A CHRISTMAS CAROL Formatted: Font: Adobe Caslon Pro

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A novel by:
Charles Dickens

Including:
- Life and Background
- Characters of the Book
- Brief synopsis
- Characters Commentaries
- Notes on Characters
- Analysis of Major Characters
- Critical Views
- Learning Experience
- Theme of the Story

Table of Contents Formatted: Centered


Life and Background
Charles John Huffam Dickens was born in 7 February 1812, was an
English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-
known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest
novelist of the Victorian eran era. His works enjoyed unprecedented
popularity during his lifetime, and by the 20th century, critics and
scholars had recognized him as a literary genius. His novels and
short stories are still widely read today.
Born in Portsmouth, Dickens left school to work in a factory
when his fatherhis father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison.
Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for
20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories
and non-fiction articles, lectured and
performed readings extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer,
and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and
other social reforms.
Dickens's literary success began with the 1836 serial publication
of The Pickwick Papers. Within a few years he had become an
international literary celebrity, famous for his humor, satire, and
keen observation of character and society. His novels, most
published in monthly or weekly instalments, pioneered
the serial publication of narrative fiction, which became the
dominant Victorian mode for novel publication. Cliffhanger endings
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in his serial publications kept readers in suspense. [6] The
instalment format allowed Dickens to evaluate his audience's Formatted: Default Paragraph Font, Font: (Default)
reaction, and he often modified his plot and character development Adobe Caslon Pro, 11 pt, Not Italic, Font color: Custom
based on such feedback. For example, when his Color(RGB(34,34,34))
wife's chiropodist expressed distress at the way Miss Mowcher Formatted: Font: Adobe Caslon Pro, 11 pt
in David Copperfield seemed to reflect her disabilities, Dickens
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improved the character with positive features. His plots were
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carefully constructed, and he often wove elements from topical
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events into his narratives. Masses of theof the illiterate poor
chipped in ha'pennies to have each new monthly episode read Formatted: Font: Adobe Caslon Pro, 11 pt
to them, opening up and inspiring a new class of readers. Formatted: Default Paragraph Font, Font: (Default)
His 1843 novella A Christmas Carol remains especially popular and Adobe Caslon Pro, 11 pt, Not Italic, Font color: Custom
continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Color(RGB(34,34,34))
TwistOliveliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently Formatted: Font: Adobe Caslon Pro, 11 pt
adapted and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early
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Victorian London. His 1859 novel A Tale of Two Cities (set in Adobe Caslon Pro, 11 pt, Not Italic, Font color: Custom
London and Paris) is his best-known work of historical fiction. The
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most famous celebrity of his era, public demand saw him undertake
a series of public reading tours in the later part of his Formatted: Font: Adobe Caslon Pro, 11 pt
career. Dickens has been praised by many of his fellow writers— Formatted: Font: Adobe Caslon Pro, 11 pt
from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell, G. K. Chesterton, and Tom
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Wolfe —for his realism, comedy, prose style, unique
characterizations, and social criticism. However, Oscar Formatted: Default Paragraph Font, Font: (Default)
Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of Adobe Caslon Pro, 11 pt, Font color: Custom
psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of sentimentalism. Color(RGB(34,34,34))
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 Type of work- novel
Genre- Fairy tale, Novella, Fiction, Ghost story, Victorian literature,
Morality play
Language- English
Time and Place Written-
Date of first publication- December 19 1843
Publisher- Chapman and Hall

Brief synopsis
Charles Dickens
Author A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being a Ghost
Story of Christmas, commonly known as A
Christmas Carol, is a novella by Charles
Characters of the Book
Dickens, first published in London by Chapman
KEY FACTS:
& Hall in 1843 and illustrated by John Leech. A
Full title- A Christmas Carol
Christmas Carol recounts the story of Ebenezer
Author- Charles Dickens
Scrooge, an elderly miser who is visited by the
 ghost of his former business partner Jacob
Marley and the spirits of Christmas
Past, Present and Yet to Come. After their visits,
Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler
man.
Notes on Characters
Ebenezer Scrooge-The protagonist, Scrooge is a cold, miserly
creditor whose redemption to kindness and selflessness forms the
arc of A Christmas Carol.
Bob Cratchit- Cratchit is Scrooge's overworked employee, a timid
man afraid to stand up to his boss's demanding ways.
Ghost of Christmas Past-The first ghost to visit Scrooge, the small,
elderly figure represents memory.
Ghost of Christmas Present-A giant clad in robes, this ghost has
1800 brothers and a life span of one day. He represents celebration
and charity.
Ghost of Christmas Yet to come-This solemn, silent phantom
represents death, but also the presents the possibility that the
future is not determined, but open to the free will of humans.
Fred-Scrooge's nephew, Fred embodies the jollity and sharing of
Christmas. He refuses to let Scrooge's "Bah! Humbug!" attitude
bring him down, and is overjoyed when his uncle converts and
attends his party.
Tiny Tim-Cratchit's crippled son, Tiny Tim represents the
overwhelming goodness of the Christmas spirit
Jacob Marley-Scrooge's old partner, Marley appears to Scrooge as
a ghost and warns him about the dangers of being obsessed with
money.
Fezziwig-The Young Scrooge's jolly, selfless boss.
Belle-Scrooge's former girlfriend, she breaks up with him because
of his greed.
Fan-Scrooge's younger sister.