Plot Summary

Start with an overview

The Plot Summary page brings together resources about the story of A Christmas Carol. Start with the mind map English Lit: A Christmas Carol — Plot Summary, which has branches for the preface and each stave. The preface branch includes Dickens’s note to his readers. Use the stave branches to organize your understanding of the story before focusing on individual scenes.

For another overview, look at the mind map Christmas Carol Plot. Its opening describes Scrooge in his counting house and Bob Cratchit working in the cold. Compare that opening with the slide set on the staves, which also starts with Scrooge and Bob at work and includes the arrival of Scrooge’s nephew.

Focus on scenes and characters

Several mind maps share the title A Christmas Carol, so look at their content when choosing one. One opens with Scrooge as a stingy businessman and introduces Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim. Another starts with the first stave, including Marley’s death, the small fire in Scrooge’s office and his nephew’s Christmas invitation.

The map covering the later parts of the plot includes the Ghost of Christmas Present and a visit to Bob Cratchit’s family. For a different encounter, the notes on the Ghost of Christmas Past describe the apparition and the scenes it shows Scrooge.

Combine maps and quizzes

After studying an overview map, try the plot quiz with fill-in-the-blank questions. Its opening asks about Dickens and Scrooge. Return to a map to check any details you want to study again, then use another listed quiz to continue practicing.

This topic is one section of the A Christmas Carol unit in Literature. Use its maps, notes and quizzes together to keep track of the plot as you study the unit. Pick a resource and begin with the part of the story you want to understand better.