How does the opening engage the reader?

1. What do you already know about the story ‘A Christmas Carol’?

2. Ext - What has the name ‘Scrooge’ become associated with, since Dickens created the character?

What does this tell us about the importance of the story we are about to read?

Chapter One – Marley’s Ghost

Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country’s done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail. Scrooge knew he was dead? Of course he did. How could it be otherwise? Scrooge and he were partners for I don’t know how many years. Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend, and sole mourner. And even Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event, but that he was an excellent man of business on the very day of the funeral, and solemnised it with an undoubted bargain.

Chapter One – Marley’s Ghost

Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it. And Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail. Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself, to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country’s done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail.

What hook into the story is used in the first sentence?

What technique is used here?

Why is it useful that they used this technique?

Who is Marley?

Who is Dickens talking to here?

How does the opening try to keep the reader engaged?How does the title interest us?

Scrooge knew he was dead? Of course he did. How could it be otherwise? Scrooge and he were partners for I don’t know how many years. Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend, and sole mourner. And even Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event, but that he was an excellent man of business on the very day of the funeral, and solemnised it with an undoubted bargain.

What is the effect of this question on the reader?

How would you describe the voice/tone of the narrator?

Are there any other techniques that Dickens uses to engage the reader?

How does the opening try to keep the reader engaged?

What questions does this make you want to ask?

Language changes over timeLanguage changes over timeThe phrases on the left are from the first

chapter of A Christmas Carol. Match them up with the modern version on the left.

Oh! but he was a tight fisted hand at the grindstone

Stiffened his gait

The cold within him froze his old features

External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge

Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, ‘My dear Scrooge, how are you?’

No wind that blew was bitterer than he

He was so cold-hearted that he even looked cold

No one was ever pleased to see him, or said hello in the street

He was meaner and more spiteful than the coldest wind

He walked as if he were stiff

He was a mean man who made everyone work really hard all the time for poor wages

Whether it was a cold winter’s night or a pleasant summer morning Scrooge never changed

Check Your UnderstandingHow many did you work out correctly?

Oh! but he was a tight fisted hand at the grindstone

Stiffened his gait

The cold within him froze his old features

External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge

Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, ‘My dear Scrooge, how are you?’

No wind that blew was bitterer than he

He was so cold-hearted that he even looked cold

No one was ever pleased to see him, or said hello in the street

He was meaner and more spiteful than the coldest wind

He walked as if he were stiff

He was a mean man who made everyone work really hard all the time for poor wages

Whether it was a cold winter’s night or a pleasant summer morning Scrooge never changed

Infer & DeduceInfer & DeduceWhat does the pictureWhat does the picture

below suggest aboutbelow suggest about

Scrooge?Scrooge?

What does this What does this image of his homeimage of his home

tell us about Scrooge?tell us about Scrooge?

Look carefully at this Victorian illustration what can you Look carefully at this Victorian illustration what can you infer and deduce from it about Scrooge?infer and deduce from it about Scrooge?

Reading: p.12-13

Scrooge