You were made free of it long ago, you know; and the other two an't strangers. Sitting in among the wares he dealt in, by a charcoal-stove, made of old bricks, was a grey-haired rascal, nearly seventy years of age, who had screened himself from the cold air without by a frousy curtaining of miscellaneous tatters, hung upon a line, and smoked his pipe in all the luxury of calm retirement. Quiet. They could scarcely be supposed to have any bearing on the death of Jacob, his old partner, for that was Past, and this Ghost's province was the Future. 1. Why show me this if I am past all hope?”. Alleys and archways, like so many cesspools, disgorged their offences of smell, and dirt, and life upon the straggling streets; and the whole quarter reeked with crime, with filth, and misery. If he could have helped it, he and his child would have been farther apart, perhaps, than they were. But she had scarcely entered, when another woman, similarly laden, came in too; and she was closely followed by a man in faded black, who was no less startled by the sight of them than they had been upon the recognition of each other. Using this passage, Dickens reminds both Scrooge and his readers of the often exploited and overlooked members of society, attempting to spur change in his audience. Write your diary It really seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim, and felt with us.”. “Don't drop that oil upon the blankets, now.”, “Whose else's do you think?” replied the woman. But the gallantry of her friends would not allow of this; and the man in faded black, mounting the breach first, produced his plunder. It may also be a portmanteau—the combination of two words to create a blended meaning of both—of verbs “shriek” and “screech.”, The adjective “frousy”—more commonly spelled “frowsy”—means “unkempt or messy.”. To "intercede" is to act to help someone by communicating on their behalf with a third party. These were often only consumed by those of lower socio-economic status, as they were cheap and considered inedible by wealthier individuals. 2. “Don't you be afraid of that,” returned the woman. He thought, if this man could be raised up now, what would be his foremost thoughts? He recoiled in terror, for the scene had changed, and now he almost touched a bed: a bare, uncurtained bed: on which, beneath a ragged sheet, there lay a something covered up, which, though it was dumb, announced itself in awful language. Her account was stated on the wall in the same manner. An audiobook reading of Stave Four: The Last of the Spirits from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. No voice pronounced these words in Scrooge's ears, and yet he heard them when he looked upon the bed. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Abridged by Shona McKellar 2. cereal box and plain paper, or brown paper bags 3. tape 4. cotton batting 5. markers, pencils, crayons, colored pencils, etc. The Spirit paused a moment, as observing his condition, and giving him time to recover. I know it, but I know not how. “Often.”. In essence, to be childlike is to be divine. Scrooge becomes upset at this as he begins to internalize the lesson. This is a biblical reference to the gospel of Mark (9:36). “Charwoman” refers to a woman hired by a household typically to clean, do chores, etc. She prayed forgiveness the next moment, and was sorry; but the first was the emotion of her heart. A Christmas Carol: Pratice Exam Questions Plan then answer this question. It must be near his time.”, “Past it rather,” Peter answered, shutting up his book. Far in this den of infamous resort there was a low-browed, beetling shop, below a pent-house roof, where iron, old rags, bottles, bones, and greasy offal were bought. He frightened every one away from him when he was alive, to profit us when he was dead! “I haven't heard,” said the man with the large chin, yawning again. A Christmas Carol: Stave III Created for Lit2Go on the web at fcit.usf.edu 4 “Spirit,” said Scrooge submissively, “conduct me where you will. Common Core State Standards SL. It would have done you good to see how green a place it is. She was a mild and patient creature if her face spoke truth; but she was thankful in her soul to hear it, and she said so, with clasped hands. You should visit Browse Happy and update your internet browser today! And there is your father at the door!”, She hurried out to meet him; and little Bob, in his comforter—he had need of it, poor fellow—came in. If calico an't good enough for such a purpose, it isn't good enough for anything. “It's just as likely as not,” said Bob, “one of these days; though there's plenty of time for that, my dear. Then the two young Cratchits got upon his knees and laid each child a little cheek against his face, as if they said, “Don't mind it, father. Best and happiest of all, the time before him was his own, to make amends in! “Only hear that, Peter,” said Mrs. Cratchit. I shouldn't be at all surprised—mark what I say—if he got Peter a better situation.”. Scrooge will be a passive observer in this journey with the ghost, emphasizing that the events he will witness are what will happen if he carries on the path he’s already chosen for himself. “Is that so, Spirit?”. “God knows,” said the first, with a yawn. “What do you call this?” said Joe. They scarcely seemed to enter the city; for the city rather seemed to spring up about them, and encompass them of its own act. Read the full text of Stave 4 of A Christmas Carol on Shmoop. At last she said, and in a steady, cheerful voice, that only faltered once: “I have known him walk with—I have known him walk with Tiny Tim upon his shoulder very fast indeed.”, “And so have I!” cried Peter. The ways were foul and narrow; the shops and houses wretched; the people half-naked, drunken, slipshod, ugly. Don't be grieved!”