Study Guide
A Christmas Carol is the famous ghost story for Christmas, from
Charles Dickens--one of the greatest authors in Victorian literature. Scrooge is visited by the ghost of past, present and future. Here are a few questions for study and discussion.
- What is important about the title?
- What are the conflicts in A Christmas Carol? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) did you notice in this novel?
- How does Charles Dickens reveal character in A Christmas Carol?
- What are some themes in the story? How do they relate to the plot and characters?
- What are some symbols in A Christmas Carol? How do they relate to the plot and characters?
- Are the characters consistent in their actions? Which of the characters are fully developed? How? Why?
- Do you find the characters likable? Are the characters persons you would want to meet?
- Does the novel end the way you expected? How? Why?
- What is the central/primary purpose of the story? Is the purpose important or meaningful?
- How essential is the setting to the story? Could the story have taken place anywhere else?
- What is the role of women in the text? How are mothers represented? What about single/independent women?
- What elements of this novel appear to diverge from the earlier works of Charles Dickens?
- How effective are the supernatural elements of A Christmas Carol?
- Would you recommend this novel to a friend?
