‘A Christmas Carol’ is a story by Charles Dickens. This article contains Notes-material based on the chapter ‘A Christmas Carol’ from the class 8 English textbook ‘Lavender’. It provides summaries in English and Hindi, word meanings, and the message of the story. Finally, it includes questions and their answers.
Chapter Notes (A Christmas Carole)
Summary in English
The play A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens is a story about Ebenezer Scrooge, a greedy and bitter old man who hates Christmas and cares only about money. On Christmas Eve, he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him to change his ways. Marley tells Scrooge that three spirits will visit him that night.
The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge scenes from his younger days when he was happy and full of life. The Ghost of Christmas Present takes him to see the humble but joyful Cratchit family, where he learns about their struggles and sees the sickly child, Tiny Tim. Finally, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows him his lonely grave and the consequences of his selfish life.
Scrooge realizes his mistakes and decides to change. On Christmas morning, he wakes up a new man, filled with joy and generosity. He helps Bob Cratchit, gives money to the poor, and celebrates Christmas with everyone. The play ends with Scrooge embracing the true spirit of Christmas and becoming a better person.
सारांश हिंदी में
चार्ल्स डिकेन्स की कहानी अ क्रिसमस कैरल लालची और क्रोधित बूढ़े आदमी एबेनेज़र स्क्रूज की कहानी है, जो क्रिसमस से नफरत करता है और केवल पैसों से प्यार करता है। क्रिसमस की पूर्व संध्या पर, उसके पुराने साथी जैकब मार्ले की आत्मा उससे मिलने आती है और उसे चेतावनी देती है कि उसे अपनी जिंदगी बदलनी चाहिए। मार्ले बताता है कि तीन आत्माएं रात में उससे मिलने आएंगी।
क्रिसमस के अतीत की आत्मा स्क्रूज को उसके बचपन के दिनों में ले जाती है, जब वह खुश और ज़िंदगी से भरा हुआ था। क्रिसमस के वर्तमान की आत्मा उसे क्रैचिट के गरीब लेकिन खुशहाल परिवार को दिखाती है, जहां वह उनके संघर्षों और बीमार बच्चे, टिनी टिम, के बारे में जानता है। अंत में, क्रिसमस के भविष्य की आत्मा उसे उसकी अकेली और भयावह कब्र दिखाती है और उसके स्वार्थी जीवन के परिणाम बताती है।
स्क्रूज अपनी गलतियों को समझता है और बदलने का फैसला करता है। क्रिसमस की सुबह वह खुशी और दयालुता से भर जाता है। वह बॉब क्रैचिट की मदद करता है, गरीबों को पैसे देता है, और सभी के साथ क्रिसमस मनाता है। कहानी इस संदेश के साथ समाप्त होती है कि सच्चे क्रिसमस की भावना अपनाकर कोई भी बेहतर इंसान बन सकता है।
Moral of ‘A Christmas Carol’
The moral of A Christmas Carol is that kindness, generosity, and self-reflection can lead to personal transformation. The story teaches that material wealth is not the most important thing in life—human connections, love, and compassion are far more valuable. It encourages us to be mindful of how our actions affect others and reminds us that it is never too late to change for the better.
Key morals include:
- Change is possible: No matter how set in our ways we may be, we can always improve and grow.
- The importance of generosity: True wealth is found in helping others and sharing love, not in hoarding money.
- Value of family and relationships: Family and friends are essential for happiness and fulfillment.
- Live in the present: Appreciate what you have now, and do not dwell only on the past or worry about the future.
Ultimately, the story encourages living a life full of love, gratitude, and kindness.
Vocabulary Notes (Meanings)
| Word | Meaning (English) | Meaning (Hindi) |
|---|---|---|
| Carol | A song or hymn, typically associated with Christmas, sung to celebrate the occasion. | एक गीत या भजन, जो विशेष रूप से क्रिसमस के अवसर पर गाया जाता है। |
| Bitter | Describing someone who feels angry, unhappy, or resentful due to past experiences. | एक व्यक्ति का वर्णन जो क्रोधित, दुखी या नाराज महसूस करता है, अतीत के अनुभवों के कारण। |
| Bah Humbug | An expression showing disbelief or disdain, especially for something festive like Christmas. | एक अभिव्यक्ति जो अविश्वास या तिरस्कार को दर्शाती है, जैसे क्रिसमस की भावना। |
| Spirit | A supernatural being or ghost; in the story, it refers to the ghosts visiting Scrooge. | एक अलौकिक प्राणी या भूत; कहानी में, इसका मतलब स्क्रूज से मिलने वाले भूतों से है। |
| Amen | A word used at the end of a prayer, meaning “so be it” or “let it be so.” | एक शब्द जो प्रार्थना के अंत में उपयोग होता है, जिसका अर्थ है “ऐसा हो”। |
| Tidings | News or information, often referring to good news, like Christmas greetings. | समाचार या जानकारी, जो अच्छे समाचारों के संदर्भ में होती है, जैसे क्रिसमस की शुभकामनाएं। |
| Kin | Relatives or family members. | रिश्तेदार या परिवार के सदस्य। |
| Figgy | Refers to a type of pudding made with figs, commonly associated with Christmas treats. | अंजीर से बनी मिठाई या पुडिंग, जो पारंपरिक क्रिसमस भोजन से जुड़ी होती है। |
Textbook Exercises Q&A (A Christmas Carole)
Time to answer:
