This GCSE English Literature quiz challenges you on understanding the text of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Before you can analyse or write about a text, you need to understand it. Although this seems obvious, it is not always easy. After all, if authors merely had a simple message to convey, it would not take them thousands of words to do so! Reading a text from long ago, or from another country, or even one written in a strong dialect can make the task more difficult. It often takes a little time to get used to how a particular author writes.
Authors use many methods in order to convey meaning.
[readmore]
They do not often state what they mean directly. Instead they communicate through character, setting, plot, theme and dialogue. Consider each of these elements closely in order to help your understanding of the text. Re-reading can often be a big help, especially if you realise that you might not have understood everything. If you find yourself having to re-read sections, or even the entire book, don’t worry! This happens to everyone and just shows that you have been paying attention!
When reading a text, your comprehension works on several levels simultaneously. You should consider how context and setting relate to events and think about the relationship between different events. Create a timeline or a plot summary: these are very useful methods for understanding a text. Since A Christmas Carol involves a form of time-travel, at least in visions, you will probably not need reminding that events in texts are not always revealed in the order in which they occur chronologically. Chapter summaries can help with your revision, since they enable you to visualise the structure of the text, especially when that differs from the chronological timeline.
Analysing beginnings and endings is a fantastic way to revise. Why do you think the text begins as it does? How do you find out about a character’s past? Of course, this probably seems obvious in A Christmas Carol, but you might need to look a little deeper. Is anything understated, or left for you to work out for yourself, rather than being told directly? Are future events foreshadowed? How? Analyse individual chapters in the same way, considering the significance of their beginnings and endings. Undertaking careful and detailed analysis of this sort will really improve your knowledge and understanding of the text!
Read the questions below on A Christmas Carol and test your knowledge and understanding of the text.
[/readmore]
|
1.
|
What is the first clue that A Christmas Carol is a ghost story? |
|
| [ ] |
The title |
| [ ] |
The door knocker's transformation into Marley's face |
| [ ] |
The sudden ringing of all the bells in the house |
| [ ] |
Jacob Marley's apparition |
|
|
|
2.
|
What is Scrooge's reason for refusing to give charitably to the two "portly" gentlemen? |
|
| [ ] |
He does not have much money |
| [ ] |
He already supports prisons and workhouses through paying rates |
| [ ] |
He believes that Christmas is not the best time to give charitably |
| [ ] |
He does not believe that anyone is actually poor enough to need financial help |
|
|
|
3.
|
Why does Scrooge object to giving Bob Cratchit Christmas Day off? |
|
| [ ] |
He is worried that they will have to work twice as hard on the day after Christmas |
| [ ] |
He is worried that he will not be able to cope with the workload by himself |
| [ ] |
He worries that he will not have the money to pay Bob's wages |
| [ ] |
He believes he is being cheated by having to pay Bob holiday wages |
|
|
|
4.
|
Where is the first place which the Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge? |
|
| [ ] |
Mr Fezziwig's Christmas party |
| [ ] |
Belle's sitting room |
| [ ] |
His school |
| [ ] |
The place where he and Belle broke off their engagement |
|
|
|
5.
|
The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge his past self taking comfort in books, his sister Fan, his beloved former boss Fezziwig, and Belle and her family. What do these scenes have in common? |
|
| [ ] |
They represent the necessary stages in Scrooge's growth into a good businessman |
| [ ] |
They represent all that Scrooge has lost in life |
| [ ] |
They represent the good choices Scrooge has made in life |
| [ ] |
All of the above |
|
|
|
6.
|
How does the Ghost of Christmas Present appear to Scrooge? |
|
| [ ] |
As a figure of empty pleasure |
| [ ] |
As a figure of sweet regret |
| [ ] |
As a figure of plenty |
| [ ] |
As a figure of carelessness |
|
|
|
7.
|
The Ghost of Christmas Present hides two children beneath his robes. These are allegorical figures for which of the following? |
|
| [ ] |
Ignorance and Want |
| [ ] |
Hunger and Strife |
| [ ] |
Poverty and Sickness |
| [ ] |
Loneliness and Fear |
|
|
|
8.
