A Christmas Carol - The Kansas City Repertory Theatre

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we now associate with death. Father Time became a benevolent old man, restraining the arm of Death. In an allegory of the time, Time was the father of Truth, rescuing her from a deep well, and thus became the revealer of Truth. There is also a Saturnalia reference in Dickens’ description of The Ghost of Christmas Past, with the greenery, although it is not as overt as The Ghost of Christmas Present. From these correlations, it seems that The Ghost of Christmas Past is a version of Father Time. Does the meaning of Dickens’ story change when the depiction of the ghost is changed? The Ghost of Christmas Future is probably the most recognizable image of the whole story because it looks like death, or what we have come to think that death looks like. However, Death was traditionally depicted with a scythe, coming to harvest souls, similar to his predecessor, Saturn‐Cronus. Is it more or less frightening to see Death in a cloak, as it is shown in A Christmas Carol, or without its cloak? Why? Because we cannot see beneath the cloak, does it mean that Death is necessarily Scrooge’s Christmas Future, or does he have other options? Explain. The Ghost of Christmas Present is the more boisterous and also the ghost with the most identifiable and oldest ties. This ghost is essentially Father Christmas and embodies the revelry of the ancient pagan Saturnalia, one of the winter festivals from which Christmas derives. Ancient Romans (and ancient Greeks, in the case of Cronus) believed that during the reign of Saturn, Zeus’s father, no one had to do hard work and could enjoy themselves all day. They honored and remembered this time by celebrating Saturnalia which was in the middle of December, varying between one day and three weeks. It was a time when slaves were allowed to leave their masters, the 2008: Grant Lorenzen (Ebenezer as a boy), poor could demand food and drink from the rich, schools and governments were closed, and everyone ate and drank and Gary Neal Johnson (Ebenezer Scrooge), celebrated. People also decorated with laurels, trees, shrubs, Julane Havens (Fan); photo by Don Ipcock lamps and candles, and gave each other small gifts, like clay dolls and wax fruit. We see some of these traditions, like gift‐giving and decorating with trees and greens, continued in our Christmas today. Father Christmas in England was originally less religious than in continental Europe, which was based on St. Nicholas. The old St. Nicholas had a malevolent side as well as a benevolent side, whereas the English Father Christmas embodied the season. In the 16 th and 17 th centuries, London was opposed to Christmas because of its Catholic association and pagan roots and in the mid‐17 th century there was an attempt to abolish Christmas in England which failed. In the 18 th century, Christmas was becoming more geared to the spirit rather than the senses, and it is in this sentiment that Dickens tells A Christmas Carol. By Lara Mann Communications Intern Kansas City Repertory Theatre A Christmas Carol: Learning Guide Page 30
REFLECT & CONNECT SCROOGE’S ALPHABET This alphabetical list of “Scroogish” advice first appeared in the satirical London periodical, Punch in April, 1859. You can use this list to explore the character of Scrooge. Read Scrooge's advice aloud as a class, each taking a turn, in the manner of Ebenezer Scrooge perhaps. Avoid Clergymen. Borrow money. Conceal your covetousness. Distrust the distressed. Emulate the opulent. Favour fashionable frivolity. Give nothing rashly. Help successful humbug. Invite invitations. Judge poverty with severity. Kick those who are down. Lend to the rich. Make mercenary marriages. Never know the needy. Order what you please. Pay what you must. Quiz the quite helpless. Ruin rich relations. Seldom believe anything. Tell only others' secrets. Undermine antagonists. Vilify the unpopular. Watch women warily. Xtol elegant xtravagance. Yield your convictions readily. Zeal is very ridiculous. 1. Divide into groups and each take a portion of the alphabet and rework this primer to reflect the changes in Scrooge after he has learned to "honor Christmas in my heart." Then read your new Primer aloud (in the manner of the "new" Scrooge perhaps). For example: "Act like a child. Bring presents. Conceal your generosity." (and so forth) 2. In groups or individually, use the alphabet primer to describe your family holiday traditions and activities. 1983 ‐ Michael LaGue (The Ghost of Christmas Past) and Peter Umbras (Scrooge); photo by Don Ipcock A Christmas Carol: Learning Guide Page 31
Page 1 and 2: Directed by Kyle Hatley November 16
Page 3 and 4: A LETTER FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Page 5 and 6: PLOT SYNOPSIS Act I On Christmas Ev
Page 7 and 8: THE AUTHOR: CHARLES DICKENS Dickens
Page 9 and 10: Collins on the play The Frozen Deep
Page 11 and 12: VOCABULARY The following terms belo
Page 13 and 14: DICKENS AS A SOCIAL REFORMER Charle
Page 15 and 16: CHARLES DICKENS AND THE CHRISTMAS S
Page 17 and 18: LONDON’S YOUNG POOR Many children
Page 19 and 20: GHOST’S OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS PAST
Page 21 and 22: THE DIRECTOR: KYLE HATLEY A Christm
Page 23 and 24: ideas that helped enhance that mate
Page 25 and 26: POST‐SHOW DISCUSSION QUESTIONS TO
Page 27 and 28: What does “redemption” mean to
Page 29: in the winter. However, the Church
Page 33 and 34: Pairs The chart to the right lists
Page 35 and 36: REFLECT & CONNECT TALES FROM EBENEZ
Page 37 and 38: RESOURCES BOOKS Ackroyd, Peter. Dic
Page 39 and 40: STATE & NATIONAL STANDARDS A Christ
Page 41 and 42: TIPS FOR YOUR VISIT We want you to
Page 43 and 44: I have a student with special needs
Page 45 and 46: EDUCATION & OUTREACH PROGRAMS REP O
Page 47 and 48: 2012—2013 STUDENT MATINEE SERIES
Page 49 and 50: Waiting for You (On the Corner of 1
Page 51 and 52: EDUCATION PARTNER: UMKC UMKC is a g

A Christmas Carol - The Kansas City Repertory Theatre

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