Christmas Carol

Marley

The deceased partner of Scrooge, who is confirmed to be dead by various individuals.

Dead as a door-nail

A simile used to emphasize the certainty of Marley's death.

Scrooge

The main character who was partners with Marley and is described as a tight-fisted, cold-hearted individual.

Sole executor

Scrooge was the only person responsible for carrying out Marley's will and final wishes.

Undoubted bargain

Despite Marley's death, Scrooge remains focused on his business dealings and makes a successful deal on the day of the funeral.

Importance of Marley's death

The narrator emphasizes that Marley's death is crucial to understanding the story that will unfold.

Scrooge and Marley

The name of the firm that Scrooge and Marley owned together, which remained unchanged even after Marley's death.

Scrooge's characteristics

Scrooge is described as a tight-fisted, covetous, and solitary individual who is unaffected by external heat and cold.

Scrooge's isolation

Scrooge is depicted as someone who is avoided by others and lacks human connection or sympathy.

Nephew's invitation

Scrooge's nephew invites him to dine with their family on Christmas, but Scrooge dismisses the invitation and expresses his disdain for the holiday.

Scrooge's perspective on Christmas

Scrooge sees Christmas as a time of financial burden and does not understand why people find joy in it.

Nephew's defense of Christmas

Scrooge's nephew argues that Christmas is a time for kindness, forgiveness, and charity, and believes it has a positive impact on people's hearts.

Scrooge's rejection of friendship

Scrooge refuses to reconcile with his nephew and insists on maintaining his negative attitude towards Christmas.

Visitors to Scrooge's office

Two gentlemen visit Scrooge's office to request a donation for the poor and destitute during the festive season.

Scrooge's response to helping the poor

Scrooge questions the necessity of helping the poor and suggests that prisons and workhouses should be sufficient.

Prisons and workhouses

Scrooge inquires about the existence and operation of prisons and workhouses, showing his lack of empathy towards the less fortunate.

Christian cheer

The gentleman believes that providing food, drink, and warmth to the poor is a way to bring Christian cheer to them.

Fundraising

The gentleman is trying to raise a fund to buy meat, drink, and means of warmth for the poor.

Want and Abundance

The gentleman chooses this time because it is a time when Want is keenly felt and Abundance rejoices.

Scrooge's refusal

Scrooge refuses to contribute to the fund and wishes to be left alone.

Surplus population

Scrooge suggests that those who are badly off and would rather die should do so to decrease the surplus population.

Scrooge's business

Scrooge believes that it is enough for a man to understand his own business and not interfere with other people's.

Fog and darkness

The fog and darkness become thicker, making it difficult to see and causing people to offer their services to guide carriages.

Cold weather

The cold becomes intense, freezing the water-plug and making the shops' holly sprigs and berries crackle.

Lord Mayor's household

The Lord Mayor orders his cooks and butlers to keep Christmas as a Lord Mayor's household should.

Scrooge's dinner

Scrooge has a melancholy dinner in his usual melancholy tavern and then goes home to bed.

Scrooge's residence

Scrooge lives in gloomy chambers that once belonged to his deceased partner, with the other rooms being let out as offices.

Marley's face

As Scrooge puts his key in the lock, he sees Marley's face in the knocker on the door.

Scrooge's rooms

Scrooge checks his sitting-room, bedroom, and lumber-room to ensure that everything is as it should be.

Low fire

Scrooge sits close to the low fire, trying to extract warmth from the handful of fuel.

Dutch tiles

The fireplace is paved with quaint Dutch tiles that illustrate biblical stories.

Bell swinging

Scrooge sees a disused bell in the room begin to swing, which surprises and frightens him.

Bells ringing

The bell ringing is followed by every bell in the house ringing together.

Clanking noise

Scrooge hears a clanking noise, as if someone is dragging a heavy chain in the wine-merchant's cellar.

Marley's Ghost

As the noise approaches Scrooge's door, he realizes that it is Marley's Ghost coming towards him.

Marley's appearance

Marley is described as having the same face, wearing a pigtail, waistcoat, tights, and boots, with a chain wrapped around his middle. The chain is made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses.

