A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol is a famous 19th century novel by British author Charles Dickens. It tells the story of how a rich, thrifty, heartless, old miser called Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts during Christmas Eve who warn him to change his ways. Scrooge has a change of heart over the night and thus becomes a better person, even saving the handicapped little son Tiny Tim of his employee Bob Cratchit. It has been adapted to countless film and television special adaptations over the decades and, inevitably, referenced in "The Simpsons" too.

References to A Christmas Carol in The Simpsons

Picture Season Episode number Episode name Reference 1 1 "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" Bart tells Homer that betting his money on the dog track "could be the miracle that saves the Simpsons' Christmas. If TV has taught me anything, it's that miracles always happen to poor kids at Christmas." One of the examples Bart gives is Tiny Tim, a character from "A Christmas Carol", whom Homer apparently never heard of. 18 99 "Burns' Heir" When Mr. Burns sees Bart outside his window he chooses him as his heir. Full of excitement Burns open his window and shouts at Bart: "You there, young lad. Which day is it today?" To which another child with a British accent says: "Today? Why today, it's Christmas sir?" This is a reference to a similar scene in "A Christmas Carol" where Ebenezer Scrooge asks a little child on the street the same question. 16 194 "Dumbbell Indemnity" Homer dresses up like Jacob Marley's ghost from "A Christmas Carol". 9 235 "Grift of the Magi" Near the end of the story Mr. Burns brings The Simpsons a turkey for Christmas, while the narrator mentions that this change of heart was inspired by Burns being visited "by three ghosts the night before". This is what makes Ebenezer Scrooge have a change of heart in "A Christmas Carol". 7 320 "'Tis the Fifteenth Season" Homer watches Mr. McGrew's Christmas Carol, which is a parody of "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol", an adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" with the cartoon character Mr. Magoo in the lead role. This holiday special has been shown several times on American television since the 1960s. In the same episode other "Christmas Carol" adaptations are shown on TV too, with a Star Trek and Family Matters episode (starring Ebenezer Urkel) 15 336 "Treehouse of Horror XV" Mr. Burns is named C. Ebenezer Burns, in reference to Ebenezer Scrooge . 17 352 "The Heartbroke Kid" When Tab Spangler and Bart visit the Simpson home and walk through the crowd of German backpackers, Bart asks, "They can't see or hear us, right?" Spangler sarcastically replies, "We're not the Ghost of Christmas Past, Bart", referencing "A Christmas Carol". . 13 391 "Springfield Up" When Declan Desmond offers to show Homer the footage of why his life is blessed Homer begs Declan in a parody of Scrooge begging the Ghost of Christmas Present to spare his life in "A Christmas Carol". . 8 472 "The Fight Before Christmas" In the third segment Mr. Burns again mentions that he was visited by three ghosts. 8 538 "White Christmas Blues" Ebenezer Scrooge appears in a video game where he is killed by Frosty the Snowman.

References to A Christmas Carol in Simpsons Comics

Picture Series Issue Story Reference Simpsons Comics ?? A Springfield Christmas Carol The story is a direct parody with C. Montgomery Scrooge referencing Ebenezer Scrooge and Homer Cratchit referencing Bob Cratchit. Simpsons Comics ?? Grampa's Christmas Origins: Christmas Cards This story too is a direct parody of "A Christmas Carol", with Burns this time starring as Burnseneezer Scrooge . Simpsons Comics ?? Monster Mash-Up Ebenezer Scrooge's name can be seen on a grave stone.

External links

• A Christmas Carol at Wikipedia

Cultural references

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