Marley and the 'Wailers' Trivia Quiz

Answer: Jacob Marley

The full sentence: "Marley was dead: to begin with."
Jacob Marley's character started out 'dead as a door-nail'. He would visit Ebenezer Scrooge to warn him about his miserly ways and that he would have three 'visitors'.

(If Ebenezer Scrooge was expecting a 'Reggae' singing group...boy, was he in for a surprise!)

Answer: Jacob Marley

In Chapter One, titled 'Marley's Ghost', Scrooge tried to convince himself that he was hallucinating. To quote the book:
(Referring to a toothpick)
"Well!" returned Scrooge, "I have but to swallow this, and be for the rest of my days persecuted by a legion of goblins, all of my own creation. Humbug, I tell you! Humbug!"
At this, THE SPIRIT RAISED A FRIGHTFUL CRY [my capitals], and shook its chain with such a dismal and appalling noise..."

As it turned out, Jacob Marley was the only 'wailer' to 'wail' in the classic. None of the other 'wailers' ever wailed. One of them didn't even speak a single word (Christmas Yet To Come).

(Jacob Marley could probably be called the forefather of modern music videos, with his assortment of chains and other props often seen in such videos.)

Answer: Christmas Yet To Come

'Christmas Yet To Come' literally gave Scrooge the silent treatment. He spoke nary a single word throughout their journey into the future. To indicate something to Scrooge, all he kept doing was to 'POINT A SPECTRAL FINGER'. It made their conversations quite one-sided.

Answer: Christmas Present

To quote the novel:
"From the foldings of its robe, it brought two children; wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable. They knelt down at its feet, and clung upon the outside of its garment.
'Spirit, are they yours?' Scrooge could say no more.
'They are Man's,' said the Spirit, looking down upon them. '...This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want.'"

The Spirit was trying to convey to Scrooge the consequences of Man's apathy and selfishness towards others.

Answer: Christmas Present

To quote the novel:
"'...Have you had many brothers, Spirit?'
'More than eighteen hundred,' said the Ghost.
'A tremendous family to provide for,' muttered Scrooge."

Answer: Christmas Past

Scrooge became annoyed with 'Christmas Past' when he was forced to witness the eventual happiness of a past love, Belle, whom he once rejected in favor of 'Earthly riches'.

To quote the novel:
"He turned upon the Ghost, ... wrestled with it. In the struggle, ... he seized the extinguisher-cap, and by a sudden action pressed it down upon its head."

Regarding 'Christmas Yet To Come', Scrooge did grab hold of the 'spectral hand', but it was a plea for guidance.

Answer: Christmas Past

Mr. Fezziwig was the former employer of Scrooge and (Richard) Wilkins. On Christmas Eve, he would suspend work and host a party for his family, friends, and employees.

(This question is dedicated to all fiddlers worldwide.)

Answer: Christmas Present

To quote the novel:
"Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, ... great joints of meat, ... plum puddings, ... juicy oranges, ... and seething bowls of punch, ... delicious steam."

The food disappeared soon after when Scrooge and 'Christmas Present' began their journey of 'enlightenment'.

Answer: Christmas Present

Chapter 3 (regarding 'Christmas Present'): 'Scrooge looked about him for the Ghost, and SAW IT NOT.' [My capitals]

Chapter 4 (regarding 'Christmas Yet To Come'): Scrooge '...saw an alteration in the Phantom's hood and dress. It shrunk, collapsed, and dwindled down into a bedpost'.

Chapter 1 (regarding 'Jacob Marley'): '...after listening for a moment, joined in the mournful dirge; and floated out upon the bleak, dark night'.

Chapter 2 (regarding 'Christmas Past'): '...dropped beneath it, ... Scrooge pressed it down with all his force, he could not hide the light, which streamed from under it, in an unbroken flood upon the ground'.

Answer: God bless us, every one!

In 'A Christmas Carol', Tiny Tim was the crippled son of Bob Cratchit, Scrooge's employee. His near-fatal condition could only be cured with expensive medicines. Scrooge eventually saw the error of his ways and helped the child get the necessary lifesaving treatment.

In Chapter 1 (entitled: Marley's Ghost), a Christmas caroler had barely just begun serenading Scrooge (through the keyhole) with:
'"God bless you, merry gentleman! May nothing you dismay!"
... whereupon Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action, that the singer fled in terror, leaving the keyhole to the fog and even more congenial frost'.

In Chapter 3 (entitled: Christmas Present), Scrooge's nephew Bob Cratchit proposed a toast to his family:
"A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. God bless us."

"Tiptoe through the tulips" was a popular ditty sung by '60s musician Tiny Tim (a.k.a. the late Herbert Khaury), often seen playing his trademark ukelele.

"Bah! Humbug!" has become part of today's popular lexicon. It is often quoted to denote someone of apathy, miserliness, or 'grinch-like' tendencies.

'A Christmas Carol' was an instant hit for Dickens when it was first published on December 19, 1843. Initially illustrated by John Leech, it has become the most recognizable 'Christmas' story of all time.

This quiz is dedicated to Charles John Huffam Dickens (February 7, 1812 - June 9, 1870).

A special dedication to my children, Rebecca and Benjamin.

"Bless you, everyone", for playing my fourteenth quiz creation.

December 25, 2007: "Merry Christmas, everyone!"