1Name:

Stave One – Marley’s Ghost

Learning episode 16

Learning goalsTo analyse the presentation of Marley’s ghost and Scrooge’s reaction to it

I think I can To be extending, we need to be able to My teacher thinks I can

Read and understood the key extract, summarising the key events within it.Explored the presentation of the ghost by drawing on relevant textual references to interpret the appearance of Marley’s ghost. Explored the use of chains, drawing on different sources to arrive at a considered understanding of why Marley is carrying chains and what these chains symbolise.Analysed how Scrooge responds to Marley’s ghost.

Do it now taskIn this learning episode, we are going to see what happens when Marley’s ghost appears. However, before we do, in what ways has Dickens prepared us, the reader, for the appearance of Marley’s ghost?

1. ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

2. ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

3. ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

4. ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Do it now task (2)On the next page, explode the quotation you have been given. This means we want you to write down everything you can about this quotation. Think about

Which words are key Which techniques have been used

2

The inferences you can make The possible effect that this quotation might have on a reader.

EXPLODE A QUOTATION

New knowledgeIn this learning episode, we are going to learn what happens when Marley’s ghost appears in front of Scrooge.

1 The same face: the very same. Marley in his pigtail, usual2 waistcoat, tights and boots; the tassels on the latter bristling,3 like his pigtail, and his coat-skirts, and the hair upon his head.4 The chain he drew was clasped about his middle. It was long,5 and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge6 observed it closely) of cashboxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers,7 deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel. His body was 8 transparent: so that Scrooge, observing him, and looking 9 through his waistcoat, could see the two buttons on his coat10 behind.

11 Scrooge had often heard it said that Marley had no bowels,12 but he had never believed it until now.

13 No, nor did he believe it even now. Though he looked the 14 phantom through and through, and saw it standing before 15 him; though he felt the chilling influence of its death-cold

3

You will, therefore, permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a doornail.

16 eyes, and marked the very texture of the folded kerchief 17 bound about its head and chin, which wrapper he had not 18 observed before, he was still incredulous and fought against19 his senses.

20 “How now!” said Scrooge, caustic and cold as ever. “What 21 do you want with me?”

22 “Much!” Marley’s voice; no doubt about it.

23 “Who are you?”

24 “Ask me who I was.”

25 “Who were you, then?” said Scrooge, raising his voice. 26 “You’re particular for a shade.” He was going to say “to a 27 shade”, but substituted this, as more appropriate.

28 “In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley.”

29 “Can you – can you sit down?” asked Scrooge, looking 30 doubtfully at him.

31 “I can.”

32 “Do it, then.”

33 Scrooge asked the question, because he didn’t know whether34 a ghost so transparent might find himself in a condition to 35 take a chair; and felt that in the event of its being impossible,36 it might involve the necessity of an embarrassing explanation.37 But the Ghost sat down on the opposite side of the fireplace, 38 as if he were quite used to it.

39 “You don’t believe in me,” observed the Ghost.

40 “I don’t,” said Scrooge.

41 “What evidence would you have of my reality beyond that of42 your own senses?”

43 “I don’t know” said Scrooge.

44 “Why do you doubt your senses?”

45 “Because,” said Scrooge, “a little thing affects them. A slight4

46 disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. You may be47 an undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of 48 cheese, a fragment of underdone potato. There’s more of49 gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!”

50 Scrooge was not much in the habit of cracking jokes, nor did51 he feel in his heart by any means waggish then. The truth is,52 that he tried to be smart, as a means of distracting his own 53 attention, and keeping down his terror; for the spectre’s voice54 disturbed the very marrow in his bones.

55 To sit staring at those fixed, glazed eyes in silence, for a56 moment, would play Scrooge felt, the very deuce with him.57 There was something very awful, too, in the spectre’s being58 provided with an infernal atmosphere of his own. Scrooge59 could not feel it himself, but this was clearly the case; for 60 though the Ghost sat perfectly motionless, its hair and skirts,61 and tassels were still agitated as by the hot vapour from an 62 oven.

63 “You see this toothpick?” said Scrooge returning quickly to the64 charge, for the reason just assigned; and wishing, though it65 were only for a second, to diver the vision’s stony gaze from66 himself.

67 “I do,” replied the Ghost.

68 “You are not looking at it,” said Scrooge.

69 “But I can see it,” said the Ghost, “notwithstanding.”

70 “Well!” returned Scrooge, “I have but to swallow this, and be71 for the rest of my days persecuted by a legion of goblins72 all of my own creation. Humbug, I tell you: humbug!”

