A Christmas Carol Trivia

1. In what year did Dickens first publish 'A Christmas Carol'?

From Quiz The Second Best Known Christmas Story

Answer: 1843

'A Christmas Carol' was Dickens' response to a government report on the dreadful conditions experienced by child labourers in mines and factories. After reading the report, published in the autumn of 1843, Dickens set aside 'Martin Chuzzlewit', which was the current novel-in-progress, to deliver what he referred to as "a hammer blow on behalf of the poor man's child". Dickens began the book in October, 1843 and it took him about six weeks to write it. It was published in time for Christmas that year.

From Quiz Jacob Marley Unchained

Answer: Door nail

Charles Dickens tells us that "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." And thus begins one of the greatest English-language Christmas stories of all time.

From Quiz A Christmas Carol

Answer: Scrooge and Marley

The book tells us that even after Marley had been dead for seven years, he never bothered to change the name or the sign, and just left it "Scrooge and Marley".

From Quiz "A Christmas Carol" - Charles Dickens

Answer: "Marley was dead, to begin with"

The story begins with a brief history of Scrooge's partner, Jacob Marley.

From Quiz A Christmas Carol

Answer: Charles Dickens & Dickens

Probably his best known work!

From Quiz Marley and the 'Wailers'

Answer: Jacob Marley

In Chapter One, titled 'Marley's Ghost', Scrooge tried to convince himself that he was hallucinating. To quote the book: (Referring to a toothpick) "Well!" returned Scrooge, "I have but to swallow this, and be for the rest of my days persecuted by a legion of goblins, all of my own creation. Humbug, I tell you! Humbug!" At this, THE SPIRIT RAISED A FRIGHTFUL CRY [my capitals], and shook its chain with such a dismal and appalling noise..." As it turned out, Jacob Marley was the only 'wailer' to 'wail' in the classic. None of the other 'wailers' ever wailed. One of them didn't even speak a single word (Christmas Yet To Come). (Jacob Marley could probably be called the forefather of modern music videos, with his assortment of chains and other props often seen in such videos.)

From Quiz Jacob Marley Unchained

Answer: 7

Dickens tells us that Jacob Marley died exactly seven years to the date of his unexpected return from the grave on that fateful Christmas Eve. And what had Marley been doing throughout the intervening years? Scrooge wondered the same thing: " 'Seven years dead,' mused Scrooge. `And travelling all the time!' `The whole time,' said the Ghost. `No rest, no peace. Incessant torture of remorse.' `You travel fast?' said Scrooge. `On the wings of the wind,' replied the Ghost.

From Quiz A Christmas Carol

Answer: Tiny Tim

Peter is Bob's other son, but he is not ill. Everyone knows Tiny Tim's classic line, "God bless us, everyone!".

From Quiz "A Christmas Carol" - Charles Dickens

Answer: Ignorance and Want

"`Spirit. are they yours.' Scrooge could say no more. `They are Man's,' said the Spirit, looking down upon them. `And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want." -Chapter 3

From Quiz A Christmas Carol - The Book

Answer: One

'Expect the first to-morrow when the bell tolls One. Expect the second on the next night at the same hour. The third upon the next night when the last stroke of Twelve has ceased to vibrate.' And the ghosts do show up at the very hour!

From Quiz A Christmas Carol

Answer: four

Don't forget about Marley's ghost!

From Quiz The Second Best Known Christmas Story

Answer: William Makepeace Thackeray

Thackeray, who was a close friend of Dickens, made the comment in response to an article by a literary critic who commented that 'A Christmas Carol' was a national institution. Jane Austen was in no position to comment on the book, having been, like Marley, "as dead as a door-nail" for 26 years. I am unaware of any comments made about 'A Christmas Carol' by either Robert Browning or George Eliot, but I'm reasonably sure they both read it.

From Quiz Basic Knowledge of "A Christmas Carol"

Answer: Jubilant

Scrooge was happy only a few times in the novel. When he visited Fezziwig's party he remembered all of the good times he had with him.

