Reading Terms/A Christmas Carol

Personification

Giving human emotions and qualities to nonhuman objects

Symbolism

Is the author’s use of an object, person, place, or event that has both a meaning in itself and stands for something larger than itself.

Flashback

When the author refers back to something that has already happened in the story.

Imagery

Language that appeals to a readers’ sense.

Onomatopoeia

When the author uses words to imitate the sound they represent.

Simile

Is to compare two unlike things using the words like or as

Metaphor

Is a figure of speech which makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things.

Foreshadowing

When the author hints at something that is going to happen later in the story. 

Point-Of-View

From what vantage point the story is being told.

Irony

Is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words

What are the three major types of irony?

Verbal, Dramatic, Situational

Verbal Irony

When the speaker says one thing and does another

EX: I’d like to visit that museum again as much as I’d like to gnaw off my own foot.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience understands the significance of an event but the characters do not.

EX: In a scary movie, the character walks into a house and the audience knows the killer is in the house.

Situational Irony

A situation in which actions have the opposite effect of what occurs

EX: A firehouse burns down

Author

The person or people who write a story

Narrorator

The character or observer telling the story to the reader/listener/viewer

First-person

The narrator takes part in a story. The author uses the pronouns like I, me, & mine to show their personal point of view.

EX: “Yes, I could take early retirement.”

Third-person

The narrator is not a part of the story. The author uses pronouns like she, he, him, her, and they.

Third-person omniscient

All-knowing narrator. the narrator knows everything about all of the characters and the events of the story. The author decides what the narrator discloses about the character(s) and the events.

EX: “Say, ‘Today in history…’ (Please consult Book of Days in the principal’s office for appropriate references. Limit is three items.)”

Third-person limited omniscient

All-knowing narrator about one of two characters, but not everything and everybody

EX: “Mr. Lunser: Seems there aren’t any, for which we can all be grateful. Anyway, Philip needs the time to study for his exam.”

How is Drama like other types of literature?

It has a plot, setting, and characters

Three major types of Drama:

Comedy-makes fun of life situations

Tragedy-difficult life situations

Melodrama-Mix of 2; good wins over evil

How is Drama different from other types of literature?

Drama is meant to be performed rather than read

Elements that make drama more meaningful when performed:

Costumes

Set

Dialect

Make-up

Sound effect

Special effect'

Props

What is the setting of A Christmas Carol?

London

1843

Christmas time

Main Characters in A Christmas Carol:

Scrooge, Marley, Cratchit, Nephew, Tiny Tim, young Scrooge, Past, Present, Future, Thin man, and Schoolmaster

Plot and Conflict for Act 1 of A Christmas Carol:

Plot: Marley’s ghost appears to Scrooge and tells him of what will happen to him if he doesn’t be nicer and tells him three spirits will visit him.

Conflict: Scrooge is a bad person and must be saved and become better before its too late

How does Scrooge feel about Christmas? And Nephew?

Scrooge-hates it

Nephew-loves it

What do the two poor men ask Scrooge for? Where does Scrooge think poor people belong?

They ask him for money

Scrooge thinks the poor belong in union workhouses

Who’s ghost appears to Scrooge? How does he know him?

Jacob Marley, Scrooge’s old business partner

Who comes to see Scrooge next?

Past (spirit with white hair but unwrinkled skin, strong arms, delicate legs, white tunic, belt that cinches waist, and flowers for a dress)

What part of his past does he relive with Past? What does he learn?

When he was an apprentice, Fezziwig was his boss

He learns that he needs to be more giving like his boss was to him

Why doesn’t Scrooge marry?

His girlfriend broke off a marriage with him.

What is the Plot/Conflict for Act 2 of A Christmas Carol?

Plot: Scrooge is angry and scared because he saw his dead self in the future after the spirits Present and Future visited him.

Problem: Scrooge sees himself dead and doesn’t have a lot of time to fix himself

Who is the second spirit that visited Scrooge? Where does it take him?

Present, the spirit takes him to Cratchit’s house

What did Tiny Tim hope the people in church saw him?

He wanted to people to be remembered

Where does Present take him next? How is the setting different?

Nephew’s house, different because Nephew’s house is romantic and jolly for Christmas Time

Who is the third spirit to visit Scrooge? Where do they go and how does he react to it?

Future, Scrooge is taken to his future where he sees himself dead, he’s upset because no one cared that he was dead.

What was Scrooge’s resolution?

Be nicer

What are examples of things he does to be nicer/more jolly?

Bought turkey for Cratchits

Dresses colorfully

Wishes people Merry Christmas

Visits Nephew

Gives Bob a raise

What are the six types of conflict?

Person vs. Person

Person vs. Technology

Person vs. Nature(fate)

Person vs. Himself

Person vs. The Supernatural

Person vs. Society

Example of Person vs. Person in A Christmas Carol

Nephew vs. Scrooge

They have a bad relationship and Scrooge is mean to Nephew when Nephew just wants to wish him a Merry Christmas

Example of Person vs. Technology in A Christmas Carol

Tiny Tim vs. leg braces

Tiny Tim needs to carry small crutches and his small legs are bound in an iron frame so he can stand

Example of Person vs. Nature(Fate) in A Christmas Carol

Marley vs. his fate

Marley died because he could’t escape his fate so death overcame him and took his life

Example of Person vs. himself in A Christmas Carol

Scrooge vs. Guilt

Scrooge struggles with guilt from the idea that because of him, Tiny Tim could have died from malnutrition because he refused to give Bob money.

Example of Person vs. The Supernatural in A Christmas Carol

Scrooge vs. Past or Present or Future or Marley

Example of Person vs. Society in A Christmas Carol

Scrooge vs. Reputation

Scrooge’s Reputation is tarnished and no one respects him anymore.5