ACC - Stave 3+4+5

• True or false? The Spirit shows Scrooge a variety of situations and people at the start of this scene and the poor and sick people are not celebrating Christmas

  False - Even the most deprived people in the population show an "air of cheerfulness", suggesting that Christmas is a time of year that everybody can enjoy in some way
• How does Scrooge react at the start of Stave Three when the clock strikes one, but no Spirit immediately arrives?

  He trembles violently - Again, the clock striking one indicates the start of a new section but this time Scrooge must investigate his surroundings to find the next Spirit
• What word completes the quotation?"It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more __________ and less fit to live than millions like this poor man's child."

  Worthless - The Spirit teaches Scrooge the Christian principle that his wealth does not make him any more deserving of God's love
• What word completes the quotation?"'The Founder of the __________ indeed!' cried Mrs Cratchit, reddening. 'I wish I had him here. I'd give him a piece of my mind to feast upon, and I hope he'd have a good appetite for it.'"


  Feast - The fact that Mrs Cratchit is so angry with Scrooge emphasises his cruelty, as the Cratchits are positive about everything else
• What word completes the quotation?"This boy is __________. This girl is Want. Beware them both"

  Ignorance - The personification of "Ignorance" as a poor child shows the impact that ignoring the poor has on future generations
• What word completes the quotation?"This boy is Ignorance. This girl is ____. Beware them both"

  Want - The personification of "Want" as a poor child shows the impact that ignoring the poor has on future generations
• What two words complete the quotation?"'I am the Ghost of __________ __________,' said the Spirit. 'Look upon me!'"

  Christmas Present
• What word completes the quotation?"In easy state upon this couch, there sat a jolly _____, glorious to see; who bore a glowing torch, in shape not unlike Plenty's horn, and held it up, high up, to shed its light on Scrooge, as he came peeping round the door."

  Giant - The Ghost of Christmas Present is a more positive figure, who reminds Scrooge of happier times in his life
• What word completes the quotation?"though Scrooge pressed it down with all his force, he could not hide the __________: which streamed from under it, in an unbroken flood upon the ground"

  Light - The metaphor of the "light" as an "unbroken flood" suggests that Scrooge will not be able to hide from the Ghosts' teachings, no matter how much he tries
• What name completes the quotation?"Mrs __________ made the gravy (ready beforehand in a little saucepan) hissing hot; Master Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vigour; Miss Belinda sweetened up the apple-sauce; Martha dusted the hot plates"


  Cratchit - The Cratchits all join in to help each other make Christmas special. This is a sharp contrast to the "solitary" Scrooge.
• When Scrooge asks the Spirit if Ignorance and Want have "no refuge or resource", what does the Spirit do in reply?

  The Spirit reminds Scrooge of his earlier words to highlight his negative previous attitude to children like them. There are many other people just like Scrooge who may feel the same
• The Spirit warns Scrooge that ignoring Ignorance and Want will lead to society's "doom". What does this word mean?

  Destruction - Scrooge and others like him must mend their ways to change society as a whole for everybody's benefit
• Before the second Spirit leaves, it reveals two thin and hungry children hidden in its robes. What do they represent?

  Want and Ignorance - Dickens believed that people's ignorance was the biggest single factor in continuing poverty and he wanted to ensure that people were educated about it.
• The Ghost sprinkles incense over people and buildings in this stave. What is the purpose of it doing this?

  To bring kindness and good humour to the people the incense lands on

  As soon as the Spirit does this, we are told that people's good humour is "restored directly". Anyone who is arguing immediately stops.
• The Ghost seems to sympathise with a particular group of people in particular. Who are they?

  The poor - The key message of Dickens was that people need to help the poor and share their wealth around. This Ghost is the embodiment of his message.
• How many shillings a week does Bob Cratchit earn?

  15 Shillings - Despite earning so little, Bob is able to provide a happy Christmas for his family, showing that money is not the most important thing to them
• When the Spirit takes Scrooge to see Fred's party, who is the only person NOT to make fun of Scrooge?

  Fred - Apart from Fred, the other partygoers take great delight in ridiculing Scrooge. Fred, however, feels sorry for him. He can see that the person Scrooge is hurting the most, is himself.
• True or false? Scrooge previously said that the best places for the poor were prisons and workhouses

  True - The Cratchits show Scrooge that this is not true
• How does Scrooge feel when the Ghost tells him he is "more worthless and less fit to live" than Tiny Tim and children who are like him?

  Humbled and Embarrassed - Scrooge can no longer see himself as better than others as he has seen the true goodness of the Cratchits
• When Scrooge learns, without help, Tiny Tim will die, the Spirit reminds Scrooge that before he said that if the poor were going to die, they had "better do it and decrease the surplus population".Which one best explains what he meant?