. There was a remarkable expression in it now; a kind of serious delight of which he felt ashamed, and which he struggled to repress. They were severally examined and appraised by old Joe, who chalked the sums he was disposed to give for each upon the wall, and added them up into a total when he found there was nothing more to come. Although well used to ghostly company by this time, Scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled beneath him, and he found that he could hardly stand when he prepared to follow it. To be “slipshod” is to be wearing shoes or slippers that are too large for one’s feet. The cover was so carelessly adjusted that the slightest raising of it, the motion of a finger upon Scrooge's part, would have disclosed the face. “Yes, my dear,” returned Bob. Despite all of the man’s money, his gravesite reflects his character rather than his wealth. “I hope he didn't die of anything catching? When he roused himself from his thoughtful quest, he fancied from the turn of the hand, and its situation in reference to himself, that the Unseen Eyes were looking at him keenly. No. The furniture was not the same, and the figure in the chair was not himself. Quiet and dark, beside him stood the Phantom, with its outstretched hand. Joe went down on his knees for the greater convenience of opening it, and having unfastened a great many knots, dragged out a large and heavy roll of some dark stuff. Which statement summarizes Scrooge's thoughts about death? Open the bundle, Joe.”. “Putting it on him to be buried in, to be sure,” replied the woman with a laugh. Stave 2 Think about the fact that he regrets his behaviour towards the singer, Fred and Bob in this Stave. The bed was his own, the room was his own. The parlour was the space behind the screen of rags. This is an example of a literary device called “apostrophe” in which the speaker addresses a person, object, or force of nature that is not present. “The colour hurts my eyes,” she said. “Let the charwoman alone to be the first!” cried she who had entered first. “Left it to his Company, perhaps. xÚìÑ1 ÄÀûäa¯˜ c›´k§I1GÏá9žÃs. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Stave by stave Published: 24/11/2014 KS4 | Prose 3 pages Stave by stave A selection of tasks and comprehension questions relating to each of the staves of the novella. Yes. Scrooge hopes that his efforts to change will be successful, which helps indicate his sincerity in telling the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come that he would take these lessons to heart. So had all. If I can be of service to you in any way,’ he said, giving me his card, ‘that's where I live. By emphasizing the lack of sympathy these people have for the dead man, Dickens prompts the reader to empathize with him. Scrooge has learned much from his journeys with the first two Spirits and now accepts that he must change his way of living.Â. The fact that the ghost is “shrouded in a deep black garment” only adds to this mystery since its identity is completely unknown. @Ô` .5q" Pray come to me.’ Now, it wasn't,” cried Bob, “for the sake of anything he might be able to do for us so much as for his kind way, that this was quite delightful. They were very quiet again. “You are about to show me shadows of the things that have not happened, but will happen in the time before us,” Scrooge pursued. Here, then the wretched man whose name he had now to learn, lay underneath the ground. It thrilled him with a vague uncertain horror, to know that behind the dusky shroud there were ghostly eyes intently fixed upon him, while he, though he stretched his own to the utmost, could see nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black. “I am very happy,” said little Bob, “I am very happy!”. If you would prefer to use the audio only you can download the episodes here. Stave Three of ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens 1. But of the loved, revered, and honoured head, thou canst not turn one hair to thy dread purposes, or make one feature odious. He can't look uglier than he did in that one.”. Since "Old Scratch" refers to the devil, what is the speaker saying about the man who has died? But before that time we shall be ready with the money; and even though we were not, it would be bad fortune indeed to find so merciless a creditor in his successor. “And then,” cried one of the girls, “Peter will be keeping company with some one, and setting up for himself.”. I promised him that I would walk there on a Sunday. Austerity 3. Stave is 5 lines with music written on it - reminds us this is Xmas story like Xmas carols - to be read aloud like carols sung Author's viewpoint Stave 4 The Last of the Spirits: Dickens steps out of narrative & addresses death directly in a paragraph beginning " Oh cold, cold, rigid, dreadful Death. " “But I must be fed, if I make one.”, “Well, I am the most disinterested among you, after all,” said the first speaker, “for I never wear black gloves, and I never eat lunch. Scrooge and the Phantom came into the presence of this man just as a woman with a heavy bundle slunk into the shop. But surely they were very quiet! Learn more. Stave: Context LO: To revise Dickens purpose and rhetoric in writing the novella. Ah! — Wesley, Owl Eyes Editor This large cake is used for the celebrations of the Twelfth-night, or the evening before Epiphany and the general closing of the Christmas celebrations. ‘I am heartily sorry for it, Mr. Cratchit,’ he said, ‘and heartily sorry for your good wife.’ By the bye, how he ever knew that, I don't know.”. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of A Christmas Carol and what it means. Its finger pointed to two persons meeting. The Ghost conducted him through several streets familiar to his feet; and as they went along, Scrooge looked here and there to find himself, but nowhere was he to be seen. Ha, ha! Allegory 2. The embedded audio player requires a modern internet browser. I only know he's dead.”, “Why, what was the matter with him?” asked a third, taking a vast quantity of snuff out of a very large snuff-box. “Sunday! Bob told them of the extraordinary kindness of Mr. Scrooge's nephew, whom he had scarcely seen but once, and who, meeting him in the street that day, and seeing that he looked a little—“just a little down you know,” said Bob, inquired what had happened to distress him. If you already have, that’s great; you can always read it again. Come into the parlour. His neglected grave shows that no one cares about his death, as there is no one to tend to his grave. They have brought him to a rich end, truly! My life tends that way, now. “That's your account. Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as he went, and following the finger, read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, EBENEZER SCROOGE. But Scrooge was all the worse for this. They were men of business: very wealthy, and of great importance. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. “It's a judgment on him.”, “I wish it was a little heavier one,” replied the woman; “and it should have been, you may depend upon it, if I could have laid my hands on anything else. He may have been horrible, but the sympathy readers have for the deceased in this scene makes readers willing to root for Scrooge’s transformation. Best and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own, to … “Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead,” said Scrooge. Will you not speak to me?”. He hasn't left it to me. “My little child!”. “You don't mean to say you took ’em down, rings and all, with him lying there?” said Joe. Not a dead man, I suppose.”. Write couple of sentence for each section. Consider that Scrooge has continually sought himself, in vain, throughout this stave. 1 Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 … Note that the third and final ghost “seem[s] to scatter gloom and mystery.” As the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come, it is no wonder that it is mysterious, as we do not know what the future holds. Merciful Heaven, what is this!”. My little, little child!” cried Bob. Mrs. Cratchit kissed him, his daughters kissed him, the two young Cratchits kissed him, and Peter and himself shook hands. Come into the parlour.”. She hurried to the door, and met her husband; a man whose face was careworn and depressed, though he was young. - death cannot negate a life well lived - Christian view It's a weakness of mine, and that's the way I ruin myself,” said old Joe. Ah! They’d have wasted it, if it hadn't been for me.”. We know pretty well that we were helping ourselves before we met here, I believe. Scrooge knew the men, and looked towards the Spirit for an explanation. “Cold, isn't it?”, “Seasonable for Christmas time. He always did.”, “That's true, indeed!” said the laundress. A short summary of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of A Christmas Carol. Scrooge listened again, thinking that the explanation might lie here. “I always give too much to ladies. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. Vocabulary 1. For he had an expectation that the conduct of his future self would give him the clue he missed and would render the solution of these riddles easy. Spirit of Tiny Tim, thy childish essence was from God! The case of this unhappy man might be my own. Let me behold what I shall be in days to come!”. At length the long-expected knock was heard. That was the only answer he received. The bed was his own, the room was his own. Something else to think of. What odds, Mrs. Dilber?” said the woman. It gave him little surprise, however; for he had been revolving in his mind a change of life, and thought and hoped he saw his new-born resolutions carried out in this. The Spirit stood among the graves, and pointed down to One. A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens Stave 5 - The End of it Yes! He knew no more, for the Spirit neither spoke nor moved. They would be done long before Sunday, he said. The boy must have read them out as he and the Spirit crossed the threshold. Summarise the events of Stave 3 in approximately 100 words. Notice how Scrooge seems to have little agency in this description of the city, which surrounds him and directs its actions. What is the most likely reason Scrooge can't find himself at the Exchange? Observing that the hand was pointed to them, Scrooge advanced to listen to their talk. Walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds, the growth of vegetation's death, not life; choked up with too much burying; fat with repleted appetite. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?”. The Spirit, stronger yet, repulsed him. “Offal” is a term used to describe the entrails of a butchered animal. How do I revise for A Christmas Carol? “ ‘And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them.’ ”. We’re all suitable to our calling, we’re well matched. “Old Scratch has got his own at last, hey?”, “So I am told,” returned the second. Write a … Who's the worse for the loss of a few things like these? COMPLETE TEXT AVAILABLE ONLINE: (google A Christmas Carol complete Got it. Dickens uses this detail to set the tone of this “low-browed” shop that the ghost has shown Scrooge. Which of the following is the missing word? That's all I know.”. Didactic 5. Stave 4 Summary Last Updated on November 5, 2019, by eNotes Editorial. “I hope they do. The year is 1843, and Charles Dickens is struggling on as a serial author for a newspaper. “Yes, I do,” replied the woman. You should visit Browse Happy and update your internet browser today! When I come to think of it, I’m not at all sure that I wasn't his most particular friend; for we used to stop and speak whenever we met. The Phantom was exactly as it had been, but he dreaded that he saw new meaning in its solemn shape. Imagine you are Martha Cratchit, home to spend Christmas day with your family. The adjective “pendulous” means “loosely hanging,” while the noun “excrescence” refers to a growth on the body, especially one that is unattractive. Suppose we make up a party and volunteer?”, “I don't mind going if a lunch is provided,” observed the gentleman with the excrescence on his nose.