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=__A Christmas Carol __=

=**by**= =**Charles Dickens**=

=**Mrs. Onorato's period 12/13/14 or 15/16/17 Honors Language Arts Class**=

 This month you will be reading all five staves of __A Christmas Carol__. Stave is an archaic (ancient, old-fashioned) form of the word "staff," a stanza of a poem or song. Dickens wanted to promote the idea that his story was a Christmas carol (musically speaking) in prose, so he called the chapters staves, or verses.

 When Dickens had the book published in December of 1843, he ensured that it would be a beautifully cloth bound volume with the title stamped in gold on the front and spine, with colored end papers, and gilt edges; however, he only charged five shillings for it - to make sure everyone could afford a copy. The book was hugely successful and sold out in five days.

 It is interesting to note that Dickens wrote his story during a decline in the old Christmas traditions. Dickens, after publishing __A Christmas Carol__, has been credited with reviving the holiday customs almost single-handedly.

=**Assignment One: A Dickens Webquest **=

[|For your enjoyment]