  1. The poor weren't important to him and won't be missed if they die
  2. There is too much overcrowding in London
  3. It would be better for them to die quickly instead of dragging it out

  1 - They all have some truth but this one has the best explanation. It comments on Scrooge's character and his values, and is the most significant to the message of the novel.
• What adjectives are used to describe the appearance of Ignorance and Want?

  Miserable, wretched; hideous - Dickens deliberately created the appearance of the children to be shocking to his Victorian readers so that they would empathise with the plight of children like them
• Which of these words fit the best in the blanks?Bob raises a glass to "the founder of the feast", __________. Mrs Cratchit is __________ to raise a toast to him and says she will only do so for Bob's sake and the __________.

  Mr Scrooge, Reluctant; day's
• Fred makes a toast to Scrooge, which makes him feel "light of heart". Why does Scrooge have this reaction?

  He calls Scrooge "Uncle Scrooge" - Scrooge is reminded that he can still take his place in a family and that Fred still welcomes him
• Which character is being described in this quotation?"The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached" 

  The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - This ghost is more serious and frightening than the others, suggesting that Scrooge is doomed if he does not change his ways
• What word completes the quotation? "Scrooge bent down upon his __________"

  Knee - Scrooge shows much more respect for this spirit than he has done previously, which implies that he has learnt a lot from them
• What character says this quotation?"I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart."

  Scrooge - The fact that Scrooge is now "thankful" to the spirit shows that he has learnt his lesson
• What word completes the quotation?"I don't mind going if a __________ is provided"

  Lunch - The men who consider going to Scrooge's funeral are as selfish and uncaring as he was
• What word completes the quotation?"'If he wanted to keep 'em after he was dead, a __________ old screw,' pursued the woman, 'why wasn't he natural in his lifetime? If he had been, he'd have had somebody to look after him when he was struck with Death, instead of lying gasping out his last there, alone by himself.'"

  Wicked - Scrooge is described as being so "wicked" that nobody will mourn him when he dies
• What word completes the quotation? "unwatched, __________ and uncared for"

  Unwept - The fact that nobody weeps over Scrooge's body is a sharp contrast to how the Cratchit family react to Tiny Tim's death
• What word completes the quotation?"I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me __________"

  Good - In this Stave, Scrooge realises that the Ghosts are trying to help him to redeem himself, not punish him
• What character's name completes the quotation?"'My little, little child!' cried __________. 'My little child!' He broke down all at once. He couldn't help it."

  Bob Cratchit - Bob's intense grief over Tiny Tim is set up as a contrast to the reaction over Scrooge's death
• What character is being described here? "He frightened every one away from him when he was alive, to profit us when he was dead! Ha, ha, ha!"

  Scrooge - The callous reaction to Scrooge's death mirrors his own callousness in Stave One.
• What word completes the quotation? "I ____ you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me good"

  Fear - Scrooge fears this spirit the most because he does not know what lies ahead for him if he doesn't change his ways.
• Which of these fits the best in the blank?The Spirit shows Scrooge the dead man's body. It is described as being __________.

  Unwatched, unwept and uncared for - Scrooge is seeing the consequences of a selfish life. This man's corpse has been left with nobody to care for it properly
• Which Ghost appears in Stave Four?

  1. the Ghost of Christmas Present
  2. the Ghost of Christmas Past
  3. the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

  The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - This is the last of the Ghosts to visit Scrooge.
• What is so different about the final Spirit in comparison to the others?

  It is silent - This last Spirit approaches "gravely and silently" and brings with it a much more sinister feeling
• Scrooge begs to see someone who feels "emotion caused by this man's death". Whom does the Phantom show him?


  A young couple who feel "delight" as they are now out of the man's debt - The young couple are good people, but the man was a ruthless creditor, so his death has given them hope for the future
• Scrooge tells the Spirit to "Lead on! The night is waning fast". What does "waning" mean?

  Decreasing and disappearing - Scrooge wants to make sure that they have time to see everything before the night is over.
• This Spirit shows Scrooge the first vision of a group of businessmen discussing the death of another man, whose name we do not learn. One of them says he will only attend the funeral on one condition. What is it?

  That there is a free lunch being provided - The businessmen are cold and uncaring about the dead man and speak cruelly about him and his death.
• The Spirit takes Scrooge to an "obscure part of town" with "bad repute". Here he comes across a group of people with the man's belongings. What are they doing with them?

  Stealing them and selling them for profit - The thieves say that if the man had been less "wicked" in life, then he would have had somebody who cared for him to look after his items.