Difference between revisions of "A Christmas Carol"

Latest revision as of 10:19, July 24, 2026

A Christmas Carol is a famous 1843 novel by British author Charles Dickens.

The story is of a solitary and misanthropic miser in Victorian London named Ebenezer Scrooge who gets visited by three ghosts on the night before Christmas who warn him through visions of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come to change his ways. Scrooge has a change of heart over the night and by morning becomes a better person, even saving Tiny Tim, the very ill son of his clerk Bob Cratchit. It has been adapted to countless film and television specials over the decades and, inevitably, referenced on The Simpsons too in particular the 1951 film adaptation "Scrooge".

Many of the references are scenes with Mr. Burns parodying Ebenezer Scrooge.

Reference to A Christmas Carol in The Simpsons[edit]

Television episodes[edit]

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. 5 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. 6 123 "Two Dozen and One Greyhounds" Mr. Burns collapsing to the floor in anguish was referencing to how Ebenezer Scrooge collapsed upon the vision of his grave by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come although Scrooge does not sear to no longer wear any clothing from an animal (that can do an amusing trick), but "to honor Christmas in my heart and keep it there the whole year through." 8 166 "Simpsoncalifragilisticexpiala(Annoyed Grunt)cious" When Shary Bobbins offers Mr. Burns to fly a kite he dismisses it by saying: "Humbug!", which is famous as Ebenezer Scrooge's catchphrase. 11 235 "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". 15 320 "'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) 16 336 "Treehouse of Horror XV" In the second segment, "Four Beheadings and a Funeral", Mr. Burns is named C. Ebenezer Burns, in reference to Ebenezer Scrooge . 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". 18 391 "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". . 22 472 "The Fight Before Christmas" In the third segment Mr. Burns again mentions that he was visited by three ghosts last night. 23 495 "Holidays of Future Passed" The billboard sign at the start of the episode once again has Mr. Burns wish people: Bah, humbug!. 25 538 "White Christmas Blues" The billboard sign at the start of the episode advertises Krusty the Clown's version of A Christmas Carol. Krusty is Scrooge, Mr. Teeny Tiny Tim and Sideshow Bob is Bob Hatchet. Later in the episode Ebenezer Scrooge appears in a video game where he is killed by Frosty the Snowman. Later in the same episode a video reads The Three Scrooges, instead of The Three Stooges. 28 606 "The Nightmare After Krustmas" During the couch gag Homer is dressed as the Ghost of Christmas Present, Marge as Jacob Marley (chains and all), Lisa as Ghost of Christmas Past, Maggie as the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come and Bart as Tiny Tim. Mr. Burns enters the room dressed as Ebenezer Scrooge. 29 632 "Fears of a Clown" Krusty the Clown is visited by three ghosts at night. 36 778 "O C'mon All Ye Faithful" During the opening for A Derren Brown Christmas, a picture of Mr. Burns and the hounds confronting the spirits is seen.

Comics[edit]

Picture Comic issue Story name Reference Simpsons Comics Simpsons Comics #52 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 #62 Bart Simpson's Bible Stories When the Simpsons dine together at the end of the story, Bart closes off: "God bless us, everyone.", which is Tiny Tim's famous line from A Christmas Carol. The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror The Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror #19 Monster Mash-Up Ebenezer Scrooge's name can be seen on a grave stone. Simpsons Winter Wingding The Simpsons Winter Wingding #6 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 Winter Wingding #7 Gift Exchange A drunken Homer refers to himself as "The Ghost of Figgy Pudding". Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book Comic Book Guy: The Comic Book #1 The Death of Comic Book Guy! (Part One) Comic Book Guy refers to Lisa as the "Ghost of Christmas Future".

External links[edit]

• A Christmas Carol at Wikipedia