'A Christmas Carol' - Plot Summary

• Chapter One - Scrooge receives a warning

  . Ebenezer Scrooge is in his counting-house. It's Christmas Eve and both he and his clerk, Bob Cratchit, are still working

  . Fred, Scrooge's nephew, arrives to wish his uncle a Merry Christmas, and to invite him to celebrate with his family. Scrooge rudely refuses his offer

  . Scrooge arrives home, and as he's about to open his door he sees the face of Jacob Marley (his old business partner) in the door knocker

  . Later that evening, Marley's ghost appears in Scrooge's bedroom. Marley is wrapped in a heavy chain and doomed to endlessly roam the earth

  . Marley says that Scrooge will suffer the same fate as him unless he changes his ways. He explains that Scrooge will be visited by three spirits and that they're his only chance of saving himself
• Chapter Two - the first ghost shows Scrooge his past

  . The Ghost of Christmas Past appears to Scrooge

  . The ghost takes Scrooge to his village where he grew up, and Scrooge sees his younger self at school, where he's spending Christmas alone

  . Scrooge then sees some happier Christmases: his sister Fan coming to take him home from school, and a party organised by his old boss, Mr Fezziwig

  . Next, Scrooge is taken to see the moment when his fiancee, Belle, broke of their engagement because of Scrooge's obsession with money

  . He then sees Belle grown up, with a family of her own

  . Scrooge struggles with the ghost to make it stop the visions and he's transported back to his bedroom
• Chapter Three - Scrooge learns about the joy of Christmas

  . The Ghost of Christmas Present arrives. It's jolly and friendly

  . Scrooge and the ghost visit Bob Cratchit's family, who are enjoying their Christmas Day. Scrooge learns that Bob's son, Tiny Tim, will die in the near future

  . Scrooge and the ghost travel the world, visiting other people. They're all enjoying Christmas

  . Then they visit Fred's house. The people there make fun of Scrooge and his attitude towards Christmas

  . The ghost reveals two starving children hidden within its robes. The children are named Ignorance and Want - the ghost warns Scrooge to beware of them
• Chapter Four - Scrooge sees his future

  . The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come comes to collect Scrooge

  . The ghost silently shows Scrooge the reaction of some people to the death of an unknown man. Nobody seems to care very much that the man is dead

  . An undertaker, a charwoman (cleaner) and a laundress try to sell the dead man's belongings, which they've stolen. They've even taken the shirt from his body

  . Scrooge and the ghost visit Bob Cratchit's family. Scrooge discovers Tiny Tim has died, and the Cratchits are very upset

  . The ghost takes Scrooge to a graveyard, and points to a grave with Scrooge's name on it. Scrooge promises to the ghost that he will honour Christmas and change the course of his life
• Chapter Five - Scrooge is a changed man

  . Scrooge finds himself back in his own bed. He discovers that it's still Christmas Day

  . Scrooge has completely changed - he laughs and wishes passers-by a Merry Christmas. He buys the Cratchit family a huge turkey, then joins Fred and his companions for Christmas dinner. The next day, Scrooge gives Bob a pay rise

  . We're told that Tiny Tim will survive, and that Scrooge celebrates Christmas for the rest of his life