73 At this the spirit raise a frightful cry, and shook its chain with74 such a dismal and appalling noise, that Scrooge held on tight75 to his chair, to save himself from falling in a swoon. But how76 much greater was his horror when the phantom, taking off the77 bandage round his head, as if it were too warm to wear 78 indoors, its lower jaw dropped down upon its breast!

79 Scrooge fell upon his knees, and clasped his hands before80 his face.

5

Pen to paperSummarise in no more than 50 words what happens in this part of Stave One.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Pen to paperIn this extract, we are introduced to the ghost of Marley. Consider Dickens’ presentation of the ghost in lines 1-19 and 55-62 and use his description to create an image of the ghost below.

Add details from these lines around the outside to explain how you have interpreted the appearance of the ghost.

Challenge question: to what extent is the description successful in conveying the supernatural?

6

Quotations to support my interpretation

Quotations to support my interpretation

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

New knowledgeWithin the extract, Dickens describes the chains that Marley wears. A chain is a series of usually metal links or rings connected to or fitted into one another.

The chain he drew was clasped about his middle. It was long,and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scroogeobserved it closely) of cashboxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers,deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel.

Pen to paper1. What is Marley’s chain made out of?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. What do these objects symbolise, do you think?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

3. Look at the images of chains below: in what way could these chains be likened to the chains Marley now wears?

7

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

New knowledgeChains also feature heavily in the Bible and are associated with hell.

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath RESERVED IN EVERLASTING CHAINS under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (Jude 6). Jesus had the power to send these demons to the everlasting chains of confinement. “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down TO HELL, and delivered them into CHAINS of darkness, TO BE RESERVED unto judgment” (2nd Peter 2:4).

Pen to paperHow could this idea of being chained under darkness have influenced the presentation of Marley?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

8

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

ReflectionEven though the ghost is of Marley, Scrooge’s old business partner and friend, Scrooge still reacts in a variety of ways. Look at the quotations below describing Scrooge’s reactions to the ghost in Stave 1. Use numbers 1-5 to put them in order showing how his reactions change. In each case explain what causes the change.

Quotation Order (1-5) Explanation‘Scrooge fell upon his knees, and clasped his hands before his face.’

‘The truth is, that he tried to be smart, as a means of distracting his own attention, and keeping down his terror…’‘You don’t believe in me,’ observed the Ghost.

‘He tried to say ‘Humbug!’ but stopped at the first syllable.

‘He was still incredulous and fought against his senses.’

9

Learning episode 17

Learning goalsTo analyse the presentation and purpose of the supernatural in A Christmas Carol

I think I can To be extending, we need to be able to My teacher thinks I can

Read and understand the extract, sequencing the key events.Analyse how far Marley’s Ghost conforms to common beliefs about ghosts during this time.Evaluate the purpose of Marley’s Ghost in the narrative, justifying our thinking.

Do it now taskRecap questions:

1. Identify two features of Marley’s Ghost’s appearance.

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

2. What are Marley’s Ghost’s chains made of?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

3. What do the chains symbolise?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

4. How does Scrooge react to the Ghost of Marley?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Challenge / Thinking ahead:5. The chain that Marley’s Ghost carries was not created by the bad things he did

in life, but by his failure too do good. In Stave One, what opportunities has Scrooge had – and failed to use – to do good?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________10

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

Do it now task (2)On the next page, explode the quotation you have been given. This means we want you to write down everything you can about this quotation. Think about

Which words are key Which techniques have been used The inferences you can make The possible effect that this quotation might have on a reader.

EXPLODE A QUOTATION challenge

New knowledgeIn this learning episode, we are going to learn why the ghost of Marley has come to visit Scrooge.

1 “Mercy!” he said. “Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble2 me?”

3 “Man of the worldly mind!” replied the Ghost, “do you believe 4 in me or not?”

11

A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!

5 “I do,” said Scrooge; I must. But why do spirits walk the earth,6 and why do they come to me.”

7 “It is required of every man,” the Ghost returned, “that the 8 spirit within him should walk among his fellow-men, and travel9 far and wide; and, if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is 10 condemned to do so after death. It is doomed to wander 11 through the world – oh, woe is me! And witness what it cannot12 share, but might have shared on earth, and turned to 13 happiness!”

14 Again the spectre raised a cry, and shook its chain and wrung15 its shadowy hands.

16 “You are fettered,” said Scrooge, trembling. “Tell me why?”

17 “I wear the chain I forged in life,” replied the Ghost. “I made 18 it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free19 will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange20 to you?”

