A Christmas Carol - The Kansas City Repertory Theatre

REFLECT & CONNECT
TALES FROM EBENEZER’S LIBRARY
In the novel A Christmas Carol, The Ghost of Christmas Past takes Ebenezer Scrooge to earlier days when
his love for story books was not yet displaced by counting books and computations. Here are a few of
the references Scrooge makes to the beloved stories of his childhood. Many of these books can be
found in your school library.
“My Robinson Crusoe…” (Act I, scene 2) Robinson Crusoe, written in 1719 by Daniel Defoe, tells the
story of the solitary survivor of a shipwreck who, together with the native he calls “Friday,” lives on an
island for many years.
“Ah, The Arabian Nights’….Ali Baba…” (Act I, scene 2) A collection of folk tales from the Middle East.
The tales were first collected in Cairo in the mid‐15th century. English translations of the work became
available in the late 18th century. The well‐known story of Aladdin comes from this collection. Scrooge
mentions “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.” This is the story of a poor wood‐cutter who discovers the
secret password (“Open Sesame!”) to unlock the door of the hideout of a gang of thieves. He and his
female slave, Morgiana, outwit the thieves and become rich on their hoarded treasure.
“...come to the Gate of Damascus…” (Act I, scene 2) A reference to “The Tale of the Three Apples,” one
of the tales from The Arabian Nights. In this story, a young man is magically transported from location
to location. He eventually falls asleep in Cairo, in the arms of a lover, and wakes up outside of Jerusalem
at the Damascus Gate.
“And Puss in Boots—Halloo!” (Act I, scene 2) A folk tale about a clever cat who wins fame and fortune
for his master. This story became popular in a French illustrated edition by Charles Perrault (1697).
Young Scrooge and Belle also allude to Cinderella as they dance when he asks, “And at midnight, does
your dress turn to rags?” (Act I, scene 2).
A Christmas Carol: Learning Guide Page 35