Marley's Ghost represents the Christian ideas of repentance and redemption.
Marley expresses regret at his own immoral behaviour: ’and never raise [his eyes] to that blessed Star’.
The line ’[...] Marley had no bowels’ links these being the seat of compassion, referred to in the New Testament.
Dickens also uses Marley to allude to the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, showing us the consequences of greed.
Dickens draws parallels between Marley and Cain to show that Marley’s eternal ‘wandering’ is punishment for his sins.

Keywords

Repentance - Expressing sincere remorse or regret for one's actions.
Penance - Penance is a set of actions or a deed done in repentance for sins committed.
Biblical allusion - A biblical allusion is when the writer draws parallels to, or references stories from the Bible.
To reconcile - The restoration of a good relationship between two opposing people or forces.
Parable - A story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson, told by Jesus Christ in the Gospels.

Common misconception

Students think that Marley's message is only about Christianity and not aimed at everyone.

Marley's Ghost's message is one of morality. When he alludes to biblical parables, he does it to draw attention to their moral lessons.

Instead of reading the summary of the story of Lazarus and the rich man, you could watch a short video summary of the parable and pause it, questioning students as you go on how it links. You could then use LC1 Task A to consolidate knowledge.

Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' for this lesson.

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Worksheet

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Who is Jacob Marley in 'A Christmas Carol?'

Scrooge's nephew

Scrooge's brother

Correct answer: Scrooge's former business partner

Scrooge's employee

Q2.

What do we learn about Jacob Marley in the very beginning of 'A Christmas Carol'?

that he was a miser, like Scrooge

that he was very poor like Bob Cratchit

Correct answer: that he had died

that he had been a very popular man

Q3.

In 'A Christmas Carol', which of the following is not a feature of the ghost of Jacob Marley's appearance?

long chain made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers and deeds

Correct answer: clear, bright jet of light emanating from its head

wearing a waistcoat, and tights and boots

transparent body

folded kerchief bound about its head and chin

Q4.

What do the chains Marley's Ghost carries symbolise in 'A Christmas Carol'?

poverty and hunger

ignorance and want

Correct answer: sin and immorality

charity and empathy

Q5.

What makes Marley's Ghost different from the other spirits in 'A Christmas Carol'?

he is kinder and more benevolent to Scrooge

he does not enlighten Scrooge in any way

Correct answer: he is a traditional ghost - the spirit of a deceased person

Scrooge is the most frightened of him

Q6.

Starting with the first, put the following quotations from Marley's Ghost in chronological order of when they appear in 'A Christmas Carol'.

1 - “In life I was your partner, Jacob Marley.”

2 - “I wear the chain I forged in life”

3 - "Is its pattern strange to you?”

4 - "my spirit never roved beyond the narrow limits of our money-changing hole"

5 - “Mankind was my business"

6 - “That is no light part of my penance”

7 - “You will be haunted...by Three Spirits.”

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.

Why does Marley's Ghost visit Scrooge in 'A Christmas Carol'?

because he misses his old friend and business partner

Correct answer: to offer Scrooge the opportunity to redeem himself

to give him more money that he didn't leave in his will

Correct answer: to warn him of his impending visit from the 3 ghosts

Q2.

What is repentance according to the Bible?

Correct answer: changing your mind about something

being extremely poor and destitute

enacting revenge on those who have wronged you

apologising for doing something wrong

Q3.

Which biblical allusions does Dickens not make through the character of Marley's Ghost in 'A Christmas Carol'?

Lazarus and the rich man

Cain and Abel

Correct answer: Jesus feeding the 5,000

Correct answer: Jonah and the whale

bowels in the New Testament

Q4.

In 'A Christmas Carol', Dickens alludes to the parable of Lazarus and the rich man. Who could be the rich man in the novella?

Scrooge

Correct answer: Marley's Ghost

Bob Cratchit

the portly gentlemen

Fezziwig

Q5.

Match the key vocabulary up from 'A Christmas Carol' to its definition.

Correct Answer:repentance,expressing sincere regret or remorse for one’s actions

expressing sincere regret or remorse for one’s actions

Correct Answer:penance,a set of actions or a deed done to repent for one's sins

a set of actions or a deed done to repent for one's sins

Correct Answer:biblical allusion,when the writer references stories from the Bible

when the writer references stories from the Bible

Correct Answer:to reconcile,the restoration of a good relationship between two opposing

the restoration of a good relationship between two opposing

Correct Answer:parable,a story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson

a story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson

Q6.

Complete the following quotation from 'A Christmas Carol': "Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down, and never raise them to that blessed ..."

Correct Answer: Star, star, Star., star.