21 Scrooge trembled more and more.

22 “Or would you know,” pursued the Ghost, “the weight and 23 length of the strong coil you bear yourself? It was full as24 heavy and as long as this seven Christmas Eves ago. You25 have laboured on it since. It is a ponderous chain!”

26 Scrooge glanced about him on the floor, in the expectation of27 finding himself surrounded by some fifty or sixty fathoms of28 iron cable; but he could see nothing.

29 “Jacob!” he said imploringly. “Old Jacob Marley, tell me 30 more! speak comfort to me, Jacob!”

31 “I have none to give,” the Ghost replied. “It comes from other 32 regions, Ebenezer Scrooge, and is conveyed by other 33 ministers, to other kinds of men. Nor can I tell you what I34 would. A very little more is all permitted to me. I cannot rest,35 I cannot stay, I cannot linger anywhere. My spirit never 36 walked beyond our counting-house – mark me – in life my 37 spirit never roved beyond the narrow limits of our money-38 changing hole; and weary journeys lie before me!”

39 It was a habit with Scrooge, whenever he became thoughtful,12

40 to put his hands in his breeches pockets. Pondering on 41 what the Ghost had said, he did so now, but without lifting up42 his eyes, or getting off his knees.

43 “You must have been very slow about it, Jacob,” Scrooge 44 observed in a business-like manner, though with humility and45 deference.

46 “Slow!” the Ghost repeated.

47 “Seven years dead,” mused Scrooge. “And travelling all the 48 time?”

49 “The whole time,” said the Ghost. “No rest, no peace. 50 incessant torture of remorse.

51 “You travel fast?” said Scrooge.

52 “On the wings of the wind,” replied the Ghost.

53 “You might have got over a great quantity of ground in seven54 years,” said Scrooge.

55 The Ghost, on hearing this, set up another cry, and clanked56 its chain so hideously in the dead silence of the night, that the57 ward would have been justified in indicting it for a nuisance.

58 “Oh! Captive, bound, and double-ironed,” cried the phantom,59 “not to know that ages of incessant labour, by immortal60 creatures, for this earth must pass into eternity before the 61 good of which it is susceptible is all developed! Not to know62 that any Christian spirit working kindly in its little sphere,63 whatever it may be, will find its mortal life too short for its vast64 means of usefulness! Not to know that no space of regret 65 can make amends for one life’s opportunities misused! Yet66 such was I! Oh, such was I!”

67 “But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” 68 faltered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself.”

69 “Business!” cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. 70 “Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my 71 business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence72 were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a73 drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

13

74 It held up its chain at arm’s length, as if that were the cause75 of all its unavailing grief, and flung it heavily upon the ground76 again.

77 “At this time of the rolling year,” the spectre said, “I suffer 78 most why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my 79 eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed Star 80 which led the Wise Men to a poor abode? Were there no poor81 homes to which its light would have conducted me?”

82 Scrooge was very much dismayed to hear the spectre going 83 on at this rate, and began to quake exceedingly.

84 “Hear me!” cried the Ghost. “My time is nearly gone.”

85 “I will,” said Scrooge. “But don’t be hard upon me! Don’t be 86 flowery, Jacob! Pray!”

87 “How it is that I appear before you in a shape that you can 88 see, I may not tell. I have sat invisible beside you many and89 many A day.”

90 It was not an agreeable idea. Scrooge shivered, and wiped91 the perspiration from his brow.

92 “That is no light part of my penance,” pursued the Ghost. “I 93 am here tonight to warn you that you have yet a chance and 94 hope of escaping my fate. A chance and hope of my 95 procuring, Ebenezer.”

96 “You were always a good friend to me,” said Scrooge. 97 “Thankee!”

98 “You will be haunted,” resumed the Ghost, “by Three Spirits.”

99 Scrooge’s countenance fell almost as low as the Ghost’s 100

had done.

101

“Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, Jacob?” he

102

demanded in a faltering voice.

103

“It is.”

14

104

“I – I think I’d rather not,” said Scrooge.

105

“Without their visits,” said the Ghost, “you cannot hope to

106

shun the path I tread. Expect the first tomorrow when the bell

107

tolls One.”

108

“Couldn’t I take ‘em all at once, and have it over, Jacob?”

109

hinted Scrooge.

110

“Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. The

111

third, upon the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has

112

ceased to vibrate. Look to see no more; and look that, for

113

your own sake, you remember what has passed between us!”

114

When it had said these words, the spectre took its wrapper

115

from the table, and bound it round its head as before.