Scrooge's disbelief

Scrooge initially does not believe in the existence of Marley's ghost, even though he sees and hears him. He attributes it to a disorder of the stomach affecting his senses.

Marley's identity

Marley reveals that he was Scrooge's business partner in life.

Marley's chain

Marley explains that he wears a chain that he forged in life, link by link, as a result of his selfish and greedy actions.

Marley's remorse

Marley expresses remorse for not using his wealth and influence to help others and warns Scrooge of the consequences of a life without compassion and kindness.

Three Spirits

Marley informs Scrooge that he will be visited by three spirits who will offer him a chance to change his ways and avoid Marley's fate.

The first spirit

The first spirit will visit Scrooge the next day at one o'clock.

Scrooge's hesitation

Scrooge is hesitant about the visits from the spirits and suggests taking them all at once to get it over with.

The second and third spirits

The second spirit will visit Scrooge the following night at the same hour, and the third spirit will come on the next night when the clock strikes twelve.

Marley's departure

Marley wraps his head with his wrapper, floats out the window, and disappears into the night, accompanied by other phantoms wearing chains.

Phantoms' chains

The phantoms, like Marley, wear chains and are filled with regret and sorrow. They are unable to interfere in human matters and have lost their power forever.

Double-locked

The door was locked with two locks.

Undisturbed

The bolts on the door were not moved or tampered with.

Repose

Scrooge was in need of rest and sleep.

Dull conversation

The conversation with the Ghost was uninteresting and boring.

Lateness of the hour

It was very late at night.

Dark

It was so dark that Scrooge could barely see out of the window.

Transparent window

The window was see-through.

Opaque walls

The walls of the room were not see-through.

Chimes

The sound made by a nearby church clock.

Heavy bell

A large bell that made a loud sound.

Icicle

A long, pointed piece of ice.

Rapid little pulse

The quick and steady beating of a small clock.

Preposterous clock

The clock was completely wrong and not accurate.

Slept through a whole day

Scrooge thought he had slept for an entire day and night.

Alarming

The idea was disturbing and worrying.

Groped

Scrooge felt his way in the dark without being able to see.

Frost

A thin layer of ice that covered the window.

Foggy

The air was filled with thick fog.

United States' security

A financial document that would lose its value if there were no days to count by.

Thought it over and over

Scrooge kept thinking about it repeatedly.

Perplexed

Scrooge was confused and puzzled.

Mature inquiry

After careful and thorough investigation.

Visitiation

A visit from a supernatural being.

Bell tolled one

The bell rang once.

Lie awake

Scrooge decided to stay awake.

Doze unconsciously

Scrooge might have fallen asleep without realizing it.

Clock

The sound made by the clock striking the hour.

Ding, dong

The sound made by the bell.

A quarter past

Fifteen minutes after the hour.

Half-past

Thirty minutes after the hour.

A quarter to it

Fifteen minutes before the hour.

The hour itself

The exact hour.

Deep, dull, hollow, melancholy

The sound made by the bell was sad and mournful.

Light flashed up

The room suddenly became bright.

Curtains of his bed were drawn aside

The curtains were pulled back.

Unearthly visitor

A strange and supernatural visitor.

Child-like figure

The figure looked like a child but also like an old man.

Supernatural medium

Some kind of supernatural force that made the figure appear smaller.

Receded from the view

The figure seemed to move away and become smaller.

Delicately formed

The legs and feet were slender and well-shaped.

Lustrous belt

A shiny and beautiful belt.

Bright clear jet of light

A strong and bright beam of light.

Extinguisher

A cap or hat used to cover the light.

Dissolving parts

The figure seemed to change and disappear in the darkness.

Soft and gentle

The voice was quiet and kind.

Singularly low

The voice sounded far away.

Dwarfish stature

The figure was small and short.

Bonneted

To cover or obstruct with a hat or cap.

Reclamation

The process of being redeemed or saved.

Pedestrian purposes

Walking on foot.

Clasped him gently

The Spirit held Scrooge's arm gently.

Upheld in more than this

The Spirit promised to support and protect Scrooge.

Open country road

A road in the countryside.

Fields on either hand

Fields on both sides of the road.