Dickens also suggests that, through his adoration of a false god, he is no longer a good christian. This quote from Fred shows him having opposing views to his uncle scrooge, Fred tries to make Scrooge someone who enjoys christmas however it is not him that makes scrooge appreciate it. The workers will be repairing the building. "Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?". These morally repugnant, ugly people are simply treating Scrooge the way he treated others and he is horrified. He is cheerful and oily where scrooge is cold and sharp. I am as giddy as a drunken man. ``My little child!''. Ghost stories were very popular during the Victorian era. 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. Her gown is poor but she is 'brave in ribbons'. A description of the school house that Scrooge was left in as a child, by his family. He stopped at the outer door to bestow the greetings of the season on the clerk, who, cold as he was, was warmer than Scrooge. The relative clause describing Tiny Tim reinforces the idea that it is Scrooge's actions that caused him to live. People can change, but Scrooge has thus far been content with his situation. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. The adjective 'common' shows the reader that the poor only want those things which should be normal and available for all - the 'common' things rather than luxuries. He carried his own low temperature always about with him', 'No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him', 'It was cold, bleak, biting weather: foggy withal', 'Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk's fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal. "Cherry cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears.". The two children are the personification of man's ills - ignorance and want. The boy is ignorance. In defending Fezziwig, he is taught a lesson and makes him think about how he treats his clerk, leading to his second moment of regret in which he'd like to 'say a word to two' to Bob. I think this is why the character of Fezziwig exists to show that Scrooge is not representative of all the upper classes. Scrooge makes explicit reference to the Malthusian idea that the population must decrease in order to create better conditions. Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. "His eyes sparkled and his breath smocked.". Without the trauma from Scrooges youth and the death of his sister, Fran, its unlikely that he wouldve become the person that he did. Setting includes not only the physical surroundings, but also the ideas, customs, values, and beliefs of a particular time and place. This shows scrooges lack of empathy for the poor people around christmas time not regarding their life or family, this is used to show a change later on in the book with him not donating to the 2 gentleman at the start but him donating to them at the end of the play- Scrooge to the two gentleman, Marley during his life was a harsh businessman similar to scrooge and he was also very uptight not giving money to charity or other good causes. Representing Victorian society. ', 'secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. Then there are some of the settings contained in A Christmas Carol. Fan is portrayed with affection - and her term of endearment shows that Scrooge has known affection. Accessed 4 March 2023. We see when Scrooge is presented with the poor children (Want and Ignorance) how instinctively and perhaps despite his character that he is compelled to want to help. A Christmas Carol Key Quotes and Analysis. The portly gentlemen are also instrumental in delivering Dickens' message. This may be a way of showing what Dickens thinks should be happening. This is a great description, wanders around holding a candle snuffer that looks like a hat. This is where the clerk lives. 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. A happy New Year to all the world. As we will later learn, his bitterness originates at Christmas time and has warped his perspective of it. "[He called out in a] comfortable,oily, rich. Whoever the author.Discover new and exciting books to dive into with our Book Explorer Tool. In what ways does the text indicate lbn Batutta's social status? If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population. His narrator describes events as they happened and doesnt spend a great deal of time on extraneous details. The verb sparkled has magical and positive connotations, shows Fred is the antithesis of scrooge. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. - 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. All rights reserved. When you analyse poverty in A Christmas Carol, you may want to reference the setting as well as using direct quotes from characters. that this creature, who appears to be both young and old, is an image of Jesus who was a baby at Christmas and yet who, as the son of God, represents the divine wisdom that Christians worship. A Christmas Carol is a well-loved and commonly read novel that focuses on themes of Christmas and poverty. It is this love that consoles him in stave 4 when Tiny Tim is shown to be dead, a long with the memories of Tiny Tim as a patient and loving boy. Analysis. He looked so irresistibly pleasant, in a word, that three or four good-humoured fellows said, "Good morning, sir. The most clearly religious image though is how it wears a tunic of purest white, as though it is a pure, innocent Angel sent to guide him. In many ways the vision works like memory can do: it changes depending on perspectives or moods. 'A lonely boy was reading near a feeble fire'. The final ghost is by far the most scary of the three it remains silent throughout their time together, only standing by as a guide, and leaving Scrooge and the reader to work out the story himself. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish. "Business!" GCSE (9-1): Literature: A Christmas Carol: Key Quotes: Key Quotes with Analysis 4.7 (15 reviews) Term 1 / 36 'Sole' (stave 1) Click the card to flip Definition 1 / 36 repetition - Isolated, lonely. cried the gentleman, as if his breath were taken away. The chains are a metaphor for his punishment for his greedy life. The childhood innocence has been 'shrivelled' and 'twisted' showing the ill effects of their treatment. This went against what Victorians considered to be a 'good death' where you die surrounded by friends and family and then are mourned afterwards. Scrooge listened to this dialogue in horror he viewed them with a detestation and disgust. "Its genial face, its sparking eye, its open hand. ", "there's a cold within him" that "froze his old features", sociable- "wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity". It is uncared for just as he was uncared for, gasping out his last alone. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse! 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!' 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. Copyright2007 - 2023 Revision World Networks Ltd. Exhausted- "i cannot rest,i cannot stay, i cannot linger anywhere.". ", 'A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. 'a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! With in-depth analysis, this video aims. If he had been, he'd have had somebody to look after him when he was struck with Death, instead of lying gasping out his last there, alone by himself.'. A description of the ghost of Christmas present. She looked at me as if I had insulted her. The repetition of the adjective 'good' reinforces this idea. 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. 'Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend and sole mourner'. The Ghost of Christmas Past is an interesting vision it changes shape and size, it has many arms and then a few, it seems distant and close, old and young in fact it seems riddled with contradictory images. A description of Fezziwig, a rich merchant t whom Scrooge is apprentice. Foul weather didnt know where to have him. 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. These cover themes like wealth, poverty, Christmas, and kindness. " Scrooge entered timidly and hung . scientist; is. Scrooge has undergone a metamorphoses - he has literally been reborn as a new man. Dickens uses him to enable the reader to see that this is unfair, perhaps looking to make his readers reflect on the high mortality rate amongst poor children. The verb 'shrouded' makes explicit reference to death which is reinforced by the 'deep black' of its clothes. Scrooge's sympathy for himself leads to sympathy for the carol singer from the night before. It was a worthy place. The tone is impatient as he does so. Draw an arrow from each underlined word to the word it modifies. "Quite alone in the world, I do believe.". Like an oyster, he keeps himself to himself, hidden beneath a hard shell that he uses to protect himself from the world. Scrooges changing attitude is never better highlighted than in his initial responses to the three ghosts. Mrs Cratchit, although poor, represents the family's will to make the best of things - to celebrate in spite of their poverty. The reader does not know that Tim has died, so Dickens foreshadows his death through the use of the simile. Belle to Scrooge: "Another idol has displaced me a golden one.". 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. Stave 1 - description of Scrooge's relationship with Marley. Themes= family/poverty/greed and generosity. However, inside that shell - like Scrooge - the oyster is soft and vulnerable. As it is used in line 32 , the word reticent means the opposite of. He is designed to show that the wealthy can make a significant difference. The onomatopoetic verb 'gasping' makes the reader explicitly imagine the death, suggesting struggle and pain. Arguably, this is the most famous quote from A Christmas Carol. Hallo there! Oh, glorious! The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. Studying A Christmas Carol? Refine any search. Scrooge learns how little generosity creates a lot of happiness. Instant PDF downloads. 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. Here, Scrooge is talking about Fezziwig and how he uses his wealth to lift others up. Scrooges offences carry their own punishments. 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. In the first stave of A Christmas Carol, the following quote is really important in characterizing Scrooge:. 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. 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. There is no magic formula to revision but this three-point Stave 3 - Scrooge asks if Tiny Tim will live, having been moved by his goodness. He has learned his lesson and been transformed from darkness into light - which is reflected in the world around him. This shows scrooges selfishness and his addiction to money with belle feeling replace with money she feels like she doesnt matter to him and that all he cares about is money. A description of scrooge as a young boy, he was left alone at school as others enjoyed their holidays. Here, readers are exposed to the ghost of Christmas yet to come. The ghost breaks the news to Scrooge that the person whose death has been talked about so callously was his own. A Christmas Carol is rarely classified as a gothic novel. It also explains why he becomes hard and sharp like a flint, later on. For each of the following sentences, identify the subject of the verb in parentheses. Without the ghost of Christmas future, Scrooge wouldve been unlikely to change. Hallo there! At this point, Scrooges character has become fairly well established but the reason that this particular meeting is of such importance is that it highlights Scrooges outlook towards the poor as well as provides his comments about how the poor should be treated. In this case, Ebeneezer and Fezziwig are both business owners with employees, but where they diverge is in their treatment of others and in their outlook on life. It acts as a mirror for Scrooges wealth and position but also as a stark contrast in approach. He must have slept through a whole day and half a night. ', 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. His description of the setting suggests that poverty has bred crime and deep unhappiness. 