|
Where does Scrooge spend Christmas Day once the visits of the various spirits have passed? |
|
| [ ] |
At the home of the Cratchits |
| [ ] |
At a local inn |
| [ ] |
At his own home |
| [ ] |
At his nephew Fred's home |
|
|
|
9.
|
The visit of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is concerned with which of the following? |
|
| [ ] |
Plenty |
| [ ] |
Work |
| [ ] |
Death |
| [ ] |
Gratitude |
|
|
|
10.
|
Why is the novella divided into five staves rather than five chapters? |
|
| [ ] |
The word "stave" is related to "staff" and reminds the reader of Scrooge's travels |
| [ ] |
Each "stave" represents a verse of the Christmas Carol of the title |
| [ ] |
The word "stave" reminds the reader of Scrooge's miserly behaviour |
| [ ] |
A "stave" is an old-fashioned name for a chapter |
|
|
|
1.
|
What is the first clue that A Christmas Carol is a ghost story? |
|
| [x] |
The title |
| [ ] |
The door knocker's transformation into Marley's face |
| [ ] |
The sudden ringing of all the bells in the house |
| [ ] |
Jacob Marley's apparition |
|
|
|
2.
|
What is Scrooge's reason for refusing to give charitably to the two "portly" gentlemen? |
|
| [ ] |
He does not have much money |
| [x] |
He already supports prisons and workhouses through paying rates |
| [ ] |
He believes that Christmas is not the best time to give charitably |
| [ ] |
He does not believe that anyone is actually poor enough to need financial help |
|
|
|
3.
|
Why does Scrooge object to giving Bob Cratchit Christmas Day off? |
|
| [ ] |
He is worried that they will have to work twice as hard on the day after Christmas |
| [ ] |
He is worried that he will not be able to cope with the workload by himself |
| [ ] |
He worries that he will not have the money to pay Bob's wages |
| [x] |
He believes he is being cheated by having to pay Bob holiday wages |
|
|
|
4.
|
Where is the first place which the Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge? |
|
| [ ] |
Mr Fezziwig's Christmas party |
| [ ] |
Belle's sitting room |
| [x] |
His school |
| [ ] |
The place where he and Belle broke off their engagement |
|
|
|
5.
|
The Ghost of Christmas Past shows Scrooge his past self taking comfort in books, his sister Fan, his beloved former boss Fezziwig, and Belle and her family. What do these scenes have in common? |
|
| [ ] |
They represent the necessary stages in Scrooge's growth into a good businessman |
| [x] |
They represent all that Scrooge has lost in life |
| [ ] |
They represent the good choices Scrooge has made in life |
| [ ] |
All of the above |
|
|
|
6.
|
How does the Ghost of Christmas Present appear to Scrooge? |
|
| [ ] |
As a figure of empty pleasure |
| [ ] |
As a figure of sweet regret |
| [x] |
As a figure of plenty |
| [ ] |
As a figure of carelessness |
|
|
|
7.
|
The Ghost of Christmas Present hides two children beneath his robes. These are allegorical figures for which of the following? |
|
| [x] |
Ignorance and Want |
| [ ] |
Hunger and Strife |
| [ ] |
Poverty and Sickness |
| [ ] |
Loneliness and Fear |
|
|
|
8.
|
Where does Scrooge spend Christmas Day once the visits of the various spirits have passed? |
|
| [ ] |
At the home of the Cratchits |
| [ ] |
At a local inn |
| [ ] |
At his own home |
| [x] |
At his nephew Fred's home |
|
|
|
9.
|
The visit of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is concerned with which of the following? |
|
| [ ] |
Plenty |
| [ ] |
Work |
| [x] |
Death |
| [ ] |
Gratitude |
|
|
|
10.
|
Why is the novella divided into five staves rather than five chapters? |
|
| [ ] |
The word "stave" is related to "staff" and reminds the reader of Scrooge's travels |
| [x] |
Each "stave" represents a verse of the Christmas Carol of the title |
| [ ] |
The word "stave" reminds the reader of Scrooge's miserly behaviour |
| [ ] |
A "stave" is an old-fashioned name for a chapter |
|
|
