This document provides context and analysis of Ebenezer Scrooge's character in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". It examines several key passages that reveal Scrooge's initially cold and miserly nature through his tight-fistedness with money. However, as Scrooge experiences visions of Christmas past, present and future, he begins to show signs of empathy, regret for past mistakes, and a desire to reform his ways and treat others with more kindness. By the end of the novel, Scrooge undergoes a profound transformation in character from an isolated misanthrope to a generous and charitable man.

1. “A Christmas Carol”
Charles Dickens

2. Stave 1

3. tight-fisted

4. squeezing

5. wrenching

6. grasping

7. clutching

8. Scrooge’s Character
“Oh! but he was a tight-fisted hand at the
grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching,
grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!”

9. Activity
What impressions does the reader get of Scrooge’s
character from this quotation?
• Think about the connotations of some of the words
Dickens has chosen. How do they add to our
understanding?

11. Starter
KEY QUOTES FOR SCROOGE:
• What is a phrase Scrooge always repeats?
• In what way is he mean to his secretary? [Clerk]
• What are his thoughts on Christmas?
• What is he obsessed with? [keeps mentioning it]

12. Focus for this Unit
How does Scrooge’s character change over the
course of the novel?

13. “Up Scrooge went, not caring a button for that: darkness is cheap, and Scrooge
liked it. But before that he shut his heavy door, he walked through his rooms to
see that all was right. He had just enough recollection of the face to desire to do that.
Sitting room, bed-room, lumber-room. All as they should be. Nobody under the table,
nobody under the sofa; a small fire in the grate; spoon and basin ready; and the little
saucepan of gruel (Scrooge had a cold in his head) upon the hob. Nobody under the
bed; nobody in the closet; nobody in his dressing-gown, which was hanging up in a
suspicious attitude against the wall. Lumber-room as usual. Old fire-guard, old shoes,
two fish-baskets, washing-stand on three legs, and a poker.
Quite satisfied, he closed his door, and locked himself in; double-locked himself in,
which was not his custom.” (page 12)

14. Activity
“darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it.”
• How do these words add to the reader’s understanding of
Scrooge’s character?

15. Language Analysis
“Nobody under the table, nobody under the sofa; ...
Nobody under the bed; nobody in the closet; nobody in his
dressing-gown, ...”

16. Activity
What does the reader learn about Scrooge from his
reaction to seeing Marley’s face in his door knocker?

17. Homework – Close Reading Activity
Re-read page 13-14, where Dickens
describes Marley’s ghost.
• Using information from the text, draw
Marley’s ghost and label your picture
with quotations from the text.
Due: Monday

18. Stave 2

19. “Then, with a rapidity of transition very foreign to his usual
character, he said, in pity for his former self, ‘Poor boy!’ and cried
again.
‘I wish,’ Scrooge muttered, putting his hand in his pocket, and
looking about him, after drying his eyes with his cuff: ‘but it’s too
late now.’
‘What’s the matter?’ asked the Spirit.
‘Nothing,’ said Scrooge. ‘Nothing. There was a boy singing a
Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should have like to have
given him something: that’s all.’ ”
(Page 28)

20. Activity
How does Scrooge show that he may be changing when
he sees the first vision?

21. Scrooge’s Character
‘Nothing. There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my
door last night. I should have like to have given him
something: that’s all.’

22. He felt the Spirit’s glance, and stopped.
‘What is the matter?’ asked the Ghost.
‘Nothing particular,’ said Scrooge.
‘Something, I think?’ the Ghost insisted.
‘No,’ said Scrooge, ‘No. I should like to be able to say a word or
two to my clerk just now! That’s all.’
(Page 34)

23. Scrooge’s Character
‘No,’ said Scrooge, ‘No. I should like to be able to say a
word or two to my clerk just now! That’s all.’

24. Activity
What does the reader learn about Scrooge by his reaction
to the vision of Fezziwig’s party?

25. Stave 3

26. “submissively”

27. “ ‘Spirit,’ said Scrooge submissively, ‘conduct me where you will. I
went forth last night on compulsion, and I learnt a lesson which is
working now. To-night, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit
by it.’ ”
(Page 43)

28. Activity
How does the word ‘submissively’ reveal a change in
Scrooge?

29. ‘Spirit,’ said Scrooge, with an interest he had never
felt before, ‘tell me if Tiny Tim will live.’
‘I see a vacant seat,’ replied the Ghost, ‘…the
child will die.’
‘No, no,’ said Scrooge. ‘Oh no, kind Spirit! Say he
will be spared.’
…returned the Ghost, ‘…If he be like to die, he
had better do it, and decrease the surplus
population.’
Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words
quoted by the spirit, and was overcome with
penitence and grief. (Pg 52)

30. Scrooge’s Character
Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by
the spirit, and was overcome with penitence and grief.

31. Activity
Why does Scrooge feel ‘penitence’ and ‘grief’ after the
Ghost’s words?

32. Activity: PEE
P: Scrooge begins to show a change toward being a more
empathetic character.
E: This is implied/revealed/portrayed/suggested when
Dickens describes Scrooge as……..
E: This shows us that Scrooge is beginning to change as
he feels….
E+: The word ‘penitence’ tells us that……

33. Stave 4

34. Activity
In your reading of Stave 4, what evidence can you find
to suggest a change in Scrooge’s character?
• In your English book, write down the quotations and
page numbers of your evidence.

35. Point to Ponder...
In Stave 4, Scrooge sees how the news of
his death would be greeted by others and
how they would behave.
• What effect does this have on Scrooge’s
character?