A. Choose the correct option.
- When does the story of A Christmas Carol begin?
Ans: ✅ on Christmas Eve - Who is the main character of the story?
Ans: ✅ Ebenezer Scrooge - Why is Jacob Marley described as a ‘strange visitor’?
Ans: ✅ because he was a ghost - Which of these could be the reason for Scrooge’s dislike for Christmas?
Ans: ✅ He valued business and wealth while Christmas is about community, charity, and family. - What lesson do you learn from A Christmas Carol?
Ans: ✅ Charity brings true happiness.
B. Answer these questions.
- How did Scrooge react when Cratchit asked him for a day off to celebrate Christmas?
- Why did Jacob Marley pay Scrooge a visit?
- Explain the significance of the three ghosts in the story.
- What kind of change came over in Scrooge’s nature after the visitations from the three
- Who was little Tim? What was wrong with him?
- Which of the sights shown by the three ghosts affected Scrooge the most? Why do you think so?
Answers: (Long Ans)
- How did Scrooge react when Cratchit asked him for a day off to celebrate Christmas?
Ans: Scrooge was angry when Cratchit asked for a day off. He did not like Christmas and thought it was a waste of time. But after Cratchit begged him, he agreed but told him to work extra hours later. - Why did Jacob Marley pay Scrooge a visit?
Ans: Jacob Marley came as a ghost to warn Scrooge. He told Scrooge that if he did not change his greedy and unkind ways, he would suffer after death just like Marley. He also told Scrooge that three spirits would visit him to help him change. - Explain the significance of the three ghosts in the story.
Ans: The three ghosts help Scrooge understand his mistakes:- The Ghost of Christmas Past shows his happy childhood and how he became greedy.
- The Ghost of Christmas Present shows how poor but happy people celebrate Christmas.
- The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge his lonely death if he does not change.
These ghosts teach Scrooge to be kind, generous, and value people over money.
- What kind of change came over Scrooge after the visitations from the three ghosts?
Ans: Scrooge became a better person. He realized that money is not everything. He started caring for others, helped Bob Cratchit’s family, and celebrated Christmas with joy. - Who was little Tim? What was wrong with him?
Ans: Little Tim was Bob Cratchit’s son. He was very sick and weak. His family was poor and could not afford proper treatment. - Which of the sights shown by the three ghosts affected Scrooge the most? Why do you think so?
Ans: The sight that affected Scrooge the most was his own grave shown by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. He saw that no one cared about his death, and he was forgotten. This scared him and made him realize that he must change his ways to be remembered as a good person.
Short Answers:
- How did Scrooge react when Cratchit asked him for a day off?
Ans: He was angry and called Christmas useless but allowed it after Cratchit begged. - Why did Jacob Marley visit Scrooge?
Ans: To warn Scrooge to change his greedy ways or suffer after death. - Significance of the three ghosts?
Ans: They showed Scrooge his past happiness, present hardships of others, and his lonely future to teach him kindness. - How did Scrooge change after the ghosts’ visits?
Ans: He became kind, generous, and started valuing people over money. - Who was Little Tim? What was wrong with him?
Ans: He was Cratchit’s sick and weak son, needing medical care. - Which sight affected Scrooge the most? Why?
Ans: His own grave because it made him realize he must change to be remembered well.
Reference to the Context.
1. “Oh, this is me. Look, I was very happy in the past.”
a. Who is the speaker?
Ans: ii. Ebenezer Scrooge
b. To whom does the speaker say these words?
Ans: iii. The Ghost of Christmas Past
c. What situation does the speaker find before himself?
Ans: Scrooge sees his younger self enjoying a Christmas party, dancing, and being happy. He realizes he was once cheerful and not always bitter.
d. How does the speaker behave now?
