A Christmas Carol: Plot Summary (Edexcel GCSE English Literature): Revision Notes

A Christmas Carol: Plot Summary

Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol is about Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserable, selfish man who despises Christmas. On Christmas Eve, he's visited by the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Marley, who warns him to change his ways. Scrooge is then visited by three ghosts: the Ghost of Christmas Past, who shows him scenes from his younger years; the Ghost of Christmas Present, who shows him how others, like the Cratchit family, celebrate despite having little; and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, who shows him a future where he dies alone.

Scared by what he sees, Scrooge wakes up on Christmas morning determined to be a better person. He becomes kind and generous, helping others and embracing the true meaning of Christmas.