said the gentleman, presenting his credentials. Poulterers’ and grocers’ trades became a splendid joke; a glorious pageant, with which it was next to impossible to believe that such dull principles as bargain and sale had anything to do. This must be distinctly understood, or He should!’ Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. It is doomed to wander through the world -- oh, woe is me! There was plenty of width for that, and room to spare; which is perhaps the reason why Scrooge thought he saw a locomotive hearse going on before him in the gloom. Whether these creatures faded into mist, or mist enshrouded them, he could not tell. Anakin Scrooge signed the death certificate … Page 1 of 27. Charles Dickens' timeless classic about a bitter old man who has a Christmas epiphany. There’s more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!’ cwoodford_23817. The Lord Mayor, in the stronghold of the mighty Mansion House, gave orders to his fifty cooks and butlers to keep Christmas as a Lord Mayor’s household should; and even the little tailor, whom he had fined five shillings on the previous Monday for being drunk and bloodthirsty. ... Who DOES NOT visit Scrooge in chapter one? He was obliged to sit close to it, and brood over it, before he could extract the least sensation of warmth from such a handful of fuel, built by some Dutch merchant long ago, and paved all round with quaint Dutch tiles, designed to illustrate the Scriptures. A Christmas Carol Stave 3. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country’s done for. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there.’ `You wish to be anonymous?’ Scrooge asked the question, because he didn’t know whether a ghost so transparent might find himself in a condition to take a chair; and felt that in the event of its being impossible, it might involve the necessity of an embarrassing explanation. Chapter Summary for Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, stave 1 summary. `You will be haunted,’ resumed the Ghost, `by Three Spirits.’ Quite satisfied, he closed his door, and locked himself in; double-locked himself in, which was not his custom. Foggier yet, and colder! Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode! It was old enough now, and dreary enough, for nobody lived in it but Scrooge, the other rooms being all let out as offices. `Thank ’ee!’ `Let me leave it alone, then,’ said Scrooge. But before he shut his heavy door, he walked through his rooms to see that all was right. went down a slide on Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in honour of its being Christmas Eve, and then ran home to Camden Town as hard as he could pelt, to play at blindman’s-buff. Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk’s fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal. signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, Chapter 1 – Marley’s Ghost. Even the blind men’s dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!’. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!’ We have never had any quarrel, to which I have been a party. After several turns, he sat down again. Marley was dead: to begin with. To see the dingy cloud come drooping down, obscuring everything, one might have thought that Nature lived hard by, and was brewing on a large scale. It is a ponderous chain! AP Human Geography Chapter 7 & 8. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. Seeing clearly that it would be useless to pursue their point, the gentlemen withdrew. `Well!’ returned Scrooge, `I have but to swallow this, and be for the rest of my days persecuted by a legion of goblins, all of my own creation. The classic ghost story by Charles Dickens, abridged in 9 audio episodes - accompanied with in-screen text. If each smooth tile had been a blank at first, with power to shape some picture on its surface from the disjointed fragments of his thoughts, there would have been a copy of old Marley’s head on every one. `Are they still in operation?’, `They are. Becoming immediately sensible of the impropriety, he poked the fire, and extinguished the last frail spark for ever. `Many can’t go there; and many would rather die.’ English. `If they would rather die,’ said Scrooge, `they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Incessant torture of remorse.’ The fireplace was an old one, built by some Dutch merchant long ago, and paved all round with quaint Dutch tiles, designed to illustrate the Scriptures. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. I was afraid, from what you said at first, that something had occurred to stop them in their useful course,’ said Scrooge. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. His colour changed though, when, without a pause, it came on through the heavy door, and passed into the room before his eyes. Hamlet's Father died before the play began, there wander through the world -- oh, woe is me! Family. Stave 2. What right have you to be merry? Nor can I tell you what I would. same to him. His nephew, Fred. And Scrooge’s name was good upon ’Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Chapter 1. An animated summary of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol"Stave I of VA Digital Arts & Humanities Project/The University of Texas at Dallas The third upon the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate. You As Scrooge looked fixedly at this phenomenon, it was a knocker again. `On the wings of the wind,’ replied the Ghost. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. That night, on the stroke of midnight, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Marley. Half a dozen gas-lamps out of the street wouldn’t have lighted the entry too well, so you may suppose that it was pretty dark with Scrooge’s dip. There is no doubt whatever about that. A Christmas Carol Stave 1: Quick Review. What reason have you to be morose? `That is no light part of my penance,’ pursued the Ghost. `Merry Christmas! He thinks he sees the dead Marley in his door knocker. The firm was known as It was the very thing he liked. Save. Chapter Text. `I can.’ He was obliged to sit close to it, and brood over it, before he could extract the least sensation of warmth from such a handful of fuel. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Mine occupies me constantly. cut up by the sad event, but that he was an excellent as if that were the only one thing in the world more ridiculous than a merry Christmas. Tags: Report Quiz. He went the whole length of the expression, and said that he would see him in that extremity first. It is a ponderous chain!’ `Old Jacob Marley, tell me more. `Couldn’t I take `em all at once, and have it over, Jacob?’ hinted Scrooge. It was all the Every one of them wore chains like Marley’s Ghost; some few (they might be guilty governments) were linked together; none were free. The office was closed in a twinkling, and the clerk, with the long ends of his white comforter dangling below his waist (for he boasted no great-coat), went down a slide on Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in honour of its being Christmas Eve, and then ran home to Camden Town as hard as he could pelt, to play at blindman’s-buff. Past, Present and Future – The Threat of Time. `I do,’ said Scrooge. and candles were flaring in the windows of the neighbouring offices, like ruddy smears upon the palpable brown air. `Merry Christmas! Chapter 1 – Marley’s Ghost. `Christmas a humbug, uncle!’ said Scrooge’s nephew. The sound resounded through the house like thunder. Scrooge was not a man to be frightened by echoes. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Look to see me no more; and look that, for your own sake, you remember what has passed between us!’ `The whole time,’ said the Ghost. Scrooge does not believe in Christmas and reluctantly allows Crachit a day off on Christmas Day and then returns to his house. the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? Good afternoon, gentlemen!’ 23 A Christmas Carol: Stave 1 Charles Dickens. Historical Context Scrooge’s countenance fell almost as low as the Ghost’s had done. There is no doubt Men collecting money for the poor. is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands Scrooge was not much in the habit of cracking jokes, nor did he feel, in his heart, by any means waggish then. Thus secured against surprise, he took off his cravat; put on his dressing-gown and slippers, and his nightcap; and sat down before the fire to take his gruel. Don’t be flowery, Jacob! It was not angry or ferocious, but looked at Scrooge as Marley used to look: with ghostly spectacles turned up on its ghostly forehead. Old fire-guards, old shoes, two fish-baskets, washing-stand on three legs, and a poker. Charles Dickens: A Christmas Carol Stave 1: Marley's Ghost (continued) `Come, then,' returned the nephew gaily. Sometimes people new to the business called Scrooge Scrooge, and sometimes Marley, but he answered to both names. [2] It was cold, bleak, biting, foggy weather; and the city clocks had only just gone three, but it was quite dark already. Of course he did. `At this festive season of the year, Mr. Scrooge,’ said the gentleman, taking up a pen, `it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and Destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. Much good it has ever done you!’, There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say, But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round. When they were within two paces of each other, Marley’s Ghost held up its hand, warning him to come no nearer. Nobody under the bed; nobody in the closet; nobody in his dressing-gown, which was hanging up in a suspicious attitude against the wall. `Good afternoon,’ said Scrooge. External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. Exercise 1. Scrooge glanced about him on the floor, in the expectation of finding himself surrounded by some fifty or sixty fathoms of iron cable: but he could see nothing. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. and never raise them to that blessed Star which led the Wise Men to a poor abode! Being an undertaker is a very difficult job. The Ghost of Jacob Marley. A Christmas Carol Stave 1 DRAFT. Be here all the earlier next morning. What reason have you to be merry? It was all the same to him. Let it also be borne in mind that Scrooge had not bestowed one thought on Marley, since his last mention of his seven years’ dead partner that afternoon. business called Scrooge Scrooge, and sometimes Marley, Marley was dead, to begin with – there’s no doubt about that. Chapter Summaries Stave 1 Summary Stave 2 Summary ... Download A Christmas Carol Study Guide. He tried to say `Humbug!’ but stopped at the first syllable. The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.’ It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. Marley and Scrooge were business partners once. `What right have you to be dismal? Scrooge never painted out Old Marley's name. A very little more, is all permitted to me. It was not an agreeable idea. Of course he did. dawnlucas. Despite the harsh weather Scrooge ref… Scrooge knew he was dead? `Because,’ said Scrooge, `a little thing affects them. and solemnised it with an undoubted bargain. `Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?’ `You travel fast?’ said Scrooge. own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that What reason have you to be morose? The ancient tower of a church, whose gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in the wall, became invisible, and struck the hours and quarters in the clouds, with tremulous vibrations afterwards as if its teeth were chattering in its frozen head up there. `But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,’ faltered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself. He looked out. There is no doubt whatever about that. literally to astonish his son's weak mind. I cannot rest, I cannot stay, I cannot linger anywhere. Again the spectre raised a cry, and shook its chain and wrung its shadowy hands. regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin. Scrooge followed to the window: desperate in his curiosity. Scrooge Piercing,searching, biting cold" `But you don’t keep it.’ The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he Becoming immediately sensible of the impropriety, he poked the fire, and extinguished the last frail spark for ever. `A merry Christmas, uncle! Upon its coming in, the dying flame leaped up, as though it cried `I know him; Marley’s Ghost!’ and fell again. What’s Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer; a time for balancing your books and having every item in ’em through a round dozen of months presented dead against you? I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. `Good afternoon!’ Inside the office, Scrooge watches over his clerk, a poor diminutive man named Bob Cratchit. But they and their spirit voices faded together; and the night became as it had been when he walked home. It held up its chain at arm’s length, as if that were the cause of all its unavailing grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground again. Scrooge signed it. It was cold, bleak biting, foggy weather; and the city clocks had only just gone three, but it was quite dark already. the point I started from. A Christmas Carol. Scrooge signed it. Assess your knowledge of Stave 1 of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol using this combination quiz and worksheet. Quite satisfied, he closed his door, and locked himself in; double-locked himself in, which was not his custom. It was not in impenetrable shadow as the other objects in the yard were, but had a dismal light about it, like a bad lobster in a dark cellar. Scrooge fell upon his knees, and clasped his hands before his face. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. 618 times. Pondering on what the Ghost had said, he did so now, but without lifting up his eyes, or getting off his knees. To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call `nuts’ to Scrooge. chose to put his hand to. `What right have you to be dismal? `You don’t mean that, I am sure?’ The fog and frost so hung about the black old gateway of the house, that it seemed as if the Genius of the Weather sat in mournful meditation on the threshold. It was with great astonishment, and with a strange, inexplicable dread, that as he looked, he saw this bell begin to swing. Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir.’, `And the Union workhouses’ demanded Scrooge. The truth is, that he tried to be smart, as a means of distracting his own attention, and keeping down his terror; for the spectre’s voice disturbed. He lived in chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner. It was long, and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge observed it closely) of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel. The city clocks had only just gone three, but it was quite dark already -- it had not been light all day -- and candles were flaring in the windows of the neighbouring offices, like ruddy smears upon the palpable brown air. Besides -- excuse me -- I don’t know that.’ Scrooge fell upon his knees, and clasped his hands before his face. Mind! Fragen zum Text. A Christmas Carol - Chapter 1 This is the B2 level text of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol chapter 1 with audio and comprehension questions. Out upon merry Christmas! And being, from the emotion he had undergone, or the fatigues of the day, or his glimpse of the Invisible World, or the dull conversation of the Ghost, or the lateness of the hour, much in need of repose; went straight to bed, without undressing, and fell asleep upon the instant. The brightness of the shops where holly sprigs and berries crackled in the lamp heat of the windows, made pale faces ruddy as they passed. A Christmas Carol quizzes about important details and events in every section of the book. The clerk promised that he would; and Scrooge walked out with a growl. Scrooge signed it. 16 terms. About This Quiz & Worksheet. Come! Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in his usual melancholy tavern; beguiled the rest of the evening with his banker’s-book, He lived in chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner, it must have run there when it was a young house, playing at hide-and-seek with other houses, and forgotten the way out again. What right have you to be merry? On Christmas Eve, cruel penny-pincher Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three spirits who show him visions of his past, present, and future. `Hear me!’ cried the Ghost. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. undertaker . gentleman rashly turning out after dark in a breezy `Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. You have laboured on it, since. Scrooge then remembered to have heard that ghosts in haunted houses were described as dragging chains. THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS. Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it. `Seven years dead,’ mused Scrooge. `The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then?’ said Scrooge. His body was transparent; so that Scrooge, observing him, and looking through his waistcoat, could see the two buttons on his coat behind. And pray a gladsome Christmas For all your fellow-men; Carol, brothers, carol, Christmas Day again." It swung so softly in the outset that it scarcely made a sound; but soon it rang out loudly, and so did every bell in the house. `Both very busy, sir.’ There it stood, years afterwards, above the warehouse door: Scrooge and Marley. `I’m very glad to hear it.’ `Under the impression that they scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind or body to the multitude,’ returned the gentleman, `a few of us are endeavouring to raise a fund to buy the Poor some meat and drink. Mind! You’re poor enough.’ It is required of every man,’ the Ghost returned, `that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. That, and its livid colour, made it horrible; but its horror seemed to be in spite of the face and beyond its control, rather than a part or its own expression. `They are. Oh! The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!’