A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens

Scrooge’s Visit to the Past: Part 2

Questions to Consider
1. ‘Then with a rapidity of transition very foreign to his usual character’ (37) – What is Scrooge’s ‘usual character’?
2. ‘with a mournful shaking of his head, glanced anxiously to the door’ (38) – How does this scene contrast to the previous one?
3. ‘glared on Master Scrooge with a ferocious condescension (39) – What impression are we given of Scrooge’s school days?
4. ‘Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind’ (40) – What makes Scrooge ‘uneasy’?

Quotations
A. ‘He ________ his hands; adjusted his capacious waistcoat; ________ all over himself’ (41)
B. ‘‘Hilli-ho!’ cried old Fezziwig, ________ down from the high desk with wonderful ________’ (41)
C. ‘In came Mrs Fezziwig, one vast substantial ________’ (42)
D. ‘There were more ________, and there was ________, and there was negus, and there was a great piece of Cold Roast’ (43)
E. ‘The ________ in every part of the dance like ________’ (44)

Questions to Consider
1. How is the character of Fezziwig presented?
2. How is Fezziwig different to Scrooge as an employer?

Sentence Stems
A. The setting of scene on Christmas Eve is important because…
B. Fezziwig is described as having an ‘oily, rich, fat, jovial voice’ and this helps to emphasise… (41)
C. The way in which Fezziwig’s movements are described is also significant. For example, he… (41)
D. When Fezziwig announces that there will be ‘no more work to-night’, the reader is remined of… (42)
E. As the chapter progresses, the focus shifts to the great Christmas dance. The scene is characterised by… (42-3)
F. Fezziwig himself is presented as a particularly skillful dancer. The ‘positive light’ that shines from him represents… (44)
G. Fezziwig is used by Dickens as a foil to Scrooge and to emphasise…