A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens -Challenges in adapting the book to a film

Essay by jsirenaUniversity, Bachelor'sA+, January 2009

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Literature to FilmChallenges in adapting the book to filmA Christmas Carol, by Charles DickensThese notes and questions are made before viewing the film. I have seen the film but not since my childhood and although I am familiar with the plot, I do not remember the details that I am basing my questions/challenges on.

1.How to visually portray Victorian London, in particular, the contrast between the very rich and the very poor and how they were living next door to each other? The horrible working conditions of the poor and the greed of the very rich.

2.How to develop the story? Is it important to have a narrator? My idea is to have Dickens narrate.

3. It is vital to the story to portray the symbolism of the characters properly, in particular:•Scrooge represents all the values that are opposed to the idea of Christmas--greed, selfishness, and a lack of goodwill toward one's fellow man.

•The Ghost of Christmas Past, (with his glowing head symbolizing the mind), represents memory.

•The Ghost of Christmas Present represents generosity, empathy, and the Christmas spirit.

•The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come represents the fear of death and moral reckoning.

•The Cratchits represent the poor.

4. This is a novella, which makes for a short script if you don’t add a bit of information. It could be to the film makers advantage to further develop Scrooge’s character. I would tell more of his story, more about what turned him into this greedy, grumpy, emotionally shut down old guy. At the same time, its important to not influence the audience to sympathize with him.

London of the early 19th century. The homes of the upper and middle class exist is close proximity to areas of unbelievable poverty and filth. Rich and poor alike...