Ans: He regrets losing his happiness and becoming greedy. He starts to understand that money is not everything.
2. “Dear Lord, we don’t have much money, but we are very happy today, because we have got each other. Thank you for this wonderful family. Amen.”
a. Who are watching the speaker?
Ans: iii. The Ghost of Christmas Present and Ebenezer Scrooge
b. Why is the speaker thankful to God even though he doesn’t have a lot of money and good things in life?
Ans: He values love, family, and togetherness more than money. He finds happiness in having his family with him.
c. Do you think we should always be thankful to God no matter what our situation is?
Ans: Yes, we should be grateful because love, kindness, and family are more important than wealth.
d. How did the person watching the situation feel after this?
Ans: Scrooge felt sad and guilty for not paying Cratchit enough. He realized that true happiness comes from love, not money.
Time to Think and Answers
Questions:
- The narrator introduces ‘A Christmas Carol’ as a story about a bitter old man. What makes Ebenezer Scrooge a bitter person?
- In the play, Scrooge travels through time to see a glimpse of the past, present and future. Based on your reading of the play, create and describe an event in the past and future of Scrooge’s life respectively.
- The ghost of Jacob Marley and the three spirits help to bring about a transformation in Scrooge’s character. Comment.
- Write a short essay on—’Happiness doesn’t come through selfishness but through selflessness. Everything you do comes back around.’
- Draw an illustration that brings out the message that the happiest are the givers, not the takers.
- How does Dickens present the importance of family in ‘A Christmas Carol’? Write your thoughts in about 100 words.
Answers:
1. The narrator introduces ‘A Christmas Carol’ as a story about a bitter old man. What makes Ebenezer Scrooge a bitter person?
Ans: Scrooge is bitter because he values money more than relationships. He was once happy, but his greed made him lonely. He dislikes Christmas because it reminds him of love and kindness, which he ignored in pursuit of wealth.
2. In the play, Scrooge travels through time to see a glimpse of the past, present and future. Based on your reading of the play, create and describe an event in the past and future of Scrooge’s life respectively.
Ans:
- Past: Scrooge was a joyful young man who loved celebrations. He enjoyed Christmas but later became obsessed with money and lost his happiness.
- Present: He sees Bob Cratchit’s family struggling, especially Tiny Tim, who is sick. He realizes how little he cares for others.
- Future: Scrooge sees his own grave, and no one mourns him. He understands that if he doesn’t change, he will die alone and forgotten.
3. The ghost of Jacob Marley and the three spirits help to bring about a transformation in Scrooge’s character. Comment.
Ans: Jacob Marley warns Scrooge that his greed will lead to suffering. The three ghosts show him his past happiness, present consequences, and future loneliness. These experiences make him realize that kindness is more valuable than money, leading to his transformation into a generous person.
4. Write a short essay on—’Happiness doesn’t come through selfishness but through selflessness. Everything you do comes back around.’
Ans: True happiness comes from giving and caring for others. A selfish person may have wealth, but they will be lonely and unhappy. When we help others, we create joy not only for them but also for ourselves. Kindness and generosity bring peace, love, and respect. Like Scrooge, we should understand that the more we give, the more happiness we receive in return.
5.Draw an illustration that brings out the message that the happiest are the givers, not the takers.
Ans: Draw a picture showing a person giving food or gifts to the needy, with a happy smile on their face. It should highlight that givers feel more joy than takers.
6.How does Dickens present the importance of family in ‘A Christmas Carol’? Write your thoughts in about 100 words.
Ans: Dickens shows that family brings true happiness. Bob Cratchit’s family, though poor, is full of love and care. Scrooge, despite his wealth, is lonely. When Scrooge sees the Cratchits celebrating together, he realizes that money cannot replace love and companionship. By the end, he understands the value of family and becomes kind and generous, finally finding joy.
Short Answers:
1. Scrooge is bitter because he values money over people. His greed makes him lonely and unhappy.
2. Description of an event is given below.
- Past: Scrooge was happy but became greedy.
- Present: He sees Cratchit’s poor but loving family.
- Future: He sees his lonely grave and regrets his life.
3. Marley warns him, and the ghosts show his past joy, present mistakes, and future misery. This makes him kind and generous.
4. True happiness comes from helping others. Selfishness brings loneliness, but kindness brings joy and respect. Giving makes life meaningful.
5. Draw a person sharing food or gifts, showing that givers are happier than takers.
6. Bob Cratchit’s poor family is happy, while rich Scrooge is lonely. He learns that love and kindness matter more than money.
