A Christmas Carol

1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

2. Elements of Drama • stage directions – instructions for the director, actors, and stage crew • drama – a story that is intended to be performed before an audience • climax- the moment of highest tension and excitement in the plot of a drama • dialogue – a conversation between characters in a drama • script – the form in which a drama is written, including character’s lines • foil – a character who provides a sharp contrast to the qualities of the main character • props – the objects the actors use during the play (cup, chair, book) • scenes & acts – divisions in a drama (similar to chapters in a novel)

3. Stage Directions

5. A Quick Review • Setting- The time and place of a story Example: It was December 24th, 1824, on a snowy Christmas eve in Victorian London. • Personification- Giving human characteristics to non-human things Example: The knife and fork looked on happily as father began to carve the turkey. • Foreshadowing- Hinting at things to come Example: Scrooge wished he could rid himself of the sick feeling in his gut that told him something terrible was going to happen.

6. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens • Overview-- Ebenezer Scrooge, a tight-fisted and bitter man, is visited by three spirits to bring about his redemption before his death. He learns to love his fellow man after being shown the love and generosity that symbolizes Christmas.

7. Introduction by Charles Dickens foreshadowing…....

8. Charles Dickens Charles Dickens (1812-1870), English Victorian era author wrote numerous highly acclaimed novels. • Dickens‘ writing style is flowing and poetic, with a strong comic touch. • Many people thought of Dickens as an advocate for the poor, at a time when there was little sympathy towards those in poverty. • Dickens other works include: Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, Bleak House, Nicholas Nickleby, The Pickwick Papers

9. A Christmas Carol • It’s hard to imagine a Christmas season without the story of old Scrooge, Bah Humbug! and “God bless us, every one.” At the time this story was written (1843), the generous spirit of Christmas charity didn’t exist in England. Many people did not believe in generosity to the poor. Instead, they believed the poor somehow brought poverty upon themselves. * * * * * *

10. A Christmas Carol • In a clever play on words, Dickens divides the book into 5 “staves” instead of chapters. Staves is a musical term, in keeping with the title, A Christmas Carol– which, of course, is a song.

11. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss The character of the Grinch is based on the protagonist of “A Christmas Carol” – Scrooge. As we read the drama, note similarities in the two main characters and the plot of both the book and the play.

12. Protagonist & Antagonist “A Christmas Carol” is unusual because Scrooge, the Protagonist (usually the good guy), is a very BAD guy. The antagonist (usually the bad guy) is the good guy. Remember that the antagonist is the person who causes the conflict for the protagonist. They are not always good guys or bad guys.

13. Angel in Manhattan by Paul Ellis Tell the man who repairs the wings for angels That one has fallen among the mortals on Bleeker Street I lent a hand, she looked up at the steeples As if to blame them for the pavement beneath her feet She said, "I never much liked flying, but the job requires trying The hard part's avoiding buildings and concrete" Spread the news, 'cause there's an angel in Manhattan Call out the paparazzi and the television crews Let the people choose Would a little Faith come to harm them? Print the headlines up in the New York Daily News It was just another day Like any other, other day A Tuesday afternoon I hailed a cab, a crowd gathered as it pulled beside us And somebody tore at her wings, but I helped her safely inside "I'm much obliged," she said, but the driver he looked shaken He said, "You're fakin', lady, who's taking who for a ride" But then we floated up over the traffic, she turned the radio to static, And she sang to him in Billy Holiday's sweet voice Spread the news 'cause there's an angel in Manhattan Call out the paparazzi and the television crews Hey if you choose would a little faith come to harm you Print the headlines up in the New York Daily News It was just another day what would the mayor say “Good afternoon Oh good afternoon"  We flew down the length of Fifth Avenue She threw out miracles it was a hysterical ride And if the crowd on the sidewalk looked skeptical She took the blue right out of their cynical eye "It's all what you feel inside"  She shook the mayor's hand and he declared that he'd hold a press conference The fans and protestors blocked the stairs to city hall "I'd like to thank you all" he said and when she stepped before the cameras Man it felt like a trial but she smiled as the questions were called What do you say to detractors who claim you're just some actor“ She said "the question here is do I believe in you“ It was just another day like any other other day

14. Vocabulary • solitude – the state of being alone • charitable – generous in giving • incoherent – Unable to think or express one's thoughts in a clear or orderly manner • finale – at the end, the concluding part • odious – causing or deserving strong dislike • currency - money • welfare – a supplying of needs • emerge – to come into sight • provision - a supplies of food or other basic needs • summon – to call for with authority or urgency

15. Match the vocabulary words to the pictures

16. Vocabulary (cont.) • mortal – human, of the earth • surplus – extra, more than is needed • abundance - great amount or supply • macabre – suggesting the horror of death and decay • endeavor - to try • transform – to change the form or appearance of • pledge - word of honor, oath • reassurance – a restoring of confidence • anonymous – not having one’s name known • destitute – lacking the necessities of life

17. Match the vocabulary words to the pictures

18. Stave 1 - opening

19. A Christmas Carol • Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s partner has been dead, 7 years to the day that our story begins. • The first scene unfolds in the cold, cheerless office of Scrooge’s counting house.

20. A Christmas Carol • As his faithful clerk Bob Cratchit toils, Scrooge is visited by his nephew and invited to Christmas dinner the next day. Scrooge declares that those who celebrate Christmas should be boiled in their own pudding and dismisses him. • Two men who come seeking donations for the poor are dismissed with Scrooge’s wish that the poor would die and “decrease the surplus population.”

21. A Christmas Carol • Jacob Marley’s visit is dismissed as “more gravy than grave” by Scrooge, but it ends up setting the stage for the three ghosts. Which ghost’s message most resembles that of Jacob Marley’s?

22. A Christmas Carol • Pay careful attention to the three ghosts. Each message has a specific effect on Scrooge. • What does the ghost of Christmas past remind Scrooge of? • Whose generous heart touches Scrooge in the present? • What does Scrooge’s future hold if he continues to be greedy and self-absorbed?

23. Personification • Dickens portrays Ignorance and Want as two frail, ghastly children. • Do you think the main causes of poverty are ignorance and want? Explain why or why not.

24. A Christmas Carol • Please summarize the story, in three or four paragraphs, paying careful attention to: • S—Setting (where and when the story takes place) • P—People (describe the main characters) • A—Action (summarize the plot) • C—Climax (the most dramatic part of the story) • E-- Ending

26. Movie Posters

27. Richard Williams Animated Version of A Christmas Carol

28. Cartoon Versions Flintstones, Mickey Mouse, Ghostbusters, Family Guy, Bugs Bunny, Jetsons, Muppets

29. A Christmas CarolThe Ultra Condensed Version Ebenezer Scrooge Bah, humbug. You'll work thirty-eight hours on Christmas Day, keep the heat at five degrees, and like it. Ghost of Jacob Marley Ebenezer Scrooge, three ghosts of Christmas will come and tell you you're mean. Three Ghosts of Christmas You're mean. Ebenezer Scrooge At last, I have seen the light. Let's dance in the streets. Have some money. THE END