A Christmas Carol: Englisch Lektüre A2 - B2 E-Book

Charles Dickens.

• Herausgeber: adlima GmbH
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

Englisch Lernen mit klassischen Werken. Die Bücher dieser Reihe eignen sich für Jugendliche und Erwachsen, die mit klassischen Werken ihre Lesefähigkeit verbessern wollen. Englisch Niveaus A2 bis B2. Durchgehend in englischer Sprache. "Eine Weihnachtsgeschichte" von Charles Dickens, auch bekannt unter dem Originaltitel "A Christmas Carol", ist eine der bekanntesten und beliebtesten Geschichten, die jemals über das Weihnachtsfest geschrieben worden sind. Die Novelle, erstmals 1843 veröffentlicht, erzählt die Geschichte von Ebenezer Scrooge, einem geizigen und verbitterten alten Mann, der Weihnachten verachtet. Die Handlung beginnt am Weihnachtsabend, als Scrooge von seinem fröhlichen Neffen Fred besucht wird, der ihn zu seinem Weihnachtsfest einlädt. Scrooge lehnt ab und verbringt den Abend allein in seinem Haus. Später erscheint der Geist seines verstorbenen Geschäftspartners Jacob Marley, der in Ketten gefesselt ist – eine Strafe für seine eigene Gier und Selbstsucht im Leben. Marley warnt Scrooge, dass er dasselbe Schicksal erleiden könnte, wenn er sich nicht ändert, und kündigt die Besuche von drei weiteren Geistern an. In dieser Nacht wird Scrooge nacheinander von drei Geistern heimgesucht: dem Geist der vergangenen Weihnacht, der Geist der gegenwärtigen Weihnacht und der Geist der zukünftigen Weihnacht. Jeder Geist zeigt ihm Szenen, die ihn reflektieren und erkennen lassen, wie seine Handlungen andere Menschen beeinflussen. "Eine Weihnachtsgeschichte" bleibt eine zeitlose Botschaft über die Bedeutung von Großzügigkeit und die Macht der persönlichen Transformation. Es ist eine herzerwärmende Erzählung, die die Freude am Geben betont.

Leseprobe

Charles Dickens

A Christmas Carol: Englisch Lektüre A2 - B2

Englisch Lernen mit klassischen Werken. Die Bücher dieser Reihe eignen sich für Jugendliche und Erwachsen, die mit klassischen Werken ihre Lesefähigkeit verbessern wollen. Englisch Niveaus A2 bis B2. Durchgehend in englischer Sprache.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Marley's ghost

The first ghost

The second ghost

The last ghost

The end

Impressum

Marley's ghost

Marley is dead. That much is clear. The death certificate is signed by all the important people: the pastor, the undertaker, and the close relatives. Scrooge signs it, too. Marley is as dead as a person can be. Did Scrooge know that Marley was dead? Of course. Scrooge and Marley have been partners for many years. Scrooge is Marley's steward, heir, and friend. Nevertheless, on the day of the funeral, Scrooge does not refrain from being a good businessman and making a good deal.

Marley's death is important to the story I am about to tell. Scrooge never has Marley's name removed from the business. Even years later, the warehouse's door still says, “Scrooge and Marley.” That's the name of the company. People who don't know Scrooge sometimes call him Scrooge and sometimes they call him Marley, but it's all the same to him.

Scrooge is a miser. He is a hard man. The coldness in his heart makes him hard and stiff. His features are rigid, his nose is pointed, his face is wrinkled, his walk is stiff. No weather can touch him. The worst rain, snow, or hail are nothing to him.

No one comes up to Scrooge on the street and asks him kindly, “How are you, when will you visit me?” No beggar asks him for a little something, no child asks him for the time, and no one asks him for directions. That doesn't bother Scrooge. He likes to go his own way through life and stay away from all human feelings. It is Christmas. Scrooge is sitting in his office. Outside, it's freezing cold and foggy. He hears the people in the courtyard pacing back and forth, slapping their hands together and stamping their feet to warm themselves. It is only three o'clock, but it's already completely dark. It has been gloomy all day, and the candles in the neighboring office windows flicker like red spots in the thick, brown air. The fog seeps through every crack and keyhole. The opposite houses in the small courtyard look like ghosts.

Scrooge's office door is open so that he can watch his employee copying letters in a damp, small room. Scrooge has only a small fire, while his employee's fire is so small that it looks like a single ember. The employee cannot get new wood because the wood is in Scrooge's room. The employee wraps his white scarf around himself and tries to warm himself with the light, but it doesn't work.

“Merry Christmas, Uncle! God bless you!” cries a cheerful voice. It is Scrooge's nephew, who has come in so quickly that this greeting is the first thing heard.

