NCERT (CBSE) Class X, English (Communicative) Interact in English Literature Reader |The Christmas Carol | Textbook Exercise Solution

Class 10, NCERT (CBSE) English (Communicative) Interact in English Literature Reader

The Christmas Carol

NCERT Solutions for English Literature Reader Chapter Exercise (Important) Questions

Q.3: Discuss the following:

(a) Where does the play take place?

(b) At the beginning of the play, how do we know that Scrooge does not like Christmas?

(c) Who was Joseph Marley? In what form did he appear to Scrooge? What message did he give to Scrooge?  

Solution:

(a) The play takes place in London in the year 1844 AD.

(b) Scrooge at first appears hard, stingy unfeeling man who does not like Christmas. When a group of young boys sing “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,”he opens the door of his warehouse and shouts at the boy at the pitch of his voice to stop it and get away from there. He firmly tells them that he will have no singing around his place. He bluntly rebukes the boy who wishes him a merry Christmas and asks him to get away. The comments of the second boy “No need to wish him a Merry Christmas. That’s old Scrooge” firmly fix him as a person lacking the Christmas spirit. Secondly he turns down the invitation of his nephew Fred to dine with the on Christmas day. All these incidents that take place at the beginning of the play indicate that does not like Christmas.

(c) Joseph Marley was the former business partner of Ebenezer Scrooge. He died seven years ago on the night before Christmas. He appears to Scrooge as a ghost, a wrath like figure, gray and dim and dragging a heavy chain. He tells Scrooge that the spirit of every person is required to walk abroad among his fellowmen and travel far and wide. If that spirit does not go forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. He gives the message of fellow-feelings, brotherliness, benevolence and charity. He finds his partner Scrooge a selfish businessman who thinks of money only and does not have any love for fellow-beings. He reminds Scrooge that mankind is also a business of human being, so he should work for the common welfare also. It is only by helping others that one can redeem oneself. Marley warns Scrooge of the impending fate. He however, has a last chance to escape it. He tells Scrooge to listen attentively to the three spirits who will visit him at one, two and three O’ clock respectively.   

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The Christmas Carol, Class 10 NCERT (CBSE) English (Communicative) Interact in English Literature Reader | Additional Questions [Read]