A Christmas Carol

Literary Analysis Paper--2nd Quarter

Essential Question: How does Ebenezer Scrooge’s character change throughout A Christmas
Carol?

Directions:
● Write each section of the paper as assigned
○ Introduction (Stave I)
How is Ebenezer Scrooge initially described in A Christmas Carol?
○ Christmas Past (Stave II)
How does Scrooge change during his visit to the past?
○ Christmas Present (Stave III)
How does Scrooge change during his visit to the present?
○ Christmas Future (Stave IV)
How does Scrooge change during his visit to the future?
○ Conclusion (Stave V)
How did Scrooge change overall? What lesson did he learn? Do you think his
change(s) will be permanent?
● Use evidence (quotations and summaries) from
○ Primary Source: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

○ Secondary Sources: A Christmas Carol: Scrooge and Marley by Israel Horovitz

and 1984 movie adaptation of A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott in the role
of Scrooge

● Follow R.A.C.E. writing strategies for each paragraph

○ Restate the question (each one listed above)
○ Answer the question
○ Cite evidence
○ Explain how your citation answers the question
● Use your best grammar and writing skills

DO NOT WRITE ON OR DELETE THIS PAGE.

BEGIN YOUR WRITING ON THE NEXT PAGE.

Zyon Watkins
ELA 7

Ms. Black

12-4-2020

A Christmas Carol

In A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, the protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, is

described as greedy and mean. Scrooge believes that money is everything, causing him to greedy

and mean. On page 15 Ebenezer Scrooge tells his clerk that he has to get to work early the day

after Christmas. This shows the audience that Scrooge is mean, not giving his employee a long

break, as well as Scrooge being greedy, forcing his employee to work longer and harder.

Throughout A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge changes as he interacts with the ghosts of the

past, present, and future.

Ebenezer Scrooge begins to change when visited by the ghost of Christmas past. He

becomes regretful of how he lived his life. Scrooge shows he is changing when, in the text, he

told the spirit,” Show me no more!”(27) This shows he is changing, because he is feeling

remorse and sadness. It also shows he is regretful about how he has been living and wants to

change, starting up the change to his behavior and outlook of life.

When visited by the ghost of Christmas present, Ebeneezer Scrooge shows that he is

ready to change and learn and that he is ready to reform. Scrooge becomes more joyous and

happy after he hangs around at Fred’s party. Scrooge continues to show that he is changing

when, in the text, it states “Scrooge had imperceptibly become gay and light of heart.” This
shows us that Scrooge is changing because, before this, he was always grumpy and upset, but

now he is happy, and loves the party, even if no one was speaking to him.

When visited by the ghost of Christmas future, Ebenezer Scrooge shows that he changes

in Staves Four and Five in a way that makes him kinder and softer. In Staves Four and Five,

Scrooge continues to change when, in the text it states, “‘But as I know your purpose is to do me

good, and as I hope to be another man.’” (48) As well as, “‘ Whats today my fine fellow?’” (56)

These two quotes from the story shows that he is changing because, on page 58, he is more

accepting of the spirits, and on page 56, he is speaking nicer and more polite than he was before.

In conclusion, the theme of A Christmas Carol is always be nice and kind, not mean and angery.

This theme is supported by the fact that living kind and nice can make you yourself happy, while

living mean and angry can make you distraught and upset at everything.