116

Scrooge knew this by the smart sound its teeth made when

117

the jaws were brought together by the bandage. He ventured

118

to raise his eyes again, and found his supernatural visitor

119

confronting him in an erect attitude, with its chain wound over

120

and about its arm.

121

The apparition walked backward from him; and at every step

122

it took, the window raised itself a little, so that, when the

123

spectre reached it, it was wide open. It beckoned Scrooge to

15

124

approach, which he did. When they were within two paces of

125

each other, Marley’s Ghost held up its hand, warning him to

126

come no nearer. Scrooge stopped.

127

Not so much in obedience as in surprise and fear; for, on the

128

raising of the hand, he became sensible of confused noises in

129

the air; incoherent sounds of lamentation and regret;

130

wailings inexpressibly sorrowful and self-accusatory. The

131

spectre, after listening for a moment, joined in the mournful

132

dirge; and floated out upon the bleak, dark night.

133

Scrooge followed to the window: desperate in his curiosity.

134

He looked out.

135

The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither

136

in restless haste, and moaning as they went. Every one of

137

them wore chains like Marley’s Ghost; some few (they might

138

be guilty governments) were linked together; none were free.

139

Many had been personally known to Scrooge in their lives.

140

He had been quite familiar with one old ghost in a white

141

waistcoat, with a monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle,

142

who cried piteously at being unable to assist a wretched

143

woman with an infant, whom it saw below upon a doorstep.

144

The misery with them all was clearly, that they sought to

14 interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power16

5146

for ever.

147

Whether these creatures faded into mist, or mist enshrouded

148

them, he could not tell. But they and their spirit voices faded

149

together; and the night became as it had been when he

150

walked home.

151

Scrooge closed the window, and examined the door by which

152

the Ghost had entered. It was double-locked, as he had

153

locked it with his own hands, and the bolts were undisturbed.

154

He tried to say ‘Humbug!’ but stopped at the first syllable.

155

And being, from the emotions he had undergone, or the

156

fatigues of the day, or his glimpse of the Invisible World, or

157

the dull conversation of the Ghost, or the lateness of the

158

hour, much in need of repose, went straight to bed without

159

undressing, and fell asleep upon the instant.

Pen to paperLet’s now think about the events that have made up the arrival of Marley’s Ghost. To test your understanding of the extract (and the extract from last lesson), can you put the following events into the correct order?

Event OrderThe ghost removes it bandages.The ghost regrets the life it lived.Scrooge invites Marley’s Ghost to sit down.Scrooge sees other chain-bound phantoms.Scrooge tries to crack a joke.The ghost explains why it wears a chain.

17

Scrooge goes straight to bed.The ghost tells Scrooge it has come to save him.Marley’s ghost appears.The ghost tells Scrooge he will be haunted by three spirits.

Pen to paperOne of the key themes in A Christmas Carol is centred around the supernatural. Prior to the arrival of Marley’s Ghost, we had the allusion to Hamlet and then the moment in which the knocker changed into Marley’s face. Both of these events were used to foreshadow the arrival of Marley’s Ghost.

Now let’s consider the presentation of Marley’s Ghost. Look at the statements below about ghosts – these are some traditional beliefs about ghosts. Your task is to consider how true these statements are for Marley’s Ghost. Can you find evidence from the extract which suggests the same is true for Marley’s Ghost?

Ghosts are transparent

Quote

Explanation

Ghosts walk through walls.

Quote

Explanation

Ghosts are tormented.

Quote

Explanation

Ghosts wail and cry.

Quote

Explanation

Ghosts drag Quote18

chains or fetters.

Explanation

Ghosts have a mission.

Quote

Explanation

Challenge question: How far does Marley’s Ghost conform to commonly held beliefs about ghosts during this time?

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

ReflectionNow we’ve considered how Marley’s Ghost conforms to traditional beliefs about ghosts, we now need to consider the purpose of Marley’s Ghost within this story. Look at the statements below. Which statement do you think is the main reason for the inclusion of Marley’s Ghost in the narrative and why?

1. Marley’s main purpose is to prepare Scrooge for the visit of the three spirits.2. Marley’s main purpose is to create tension by warning Scrooge that his actions

on earth will affect him after his death.3. Marley’s main purpose is to persuade Scrooge to change his ways.4. Marley’s main purpose is to create a supernatural atmosphere in the first

chapter.5. Marley’s main purpose is to introduce the theme of true values: that people are

more important than business?

I think statement ____ summarises the main purpose of Marley’s Ghost. I think this

because ___________________________________________________________

19

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

20