Time to Study Language
Identify the non-finites in these sentences.
- The drowning/drowned man is still trying stayed/to stay afloat
- The army is exercising its right shooting/to shoot the enemy.
- The man’s family must be finding/to find it hard to get over his sudden demise.
- To travel/To travelled to the corners of the world has been my dream.
- Will you be going rafted/rafting when you visit Rishikesh?
- He was supposed shooting/to shoot the ball to the right of the goalkeeper.
Answer:
- drowning (participle), to stay (infinitive)
- to shoot (infinitive)
- finding (participle)
- To travel (infinitive)
- rafting (gerund)
- to shoot (infinitive)
Explanation: Non-finites include infinitives (e.g., to stay), gerunds (e.g., rafting), and participles (e.g., drowning). Finite verbs like stayed, shot, or rafted were excluded.
Time to Learn New Words
Each of these words has a suffix and a prefix. Divide each into base word, prefix and suffix. (see the book for the full question)
| Word | Prefix | Base word | Suffix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. unfaithful | un- | faith | -ful |
| 2. reusable | re- | use | -able |
| 3. unremarkable | un- | remark | -able |
| 4. rechargeable | re- | charge | -able |
| 5. unhelpful | un- | help | -ful |
| 6. reorganisation | re- | organise | -ation |
| 7. unexpected | un- | expect | -ed |
| 8. disrespectful | dis- | respect | -ful |
| 9. impossibly | im- | possible | -ly |
| 10. disloyalty | dis- | loyal | -ty |
Study Skills
Look for a few more words in the story and search their synonyms using thesaurus. (see the book for the full question)
Answer: Students should attempt it themselves.
Here are some words from A Christmas Carol with synonyms found using a thesaurus:
New Words to Explore
- Miser – (Synonyms: stingy person, hoarder, penny-pincher)
- Spirit – (Synonyms: ghost, phantom, apparition)
- Charity – (Synonyms: kindness, generosity, goodwill)
- Haunt – (Synonyms: scare, frighten, visit)
- Transformation – (Synonyms: change, conversion, shift)
- Gloomy – (Synonyms: dark, sad, depressing)
- Grateful – (Synonyms: thankful, appreciative, obliged)
- Repentance – (Synonyms: regret, remorse, sorrow)
- Cheerful – (Synonyms: happy, joyful, bright)
- Feast – (Synonyms: banquet, celebration, meal)
Time to Listen
Listen to the summary of ‘A Christmas Carol’ and fill in the blanks. (See the book for the full question)
Answer:
Time to Speak
Get into pairs. One of you will pick a word from the grid and the other will form grammatically correct questions related to the word. For example, for the answer ‘midnight’, the question could be, ‘Who visited Scrooge at midnight?’ (See the book for the full question)
Answer: Students should attempt it by themselves.
Here are examples of some grammatically correct questions based on the grid:
Instructions:
| Character | Time | Place | General |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ebenezer Scrooge | Christmas Eve | Scrooge’s home | humbug |
| Bob Cratchit | 1 a.m. | Bob Cratchit’s home | partner |
| Jacob Marley | 2 a.m. | graveyard | Christmas party |
Example Questions & Answers
- Word: midnight (Time)
Question: Who visited Scrooge at midnight?
Answer: Jacob Marley’s ghost. - Word: graveyard (Place)
Question: Where did Scrooge see his own grave?
Answer: The graveyard. - Word: humbug (General)
Question: What word does Scrooge use to mock Christmas?
Answer: Humbug! - Word: partner (General)
Question: What term does Jacob Marley use to describe his business relationship with Scrooge?
Answer: Partner. - Word: 2 a.m. (Time)
Question: At what time did the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come arrive?
Answer: 2 a.m. - Word: Bob Cratchit’s home (Place)
Question: Where does Tiny Tim celebrate Christmas with his family?
Answer: Bob Cratchit’s home.
Time to Write
Imagine Scrooge goes to Cratchit’s home and spends Christmas with Cratchit and his family. Write the dialogue for each character. (See the book for the full question).
Answer: Students should attempt it by themselves.
Here’s a possible continuation of the dialogue:
Cratchit: Mr. Scrooge! Why don’t you join us for dinner?
Scrooge: That is very kind of you, Cratchit. I would love to!
Tiny Tim: Merry Christmas, Mr. Scrooge!
Scrooge: Merry Christmas, my dear boy! I have brought some gifts for you all.
Mrs. Cratchit: That is very generous, Mr. Scrooge. Please, take a seat.
Scrooge: Thank you! I have realized the joy of sharing and giving.
