uses long and short clauses to show how busy they are. Along with the words, 'sole' and 'solitary' used throughout the novel to suggest that each individual must take responsibility for his own choices - just as Marley is paying for his individual sins. Stave 2 - the Fezziwig's party He also argues that Time is precious to me. This is most telling of all: whereas the old Scrooge saw little of value beyond his money hole, now he sees the truth that Time itself is precious; and it is, in fact, the most precious thing we. I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. Stave 3 - the ghost uses Scrooge's words against him His most famous saying is bah humbug. He used it as an exclamation when he wanted to express his displeasure about something. But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and. She looked at me as if I had insulted her. Bell, dong, ding; hammer, clang, clash! 'He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. Being such a short story there is very little that is extraneous. 2. () A famous geographer Thomas Malthus came up with the theory that the poor were just surplus population and thus should be left to their own devices - even if this meant letting them die. Workhouses were a terrible place and menial and dangerous jobs such as sweeping chimneys still existed. He begins with no compassion for others but eventually learns a better way to live. "Mankind was my business. () *The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. The use of the word 'alone' is repeated showing again that selfishness will lead to a life of loneliness. Th onomatopoeia here makes the bells sound particularly noise -and yet Scrooge sees them as 'glorious' which is suggestive of noises from heaven. The image of the 'lonely boy near a feeble fire' reflects very closely the older Scrooge we have seen, alone eating gruel. Dickens' use of the word 'good' repetitively to demonstrate the juxtaposition between Scrooge at the beginning of the novel, where Dickens describes Scrooge as a 'covetous old sinner'. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. The adjectives: genial show his joy/ cheer, sparkling presents tense- has connotations of light and magic and open emphasises his generosity.Themes= greed and generosity/Christmas. The 10 Most Important Quotes in A Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/8wpegV4ueYY'The Ghosts' in A Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/15HiKFCMEyk'Scrooge' in A Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/c2x9wiRRFQYQuick, relaxed, and informative, Dr Aidan's Guide to Literature aims to make literature accessible to everyone. But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear your company and do it with a thankful heart', Stave 1: 'He tried to say 'Humbug!' 'The Ghosts' in A Christmas Carol (Key Quotes & Analysis) Dr Aidan 22.1K subscribers Subscribe 47K views 3 years ago Studying A Christmas Carol? cried Bob. People can change, but Scrooge has thus far been content with his situation. Contrasting similes emphasise his god like figure- he is at once innocent and knowledgeable. Key Quotations and analysis A Christmas Carol.docx - A cried the gentleman, as if his breath were taken away. A merry Christmas to everybody! If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population. The list of verbs, gives the spirit a threatening air- this is compounded by the fact that he does not speak to scrooge at all. "Reeked with crime, and filth, and misery". The use of nature with a type of plant typically seen around christmas time makes scrooges comment even more menacing saying that they should kill him with the very thing that is giving him happiness in that certain period.- Scrooge If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population. However, the verb 'profit' still has a hint of selfishness - as well as an implication of individual, even material, gain. ". Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. Click the card to flip Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by AIC-CREATOR-TD Terms in this set (36) "Quite alone in the world, I do believe.". Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop Themes= greed and generosity/Christmas/poverty. It was a worthy place. This is a great description, wanders around holding a candle snuffer that looks like a hat. Stave 2 - Scrooge's response to the ghost saying that it was only a small thing that Fezziwig did. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. Scrooges changing attitude is never better highlighted than in his initial responses to the three ghosts. They often came down handsomely, and Scrooge never did. Dickens was familiar with the terrible working conditions of the poor and campaigned for education of children. - Scrooge, Is scrooges staple opinion to christmas at the start of stave one, showing off his negative opinions to begin with, this is used to emphasise the change in scrooges character from the beginning to the end. One interesting feature of this stave relates to the fact that two people die in it: Scrooge and Tiny Tim: the richest and the poorest people in the book. "the phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached", A description of the ghost of Christmas future; he is the darkest of the spirits, a reminder to scrooge of his terrible fate if he fails to learn his lesson. "If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population." The noun cell has connotations of Bob being imprisoned by scrooge. In this quote, Dickens describes London as a dark and dangerous place. My life tends that way, now., Bob Cratchit about Tiny Tims grave: I wish you could have gone. The metaphor shows he is rigid in his unfeeling behaviour to others. This quote is trying to say that Marley should've cared more about the people rather than his business - Marley, This opposes to the way that he conveyed his feelings to everyone at the start of the novel this shows his change and how he improved by the end, Therefore I am about to raise your salary, This shows a strong change in scrooges character as at the start of the novel with the 2 gentleman he was not willing to donate any money to them and now he is raising Bob Cratchits salary, This shows Tiny Tim's appreciation of Scrooge even when his mother doesnt think that scrooge deserves the praise, Another idol has displaced me a golden one. The noun phantom has negatives connotations in contrast to the more positive spirits - once again, warning scrooge of his fate if he doesn't change his ways. The tremors of the great San Francisco earthquake that occurred in 1906 (was, were) estimated to have measured 8.3 on the Richter scale. Check ()(\checkmark)() the blank before each sentence that contains a subordinate clause. "It was long and wound about him like a til.". Scrooge has undergone a metamorphoses - he has literally been reborn as a new man. Partially because of the nature of its main character. Leading up to this moment it appears as if Scrooge already fears that this is the case, but that does not detract from the tension that Charles Dickens can create here. 'a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! It would have done you good to see how green a place it is., Bob Cratchit about Freds kindness: It really seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim, and felt with us., About Scrooges grave: overrun by grass and weeds., Scrooge on what he has learnt: I will not shut out the lessons that they teach., Scrooge: The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me., Scrooge: I am as light as a feather, I am a happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. But it does share a lot of gothic conventions. 'The Ghosts' in A Christmas Carol (Key Quotes & Analysis) External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. The spirit of Christmas is personified in his open heart, open hand, and outstretched arm. So we have tried where possible to focus on the most vital sections of the novella. Whereas the line about being solitary as an oyster suggests that Scrooge refuses to let anybody into his life. Perhaps Dickens is using him to represent the idea of childhood innocence and how close children were to God in order to reinforce his message that the wealthy need to do more to mitigate childhood poverty. Hallo!". The relative clause describing Tiny Tim reinforces the idea that it is Scrooge's actions that caused him to live. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Christmas Carol, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The onomatopoetic verb 'gasping' makes the reader explicitly imagine the death, suggesting struggle and pain. A Christmas Carol Key Quotes and Analysis. Arguably, this is the most famous quote from A Christmas Carol. When he sees Tiny Tim and his jubilance despite his disadvantages, Scrooge cannot help but feel compassion and by association guilt, as he has seen from the effect Fezziwg had on his staff that he could have a similar influence on Tiny Tim. Here are some of the best 'A Christmas Carol' Scrooge quotes for this holiday season that will melt your heart. ', Stave 1: 'that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, 2023 Book Analysis. The adjective monstrous, creates a negative impression of the man, almost evil, and reinforces Dickens message that it was the ignorance of the rich that created many society's problems. So, therefore, we should take responsibility for being a positive influence. When you analyse poverty in A Christmas Carol, you may want to reference the setting as well as using direct quotes from characters. Scrooges offences carry their own punishments. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world. Pathetic fallacy - Scrooge can see now clearly - reinforced by the adjectives juxtaposing the foggy, misty scenes of earlier chapters when Scrooge could not see the error of his ways. Home Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis. These words are then used against him by the ghost of the Christmas present. 'A Christmas Carol' Key Quotations Stave 5 Analysis Term 1 / 5 "I am light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. Scrooge becomes part of two families: Dickens reveals that we are part of not only our blood relatives but also a wider family that of society. A Christmas Carol - stave 2 Key Quotes Flashcards | Quizlet He always did!". The noun 'idol' shows that Belle believes Scrooge is so enamoured of money that he worships it. Scrooge's assertion that 'it is not my business' is challenged quickly by Marley's ghost whose view is that 'mankind' should have been his 'business. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! Are there no prisons?'' A Christmas Carol - Quotes and Analysis Stave 1 Stave 2 Stave 3 Stave 4 Stave 5 ( ) The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker and the chief mourner. Recognizing Progressive Forms and Tenses. 'This boy is ignorance.most of all beware the boy"-Stave 3-Ghost of Christmas present Metaphor. If you watch any of the adaptations of A Christmas Carol Tiny Tim is almost always one of the loveable characters and with good reason. Themes= greed and generosity/ time. Oh! Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Scrooges words to the charity collectors as he refuses to give charity. The two children Ignorance and Want represents the attitudes of the rich to the poor in Victorian society. It is really in this Stave that Dickens brings to life the Christmas that we all know and love today: the food, the presents, the games, the snow, and good feeling, the parties and generosity. "Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.". A Christmas Carol: Jacob Marley Quotes | SparkNotes The ghost of christmas present is showing the two children that hide in his cloak and he says that the problems these children portray are the problems of mankind. scientist; is. The adjective 'brave' suggests that the Cratchit's approach to life is noble and admirable - but not easy. ', 'He was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled, and his breath smoked', Christmas is a time when people 'Think of the people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. A Christmas Carol is rarely classified as a gothic novel. The verb 'shrouded' makes explicit reference to death which is reinforced by the 'deep black' of its clothes. This means that Scrooge is implying Christmas was designed to trick and fool people into spending money. The description of the children is designed to shock the reader. Stave 5 - the bells ring This shows that scrooge is only hurting himself by being so money orientated it doesnt affect his family but does himself. A description of Fezziwig, a rich merchant t whom Scrooge is apprentice. Of Mice and Men Section Overview . the strength of Scrooge's dismay about hearing his own words repeated back to him is reinforced through the use of the nouns, penitence and grief. Accessed 4 March 2023. God save you! Scrooge. Stave 4 - Bob's reaction to Tiny Tim's death However, these are two children that he has no control over. 1. Like an oyster, he keeps himself to himself, hidden beneath a hard shell that he uses to protect himself from the world. However, how the poor were treated was far more extreme in Victorian England. 35 Best Ebenezer Scrooge Quotes From 'A Christmas Carol' - Kidadl Hallo there! Draw one line under each main verb and two lines under each auxiliary verb. They now drag him down in death, and hes forced to wander the earth, unable to undo what he did before. This almost prompts a realization in Scrooge as he catches on to the fact that his wealth provides him (and indeed Fezziwig) with the power to make people happy. '', Stave 3 - the ghost uses Scrooge's words against him when he asks where there is refuge for the children, ignorance and want. Summary. The Spirit pointed from the grave to him, and back again. Part of the reason that A Christmas Carol is so widely studied is the abundance of different themes that it touches upon. Copyright2007 - 2023 Revision World Networks Ltd. However, this in itself would probably not have been enough to alter his ways. As a result of this he was damned to walk as a ghost chained with money boxes surrounding him. Use if fairy tale convention, shows the story will have a magical ending. Fred is unrelenting in his attempts to change his uncles way of thinking. This is clearly not possible. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. As readers, Dickens is allowing us to reflect on how far Scrooge has come in learning the lesson - and perhaps asking us to reflect on our own learning. This is the image of rich men who are shown to ridicule Scrooge after his death.The rich are presented as unfeeling and callous- their physical ugliness reflects the lack of generosity in their spirits. "Cherry cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears.". Stave 3 - Christmas at Fred's The fog has lifted and Scrooge can 'see' the truth. ``My little child!''