A Christmas Carol Vocabulary Study List

In his popular story, A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens uses the musical term stave to indicate the chapters. Dickens was known, on occasion, to use clever terms to describe the sections of his books. For example, in The Cricket on the Hearth, he calls the chapters chirps. To modern readers, stave might not be the only unfamiliar term in A Christmas Carol. You can refer to the following list of terms, separated by chapter, to help understand the text and grow your vocabulary. Some of the words may be familiar, but others are no longer in common usage. Stave One: Marleys Ghost Dickens begins his novella by introducing the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, his poor clerk Bob Cratchit, and the ghost of Scrooges late partner, Jacob Marley. The ghost tells Scrooge he will be visited by three spirits during the night. Ironmongery - a store that sells iron works  Unhallowed - something unholyResiduary - the person entitled to the remainder of an estateRamparts - anything that acts as a barricade  barricade  Entreaty - a sincere requestTrifle - something of little valuePhantoms - spirits or illusionsIntimation - a suggestionMorose - a bleak outlook  or attitude  Impropriety - something improper or inappropriate  Resolute - a determined outlook  Homage - to pay public respect or honor somethingOminous - to give an impression of doom or imply bad things will happenFacetious - to treat something serious with a deliberate lack of careBrazier - a portable heater that uses lighted coalsSolitude - to be aloneMisanthropic - disliking people in general and having an anti-social bad attitudeGarret - a room just under the roof of a house thats usually very small  Congenial - a pleasant or friendly personalityPhenomenon - a fact or situation which is unexplainedIrresolution - to be uncertainTran sparent - something that is see-through or fully explainedCaustic - bitter sarcasm  Waggish - playful or mischievous humorSpectre - ghost or vision  Remorse - to deeply regret somethingBenevolence - well-meaning and kindApparition - a ghost or other human-like spirit  Dirge - a funeral song Stave Two: The First of the Three Spirits The first spirit to visit Scrooge is the Ghost of Christmas Past, who shows him scenes from his lonely childhood and a broken engagement to a lovely young woman because of his greed. Opaque - something that is unclearPreposterous - absurd or ridiculousPerplexed - confused  Endeavored - tried hard to achieve  Recumbent - something laying downFluctuated - to irregularly rise and fallSupplication - earnest beggingVestige - a small trace of something that is no longer hereExtraordinary - something unusualCondescension - an attitude of disdainful superiorityCelestial - part of the heavensTerrestrial - relating to the EarthAgitation - nervous excitement  Avarice - extreme greedTumultuous - a confused excitement  Uproarious - provoking a loud sound or laughterBrigands - a member of a gang of thieves  Boisterous - a noisy or energetic crowd or a loud stormOnslaught - a fierce attackDespoil - to steal violentlyIrrepressible - uncontrollableHaggard - looking exhaustedIrresistible - unable to resist Stave Three: The Second of the Three Spirits Ghost of Christmas Present visits Scrooge and shows him the happy holiday scenes in his town, including in the home of his clerk, Bob Cratchit. Despite being poor and having a crippled son (Tiny Tim), Cratchit and his family rejoice in the holiday spirit. Apprehensive - hesitant or fearfulSpontaneous - performed on impulseCombustion - burningConsolation - comfort after a disappointmentPredicament - a difficult situationCapacious - roomy  Artifice - a clever device to trick someoneScabbard - a sheath for a weaponJovial - happy and friendly  Parapets - a low protective wallApoplectic - to be overcome with angerOpulence - to show extreme wealth  Demurely - to do with modesty  Conspicuous - to stand outHeresy - a belief that goes against the teachings of the Christian churchPenitence - showing sorrow or regretRebuke - sharp disapprovalOdious - extremely repulsive Stave Four: The Last of the Spirits The final spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, is a silent, dark figure, who shows Scrooge a dismal future and death of a greedy man who turns out to be Scrooge. His clerk, meanwhile, grieves the loss of his young son. Terrified, Scrooge begs the spirit for mercy and promises to change his life. Shroud - a burial wrappingPendulous - loosely hanging downExcrescence - an unpleasant addition  Latent - hidden or dormantResolution - a firm choice not to do somethingSlipshod - carelessCesspools - a storage unit for liquid waste Stave Five: The End of It Scrooge wakes up with a new, joyful outlook on life, grateful for a second chance. He surprises everyone with his cheerful greetings. He donates money to the poor, sends a turkey to the Cratchit home, and attends his nephews Christmas party. He further shocks the Cratchits by giving Bob a substantial raise and acting as a second father to Tiny Tim. Extravagance - a lack of restraint in spending wealthIllustrious - well known or respectedArray - a range of a type of thingFeign - to pretend to be affected by somethingMalady - an illness