CHARLES DICKENS

retold by Virginia Evans – Jenny Dooley

 Charles John Huffam conditions under which working-class people
Dickens was born in lived later became major themes in his stories.
Portsmouth, Hampshire, In May 1827, Dickens began working as a law
on 7th February, 1812. When clerk and trained to become a lawyer. However,
he was five, his family moved he did not enjoy his work, so he became a
to Chatham, Kent and when he journalist. He enjoyed writing and in his early
was ten, the family moved again to London. twenties, he published his first novel, The
Dickens’ early years were happy. His family was Pickwick Papers (1836-37).
quite well-off and he received some education at On 2nd April 1836, Dickens married Catherine
a private school. In his spare time, he enjoyed Thompson Hogarth. They had ten children
reading outdoors. together. Dickens continued to write and he
Unfortunately, when Dickens was twelve, his produced many entertaining stories, such as
father was sent to Marshalsea debtor’s prison Great Expectations (1860-61), Martin Chuzzlewit
because he owed money. Dickens started working (1843-44), Our Mutual Friend (1864-65) and A
in a factory in order to earn money for his family, Christmas Carol (1843). His books were
as most of his family members were living in the extremely popular in his time and are still just
prison with his father. as popular today.
After a few months, Dickens’ family was able to Dickens died on 9th June, 1870. He was buried
leave the prison, but his mother did not in Westminster Abbey, in London. He is
immediately remove Charles from the factory. remembered by many as one of the greatest
Dickens never forgave his mother for this. His writers in the English language.
unhappiness with his situation and the

Read the biography of Charles Dickens and answer the questions.

1 Where was Dickens born?

2 What did Dickens do in his spare time when he was young?
3 Where did Dickens live after the age of ten?
4 How old was Dickens when he started working?
5 Why did Dickens have to work when he was a child?
6 Why did Dickens stop working as a law clerk?
7 How many children did Dickens have?
8 Where was Charles Dickens buried?

4
A Christmas Carol was first published on 17th December, 1843. The story was
an instant success and sold six thousand copies in the first week. Dickens wrote
the story in order to earn money to pay off a debt. He did not realise that the
story would become one of the most popular Christmas stories of all time.
Christmas had been a time when people in England helped the poor, gave
money to charity and treated others kindly. However, in 1843, people in
England had begun to forget the importance of Christmas and Christmas
traditions. Dickens’ A Christmas Carol reminded people that Christmas was a
time to help others and to be kind and generous. Dickens also hoped that his
story would make readers realise how difficult life was for poor people in
England at that time. Like Scrooge, he hoped that people would stop being
mean and greedy and become thoughtful and caring instead.
A Christmas Carol has been adapted for theatre, film, radio and television
countless times. Perhaps the most popular film adaptation of the story was
Scrooge, which was made in Britain in 1951 and starred Alastair Sim.

5
 1. SCROOGE
It was a cold, foggy Christmas Eve in London, and Ebenezer Scrooge was working in his office …

You’re an ungrateful little man Bob

It’s so cold, Mr Scrooge. Cratchit! If my poor dead partner, Jacob
Well, the fire is
Can we put some more Marley, could hear the way you
nearly out, sir.
coal on the fire? complain, he would sack you at once!
More coal? Do you expect me
to pay for more coal just to
keep you warm?

1 2

Good evening Uncle, Christmas? Bah!

Yes, Mr Scrooge.
Now get back to work! and a merry Humbug! Christmas is a
Sorry, Mr Scrooge.
Christmas to you! lot of nonsense!

3 4

Oh dear. I was hoping you

would join me for Christmas I don’t have time to waste I won’t!
dinner tomorrow. on foolish celebrations!

6
Well, a merry Christmas to you
anyway, Uncle, and if you change
5 your mind …

8
 Help the poor? Are there no prisons? Are there
Season’s Greetings
no workhouses? No, I’m not giving you
to you, kind sir!
anything. Now, get out of my office!

It is the season of good will,

and we were hoping you
would donate some money to 8
7 help the poor this Christmas!
Actually, sir, I wondered if you might give me
the day off tomorrow. It is Christmas Day, and I
Christmas! What a waste of time and would like to spend it with my family …
money! Only fools celebrate Christmas!
The rest of us have work to do!

A day off? You lazy little man!

9 10
What good is Christmas, Very well! You can take the day Thank you, Mr
if it forces me to close Well, it is a special off, but I expect you to come in Scrooge, and Merry
my business for the day? occasion … early the next day and make up Christmas!
for the work you’ve missed!

11 12

9
7. THE LAST GHOST

activities

Before Reading
1 Look at the first picture. Describe the ghost’s appearance.

2 What is so different about this ghost’s appearance in comparison with

the other two?

While Reading
3 Read or listen to the episode and mark the sentences T (true) or F (false).
1 The Ghost of Christmas Future is friendly and chatty. .......
2 Scrooge knows the people the ghost shows him. .......
3 Scrooge hears about someone’s death. .......
4 The dead man spent a lot of money. .......

4 Read or listen to the episode, then complete the sentences.

1 Scrooge wants to .............................. .
2 People talk about a dead person who was very .............................. .
3 The man died last .............................. .
4 They stole the dead man’s .............................. things.
5 It is a .............................. he died, because a lot of people owed him money.
6 No one will .............................. him.

After Reading
5 Answer the following questions.
1 How would you characterise the Ghost of Christmas Future?
2 The ghost doesn’t speak until the end of the episode. Why do you
think this is?
3 What are the attitudes of the people towards the dead person?
4 Do you think that the visions of the future could convince Scrooge to
change his life?
5 Would you like to travel into your own future? Why (not)?

34
 THE DEAD MAN

activities 8.
Before Reading
1 Look at the pictures and name the characters in this episode.

2 Look at the second page. Where do you think the Ghost of Christmas
Future has taken Scrooge this time?

While Reading
3 Read or listen to the episode and put the events in the correct order.
.... The ghost disappears.
.... Scrooge begs the ghost not to leave him.
.... Scrooge sees his own grave.
1 The ghost takes Scrooge to the Cratchits’ house.
.... Scrooge realises that Tiny Tim is dead.
.... Scrooge finds himself back in his bedroom.
.... The ghost takes Scrooge to a graveyard.
.... Scrooge promises to be a better person.

4 Read or listen to the episode again. In pairs answer the questions and
explain the reason for your choices.
Who: A is comforting Mrs Cratchit?
B wants to change?
C died very young?
Why: A does the ghost take Scrooge to a graveyard?
B are the Cratchit’s sad?
C is Scrooge relieved?

After Reading
5 Answer the following questions.
1 In your opinion, how does Scrooge feel about Tiny Tim’s death?
2 How does Scrooge feel when he sees his name on the grave?
3 In what way does Scrooge promise to change his present life?
4 What causes Scrooge to change his mind?
5 What kind of lesson does Scrooge learn from the third ghost?
35
Scrooge is rich, but mean and miserable.
He particularly hates Christmas. His assistant, Bob
Cratchitt, is poor but happy, even though his son,
Tiny Tim is very ill. One Christmas, three ghosts
visit Scrooge to show him his past, his present and
the terrible future. Will this soften Scrooge’s heart
and change him into a generous man?

Components:
• Reader
• Audio CD

Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5

ISBN 978-1-84679-439-1