Generous People Things Stingy Share Money English Scrooge

One of the most famous stingy "characters" (a person in a book, show, or movie) in English "literature" (books, stories, and poems) is Ebenezer Scrooge from the "novel" (a fictional book) called A Christmas Carol, which was written by Charles Dickens in 1843. In fact, his name has "become synonymous with" (means the same as) stinginess, and you might hear people refer to another person as a scrooge, meaning that he or she doesn't share things or help people.

In the story, Scrooge is a "wealthy" (rich) man who treats his employee very badly, not paying him enough money to "support his family" (pay for food, housing, clothing, and other things that one's family needs). He refuses to share his money with other people, often saying "bah humbug" (an expression showing dislike or disgust) when he sees other people being generous or kind.

One of the most generous and big-hearted characters in English literature is Pollyanna, from a novel with the same name, written by Eleanor H. Porter in 1913. This story is about a young "orphan" (a child whose parents have died) who goes to live with her aunt. Although she didn't have money to share with other people, she shares a lot of kindness with the community, giving things to people who need them and helping people find things to be "glad" (happy) about in their own lives. Today you sometimes hear Americans referring to someone as a "Pollyanna," meaning that he or she is always happy and "optimistic" (thinking something good will happen).

Both novels have become well-known movies and a part of American culture, with most Americans having seen the characters on screen, even if they haven't read the books.