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. He begins with no compassion for others but eventually learns a better way to live. "If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.". In this way, like a patient completing therapy, he has faced his past, but can now move on. This means that Scrooge is implying Christmas was designed to trick and fool people into spending money. 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. In many ways, it is the child who can most tug on Scrooges heartstrings. Ghost of Christmas Present, Stave 3, he warns that if Scrooge doesn't change himself that "doom" will be in his future. Studying Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'? By the time he reaches the third ghost The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come he orders the ghost, using the imperative phrase Lead on! He is in control now, and wants the change desperately enough to be forceful about it. A Christmas Carol (Key Answers) Chapter 1 1. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Themes= Christmas/greed and generosity/family. " the adjective idle reveals scrooge believes the poor are lazy and are to be blamed for their own situation. Stave 5 - the bells ring In what ways did Louis XV differ from Louis XIV? The tremors of the great San Francisco earthquake that occurred in 1906 (was, were) estimated to have measured 8.3 on the Richter scale. This shows that scrooge is only hurting himself by being so money orientated it doesnt affect his family but does himself. Dickens uses Scrooge to show the extent of change that is possible in a small amount of time. The synonyms 'alone' and 'by himself' emphasise again the loneliness of the life he has chosen. Xmas Present - This makes scrooge realise that he needs to change or Tiny Tim will die young which is the one of the first stages of scrooges change. Scrooge is particularly affected by the death, and this is a death he is able to reverse in the future when he amends his behaviour. Any study of the time will tell you about the working conditions for the lower classes. Stave 3 - the ghost uses Scrooge's words against him A merry Christmas to everybody! He listens for the church bell but when it comes, it strikes twelve. The metaphor shows he is rigid in his unfeeling behaviour to others. "It was long and wound about him like a til.". Bob said he didnt believe there ever was such a goose cooked., About Tiny Tim: If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die., Bob Cratchit: Ill give you Mr Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast., About Ignorance and Want: This boy is Ignorance. Christmas is now a time for family, friends and feeling good. Pre-modified adjectives create a sensory description -they remind scrooge of the delights of generosity and how it will create happiness. The noun 'idol' shows that Belle believes Scrooge is so enamoured of money that he worships it. Given an unexpected opportunity to communicateperhaps as a Christmas miracleMarley feels determined to help Scrooge and he warns him here. In Victorian times, the deceased were usually dressed in their best clothes for burial but here, Scrooge's clothes after death have been removed and sold for money. The shortness of the main clause at the end makes the message more shocking. Bell, dong, ding; hammer, clang, clash! A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens On this page, readers can explore the quotes, they are broadly separated into a few sub-categories. '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. Here are some of the best 'A Christmas Carol' Scrooge quotes for this holiday season that will melt your heart. He spreads joy over all like a force of nature. Scrooge realises that his love with money is the reason he pushed everyone away. Stave 1 - Scrooge's view of the plight of the poor The conditional subordinate clause represents Scrooge's future actions. Both have religious connotations and suggest a true depth of despair at his previous notions. but stopped at the first syllable', Repeated phrase (Juxtaposition and patterning), Stave 5: 'Hear me! ". QUOTES THAT SHOW POVERTY IN A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Macbeth quotes, Key quotes from Macbeth, Macb, 2019 GCSE AQA Triple Higher Biology Paper 2 (, Paper 2 Chemistry Topics 6-10 TRIPLE AQA GCSE, Prentice Hall Writing and Grammar Grade 8, Grammar Exercise Workbook, myPerspectives: English Language Arts, California (Grade 9, Volume 1), myPerspectives: American Literature, California Volume 2, Holt McDougal Literature: American Literature Grade 11, Texas Edition. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. The adjectives squeezing and wrenching, etc., relate to how one should imagine him with money, refusing to let go of his wealth. 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. It is too much linked to his miserly ways thus suggesting that the learning is not finished yet. Scrooge will avoid spirits for the rest of his life geddit? 'This boy is ignorance.most of all beware the boy"-Stave 3-Ghost of Christmas present Metaphor. Here in this quote, one can see Dickens playing with literal and figurative meanings to great effect. '', Stave 3 - the ghost uses Scrooge's words against him when he asks where there is refuge for the children, ignorance and want. Each sentence below contains a verb We can infer that the only other person he cared for was Marley and even that wasn't really because of a friendship. This is a great quote for highlighting the sort of character that Scrooge was in A Christmas Carol. They were a boy and girl. This is fitting because it is traditionally colder at Christmas but also because the cold is an apt metaphor for Scrooges personality. 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. patience and hope fro them. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop A description of the ghost of Christmas past, who symbolises memory and who shows scrooge events from the past. 'No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells.