Natal: sabe quem é Charles Dickens? (Digital Vision./Thinkstock)
Luísa Granato
Publicado em 19 de dezembro de 2018 às 12h00.
Última atualização em 19 de dezembro de 2018 às 12h00.
A Christmas Carol é um grande clássico da literatura em inglês, escrito por Charles Dickens em 1843. O livro foi escrito em menos de um mês, teve todas as cópias vendidas em poucos dias, e até hoje, mais de 100 anos depois, nunca parou de ser publicado.
Além disso, já foram feitas várias adaptações para o cinema, ópera e teatro, mas hoje vamos estudar a história original. Abaixo você encontrará um resumo de cada um dos cinco “staves” que compõem o livro. Leia o vocabulário destacado e veja se você consegue compreender o significado.
E, antes de começar, uma curiosidade: Dickens escolheu dividir sua história em “staves” e não “chapters”. “Staves” são as pautas usadas para escrever as notas musicais em uma partitura, o que reforça a sugestão da história ser uma grande “Christmas Carol” (canção natalina).
STAVE ONE: MARLEY'S GHOST
Dickens begins his novella by introducing the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, his poor clerk Bob Cratchit, and the ghost of Scrooge's late partner, Jacob Marley. The ghost tells Scrooge he will be visited by three spirits during the night.
Miserly
a rich person who spends as little money as possible
Clerk
a person employed in an office or bank to keep records, accounts, and undertake other routine administrative duties
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.
Lonely
a person who has no friends or company
Greed
a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed
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.
Despite
without being affected by something
Crippled
unable to walk or move properly
Rejoice
feel or show great joy or delight
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.
Dismal
pitifully or disgracefully bad
Grieve
feel intense sorrow
Mercy
compassion or forgiveness
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 nephew's Christmas party. He further shocks the Cratchits by giving Bob a substantial raise and acting as a second father to Tiny Tim.
Outlook
a person's point of view or general attitude to life
Cheerful
noticeably happy and optimistic
Attend
be present at (an event, for example)
Source:
https://www.thoughtco.com/
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/
Michel Rosas é professor de inglês e gerente de marketing na Companhia de Idiomas.