From Quiz Jacob Marley Unchained

Answer: Door knocker

While walking home from his office on Christmas Eve, Scrooge encounters the eerie apparition of a funeral carriage, much like the one that had borne away his late partner, Jacob Marley. Upon arriving home, he is further horrified to see the ghostly image of Marley's face superimposed on his front door knocker.

From Quiz A Christmas Carol

Answer: "I could walk it blindfolded!"

The ghost and Scrooge go in where they see a little boy reading, the only boy who did not go home for Christmas.

From Quiz "A Christmas Carol" - Charles Dickens

Answer: Doom

Seeing the children and the word, Ebenezer Scrooge seems to be very upset and asks the Spirit to cover them because he does not wish to see them anymore.

From Quiz A Christmas Carol - The Book

Answer: Arabian Nights and Robinson Crusoe

Scrooge also sees his child self being met by his beloved little sister Fan, who takes him home for Christmas.

From Quiz A Christmas Carol

Answer: 7 years ago that night

Lots of chains he wore.

From Quiz The Second Best Known Christmas Story

Answer: He closed his factory on Christmas Day

Mr. Fairbanks, a Chicago man who manufactured scales, was so moved by Dickens' book (or perhaps by Dickens' reading of it) that he voluntarily closed his factory on Christmas Day and gave his employees the day off with pay. Moreover, he gave each employee a turkey! Mrs. D. did not accompany Charles on the 1867 tour. By this time, the Dickens' marriage was in disarray and had Catherine accompanied Charles on the 1867 tour he would probably have helped her to pack her bags for an elopement with Mr. Fairbanks!

From Quiz Basic Knowledge of "A Christmas Carol"

Answer: Apprentice at a milliners

She worked as an apprentice at a milliners, not a bakery.

From Quiz A Christmas Carol

Answer: Every Christmas

The book was written in 1843. The story probably takes place in the early 1800s. Each of the ghost's brothers and sisters stands for the Christmases that have passed.

From Quiz "A Christmas Carol" - Charles Dickens

Answer: Love & falling in love & being in love

"'Because you fell in love!' growled Scrooge, as if that were the only one thing in the world more ridiculous than a Merry Christmas." - Chapter 1 Sounds as if Scrooge has a lot to work on. :)

From Quiz A Christmas Carol

Answer: Belle

He choose money over her.

From Quiz Basic Knowledge of "A Christmas Carol"

Answer: Scrooge

Even though the Cratchits dreaded him so much they still remembered him in their feast.

From Quiz A Christmas Carol

Answer: But you don't keep it!

Scrooge counterattacks by saying, "Then let me leave it alone then!".

From Quiz "A Christmas Carol" - Charles Dickens

Answer: Fan

Fan dies later on in the past, as mentioned in chapter 2. Maybe that is why Scrooge is so grumpy and lonely.

From Quiz A Christmas Carol - The Book

Answer: Belle

Scrooge is forced to view Belle later in life with the man who she eventually married...here he has much regret. Returning back to Scrooge's quarters, Scrooge exclaims 'Haunt me no longer!' and proceeds to dampen the light of the Ghost of Christmas Past using the 'extinguisher-cap' that had accompanied the ghost.

From Quiz A Christmas Carol

Answer: Fred

He finally goes to Christmas dinner at the end.

From Quiz The Second Best Known Christmas Story

Answer: Ignorance and Want

Dickens, who had suffered great privation in his childhood, had an abiding interest in the welfare of the children of the poor, and used his writing talent to bring attention to the dreadful conditions in which they lived and worked. He supported financially the Ragged Schools movement, along with Lord Shaftsbury and other Victorian philanthropists. The Ragged Schools were so-called because the children who attended them were wretchedly clothed, coming as they did from the slums. The schools were held in the evenings, because the children worked during the day. Dickens fervently believed that education was the key to increasing one's opportunities in life.

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Last Updated May 10 2025 5:49 AM

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