Word of the Week - Are you a Scrooge?
Definition:
Noun: A mean, greedy person who doesn't share or enjoy the company of others, particularly during the holiday season.
Example:
My boss is a real Scrooge. He wouldn't let us have an hour off for lunch.
Ebeneezer Scrooge was the central character in English writer Charles Dicken's popular story 'A Christmas Carol' first published in 1843. Scrooge is a mean and greedy person until he is visited by three ghosts who show him what he is doing wrong. Although he is good by the end of the story, the word 'Scrooge' is now English for a miserable, mean and greedy person.
Charles Dickens is one of the most loved writers in the English language. Many of his stories are based in Victorian London, the city he lived in for most of his live. He was a harsh critic of the living and working conditions of London's poor, and many of his stories have a profound social message.
I would recommend 'A Christmas Carol' to English learners interested in reading Dickens. It's quite an easy read, it's short, and it really evokes the spirit of the holiday season.
2012 would have been the year that marked Dickens 200th birthday, and there are many events planned in England to celebrate this anniversary. These include festivals, performances and exhibitions. Check out the website Dickens 2012 for more information.
It goes without saying, our English School in Leicester Square is the perfect place to start exploring the wonderful world of Dickens and Victorian era London!
Whatever you do, don't be a Scrooge this holiday season!