. The entrance of Scrooge 's nephew Fred at the beginning of the story introduces another side to the miser. Themes= Christmas/greed and generosity/family. " jovial voice.". The clerks sprinting home juxtaposes Scrooge's dinner in a melancholy tavern. You could make a strong argument for this being a tale of redemption. "Crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light." Description of the Ghost of Christmas Past, Stave 2, this ghost is much less scary than Marley which symbolises the innocence of childhood. Dr Aidan, PhD, brings you the second video in his 'A Christmas Carol' series, looking here at the role and importance of the ghosts in this story. Walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds. Stave 3 - Scrooge asks if Tiny Tim will live, having been moved by his goodness. As we will later learn, his bitterness originates at Christmas time and has warped his perspective of it. These cover themes like wealth, poverty, Christmas, and kindness. Stave 2 - the spirit takes him to past Christmases including seeing Scrooge alone at school. In many ways the vision works like memory can do: it changes depending on perspectives or moods. The repetitive structure and short exclamations create the sense that he cannot put into words how happy he is. Why show me this, if I am past all hope! For the first time, the hand appeared to shake. The style of A Christmas Carol is conversational and direct. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and, If that spirit goes not forth in life, it is, them both, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is, squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner." PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Did the Anglo-Saxon period last between 449 and 1066? Past: "The curtains of his bed were drawn aside, I tell you, When the Ghost of Christmas Past arrives, the curtains of his bed were drawn aside by a hand. Here, it is clear that it is the ghost who makes the move the ghost actively. A Christmas Carol Stave 1 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts Whoop! Glorious!'. With key quotes \u0026 analysis, this video provides an ideal format to gain a greater understanding of this novella in a matter of minutes. Stave 3 - Tiny Tim A solitary child, neglected by his friends is left there still - Scrooge sobbed, This shows scrooges lack of companionship and support even since a child this could show why scrooge became so money obsessed, I have always thought of Christmas a good time. Stave 5 - Scrooge walks the streets enjoying the company of others. The Ghost of Christmas yet to come is symbolic. The Christmas Spirit By Section Stave One: Marley's Ghost Stave Two: The First of the Three Spirits Stave Three: The Second of the Three Spirits Stave Four: The Last of the Spirits Stave Five: The End of It By Character Ebenezer Scrooge Bob Cratchit Fred Jacob Marley The Ghost of Christmas Past The Ghost of Christmas Present Here, we get the image of a country that is united during this time of year; a place where Christmas and Britishness are inextricably linked, which would have been incredibly popular for a Victorian audience who were in the throws of empire building. This is where the clerk lives. Tail has connotations of the devil- reinforcing evil image. Scrooge's sympathy for himself leads to sympathy for the carol singer from the night before. in Its progressive form. Without the ghost of Christmas future, Scrooge wouldve been unlikely to change. Mrs Cratchit, although poor, represents the family's will to make the best of things - to celebrate in spite of their poverty. Theme= poverty/greed and generosity. Who suffers? Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. He did it all and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father., He knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the Knowledge.. A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis | Book Analysis When it was made you were another man. ffects the change, pulling the curtains aside with his own hand. By this stage, Scrooge has already begun to see the error of his ways and has realised that he will benefit from the messages he is receiving and so he begins to take agency over the situation. Analysing the evidence "I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. The shortness of the main clause at the end makes the message more shocking. This is one of Freds lines, and it really helps to highlight the difference in viewpoints between Fred and his uncle. Dickens uses these characters to challenge popular preconceptions that the wealthy had about the poor - preconceptions which led to support for the poor law and the workhouses. Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. A description of how the Cratchit family mourned the death of Tiny Tim. "I am sorry for him; I couldn't be angry with him if I tried. Oh! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! A merry Christmas to you.". On this page, readers can explore the quotes, they are broadly separated into a few sub-categories. Marley haunts scrooge- a description of his chains. Fezziwigs character is an understated part of the story of A Christmas Carol. Her gown is poor but she is 'brave in ribbons'. However, some of the scenes are to help develop Scrooges character and add backstory. 'Dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons'. as if its hold were of uncommon strength." "I wish you could have gone. Scrooge has been transformed - just as his room has been transformed by the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas present - and wants to learn. 'A Christmas Carol' Key Quotations Stave 5 Analysis A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens | Characters, Quotes, & Analysis Whatever the book. The chains are a metaphor for his punishment for his greedy life. They are mans. Christmas is now a time for family, friends and feeling good. Ghost stories were very popular during the Victorian era. So while he did not invent these particular traditions many people credit him with popularizing them. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop "Business!" This may be a way of showing what Dickens thinks should be happening. Shows Bob's place of work, and shows scrooges harsh treatment on him. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. Bob describes his crippled son. The Cratchits are generous and loving in very difficult circumstances. Compare the different settings in "Grape Sherbet" Describe each setting using details from the poem. ', Where the portly gentlemen explain to Scrooge about the plight of the poor and the responsibility of the rich to deal with it, In Stave 5, Scrooge begins to redeem himself for all the terrible things he did in the past, Victorian society was still extremely religious at this point and they believed strongly in the impact of sin upon the treatment of one in the afterlife, The way that Scrooge worships money would have been considered as sinful at the time as it is in a way idolising something that is not the holy lord, Stave 5: 'that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge', Stave 1: 'A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping clutching, covetous old sinner! Of course, these changes seldom happen so quickly in reality and perhaps thats part of the reason that A Christmas Carol does not receive the critical acclaim that you could argue it deserves. Scrooge's language has been formal and official: here he is informal, natural and joyous. No Way- he tells them that the poor should go and die then there would be less people in the world. Stave 5 - Scrooge's reaction to discovering it is not too late The simile 'like a tail' is suggestive of a snake, which is symbolic of the devil. Stave 4 - Tiny Tim's burial place is eden like - as, despite his poverty and place in life, he was good and will be welcomed by god. There is no magic formula to revision but this three-point He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didnt thaw it one degree at Christmas. A Christmas Carol: The Ghost of Christmas Present Quotes - SparkNotes This use of listing to describe everything as 'good' helps to demonstrate the far reaching consequences of Scrooge's redemption. The noun 'contract' reflects the language of business - reflecting the change that Scrooge has undergone. Fezziwig's office has a large fire which adds to the welcoming atmosphere, offering the reader an additional opportunity to compare it to Scrooge's cold office with the meagre fire. The multiple similes emphasise Scrooge's joy and elation at his second chance. The ghost of Christmas future symbolizes death and the mistakes that are sure to haunt him after his death. "[He called out in a] comfortable,oily, rich. The verbs suggest age, disfiguration and pain suggesting how unnatural their conditions are that have led to this. Dickens also suggests that, through his adoration of a false god, he is no longer a good christian. The repetition of the word 'little' reinforces to the reader how young and innocent and undeserving of death was Tiny Tim. Key quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it costs a fortune. Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. Representing Victorian society. A merry Christmas to everybody! Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. The two children are the personification of man's ills - ignorance and want. Dickens is very clever in his use of dialogue in this section of the story as the Ghost of Future Yet To Come shows Scrooge the people that are talking about his death. Then write the form of that verb Perfect for those studying the book at school (particularly GCSE students) or simply those wanting to learn more about it.For more in Dr Aidan's 'A Christmas Carol' series:The 10 Most Important Quotes in A Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/8wpegV4ueYYPicture credits: Grim Reaper: openclipart.comCornucopia: openclipart.com Themes= Christmas/greed and generosity/family. No, Spirit! ', Stave 5: 'No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold;', Stave 5: 'He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.'. They were a boy and girl. Ultimately he tries to extinguish the ghost's light. I am as giddy as a drunken man. How does the speaker begin and end "Incident"? The image of the oyster is almost perfect for Scrooge at this stage in the book.