A Christmas Carol Group

Question:


maryines2008
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In A Christmas Carol, describe the game called "yes and no" Scrooge witnesses at his nephew's Christmas party.

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Posted by maryines2008 on Thursday March 12, 2009 at 4:36 PM and tagged with a christmas carol, characters, christmas, description, dickens, fred, game, nephew, party, scrooge, twenty questions, yes and no.

Answers:

  1. ms-charleston-yawp
    ms-charleston-yawp Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The game that was called "yes and no" in Scrooge's time, today is more commonly called "twenty questions:"

    Where Scrooge's nephew had to think of something, and the rest must find out what; he only answering to their questions Yes or No as the case was.

    In other words, Fred was thinking of something and the guests had to figure out what it was by asking only yes or no questions.  As the guests ask their questions, a few things become clear, the subject in question was, in fact:

    a live animal, rather a disagreeable animal, a savage animal, an animal that growled and grunted sometimes, and talked sometimes, and lived in London

    Of course, the guests guess the gamut, including both a bear and a cat.  (Ha!)  Throughout the game Fred becomes increasingly tickled, often having to get up and stamp his foot.  Finally, a female guest guesses the answer:  Uncle Scrooge.  Everyone laughs (except for the poor soul who insists that his question of "Is it a bear?" should have been answered in the affirmative).  Fred finally ends the game with a jovial toast to Scrooge saying, "He has given us plenty of merriment, I am sure."

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/christmas-carol-text/stave-three-Se...
    http://www.enotes.com/christmas-carol/characters

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    Posted by ms-charleston-yawp on Thursday March 12, 2009 at 8:00 PM