“Bah,” says Scrooge, “nonsense!”

His nephew's face is rosy and handsome, his eyes bright, and his breath is smoking.

“Christmas nonsense, Uncle?” asks the nephew. ‘You can't mean it.”

“I do mean it,’ says Scrooge. ‘Merry Christmas? What right have you to be merry? You are poor enough.”

“Well,” replies the nephew cheerfully, “what right have you to be cross? You're rich enough.” Scrooge, at a loss for a better answer, once more says, “Bah!” and grumbles, “Nonsense!” “Don't be cross, Uncle,” says the nephew.

“What should I be,” replies the uncle, “when I live in a world full of fools? Merry Christmas! The hangman takes your merry Christmas! What is Christmas to you but a time for paying bills without money? If I can help it,” Scrooge adds fiercely, “every fool who goes about with ’Merry Christmas' on his lips shall be boiled in his own pudding and buried with a palm branch in his heart.” “Uncle!” the nephew begs.

“Nephew,” replies the uncle angrily, “you celebrate Christmas in your own way, and let me celebrate it in mine.”

“Celebrate?” repeats Scrooge's nephew. “But you don't celebrate it.” “Leave me alone,” grumbles Scrooge.

But the nephew says, “I am sure Christmas is a good time. A time of love, a time of forgiveness and mercy. It is the only time I know of, when men and women open their shut-up hearts freely, and think of each other, as if they were really traveling companions, bound for the grave. So, I believe, though it has never done me any good financially, it has done and will do me good. And I say, God bless it!'”

The servant in the small room applauds involuntarily, but quickly realizes that his behavior is inappropriate. “If you say something like that to me again,” says Scrooge, “you will celebrate your Christmas by losing your job.” He adds, “You are a great speaker. I am surprised you haven't come to parliament yet!” “Don't be angry, Uncle. Come to dinner with us tomorrow.” Scrooge says very clearly that he will not come.

“Why?” asks the nephew. “Why?”

“Why did you get married?” asks Scrooge.

“Because I fell in love.”

“Because he fell in love!” grumbles Scrooge. “Good evening!”

“But Uncle, you have never visited me before. Why don't you want to visit me now?” “Good evening!” says Scrooge.

“I ask nothing of you. Why can't we be good friends?” “Good evening!” says Scrooge.

“I am sorry you are so stubborn. I want to honor Christmas and keep my Christmas spirit. Merry Christmas, Uncle!”

“Good evening!” says Scrooge.

“And a Happy New Year!” “Good evening!” says Scrooge.

The nephew leaves the room without a word of anger. At the front door, he greets an employee in a friendly manner, who returns the greeting just as warmly.

“That's another one!” Scrooge grumbles. “My employee, who earns fifteen shillings a week, is talking about a happy Christmas. I'm going crazy.”

The clerk has let in two other gentlemen, who are well dressed and now standing in Scrooge's office. They have books and papers under their arms and bow.

“Scrooge and Marley's, I believe,” says one of the gentlemen. ‘Have I the honor of addressing Mr. Scrooge or Mr. Marley?”

“Mr. Marley has been dead for seven years,’ Scrooge replies. “He died seven years ago today.” “We hope the surviving partner is just as generous,” the gentleman says.

He is right, because Marley and Scrooge were kindred spirits. When the word ‘generous’ is mentioned, Scrooge frowns.

“On this festive day, Mr. Scrooge,” the gentleman says, “it is especially important to take care of the poor. Many don't even have the necessities of life.” “Are there no prisons?” Scrooge asks.

“There are more than enough prisons,” the Lord says.

“And the poorhouses? Are they still there?” Scrooge asks.

“Yes,” the Lord replies, “but I wish they were less needed.”

“So, the treadmill and the Poor Law are still in force?” Scrooge asks.

“Yes, both,” the Lord says.

“That's good,” Scrooge says. “I was afraid they might be hampered in their work.”

“We know,” the gentleman replies, “that these institutions don't really help the poor. So, we are organizing a collection to get them food and fuel. We're choosing this time because the need is most dire. How much may I write down for you?” “Nothing,” Scrooge replies.

“Do you wish to remain anonymous?”

“I wish to be left alone,” Scrooge says. “I get no pleasure out of Christmas, and I have no money to give to others for pleasure. I do my part to help support the establishments I mentioned. They cost enough, and if you are hard up, you can go there!”

“Many can't go there,” the gentleman says. “Many would rather die.”

“If they die,” said Scrooge, “that is a good thing. They decrease the surplus population. Anyhow, it's beyond my understanding.

---ENDE DER LESEPROBE---