Fred is unrelenting in his attempts to change his uncles way of thinking. 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. This is fitting because it is traditionally colder at Christmas but also because the cold is an apt metaphor for Scrooges personality. ", cynical- "what's Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money", Isolated- "secret and self-contained, and solitary like an oyster. Stave 1 - Scrooge's rponse to being asked to give money to charity, "If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.". However, some of the scenes are to help develop Scrooge's character and add backstory. The opening line says, ''Marley was dead: to begin with. Stave 5 - pathetic fallacy Charles Dickens only really scratched the surface of this. A Christmas Carol is a well-loved and commonly read novel that focuses on themes of Christmas and poverty. He always did!". 2. Stave 2 - Belle breaks off the engagement. sungiemarie. Stave 4 - Bob's reaction to Tiny Tim's death I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. Tail has connotations of the devil- reinforcing evil image. Themes= Christmas/greed and generosity/family. " The fog has lifted and Scrooge can 'see' the truth. The idea that anybody would be so callous about the dead is quite jarring and would have been especially impactful with a conservative Victorian readership. Dickens considers ignorance the worst, because it leads to want. Whoever the author.Discover new and exciting books to dive into with our Book Explorer Tool. scientist; is. "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. I can't afford to make idle people merry. "It was long and wound about him like a til.". The Ghost of Christmas Present greets Scrooge from on top of a pile of luxurious Christmas fare. Only financial gain. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. "The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it costs a fortune.". 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 sparkled has magical and positive connotations, shows Fred is the antithesis of scrooge. The use of light throughout the novel suggests the truth/ the right path which Scrooge at first does not want to see. Clash, clang, hammer; ding, dong, bell! Bitter- "no wind that blew was bitterer than he. 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!' Themes= greed and generosity/ time. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop Key quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Without the trauma from Scrooges youth and the death of his sister, Fran, its unlikely that he wouldve become the person that he did. Themes= time/Christmas/generosity and forgiveness. Active Themes This is a great quote for highlighting the sort of character that Scrooge was in A Christmas Carol. ', 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! However, some of the scenes are to help develop Scrooges character and add backstory. Of course, there is still a massive equality gap between the rich and the poor. Bob Crachit and the Cratchit Family Quotes, A Christmas Carol- The Ghost of Christmas Pre, 'An Inspector Calls' Key Quotations Analysis, myPerspectives: English Language Arts, Grade 7, myPerspectives: Grade 10, Volume 2 California Edition, myPerspectives, English Language Arts, Grade 8, California My Perspectives English Language Arts, Grade 9, Volume Two. Of course, the suggestion that people might be talking about him is beastly to Scrooge. He is designed to show that the wealthy can make a significant difference. How to revise from this guide You should be spending at least 30-60 minutes a week revising for English Literature from this point onwards, aiming to learn 5-7 key quotes for each character. To Kill a Mockingbird -Analysis of Major Characters. This is clearly not possible. The description of the figure who is both like a child and like an old man, is suggestive of the journey that the ghost takes him on. The metaphor shows the are poor but make the best of a bad situation, always smiling and showing they are grateful for what little they have. The ribbons are her means of dressing more festively. 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. 'Long and wound about him like a tail made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds and heavy purses.'. 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. forgiving- "to Mr Scrooge, the founder of the feast.". Dickens was openly opposed to this view and challenges it throughout the novella. Stave 5 - Scrooge's reaction to discovering it is not too late Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. The noun 'father' shows the idea that one laugh leads to another - happiness breeds happiness. ', 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. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. Partially because of the nature of its main character. The repetition of the word 'little' reinforces to the reader how young and innocent and undeserving of death was Tiny Tim. Scrooge is presented as a miserly character - his money does not even bring him any happiness. I am not the man I was. Stave 1 - Scrooge's response to the gentlemen saying that people would rather die than go to the workhouse. The list of adjectives show his wealth but also his warmth and generosity towards others. The noun cell has connotations of Bob being imprisoned by scrooge. 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. ', 'Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts". "The cold within him froze his old features", Early description of scrooge. Fan is portrayed with affection - and her term of endearment shows that Scrooge has known affection. Fezziwigs character is an understated part of the story of A Christmas Carol. Themes= Christmas/greed and generosity/family. Hangman - Try to complete the word by picking the correct letters. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. With in-depth analysis, this video aims to help you gain a greater understanding of the novella in a matter of minutes. Did the Anglo-Saxon period last between 449 and 1066? The conditional subordinate clause represents Scrooge's future actions. It was a worthy place. Tiny Tim's comment is generous in spirit, seeing his disability positively as it will remind others of the true meaning of Christmas by allowing them to think of Jesus on Christmas day. 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. - Scrooge, Ever idiot who goes around with merry xmas on his lips should be buried with a stake of holly through his heart, 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. This mirrors the Victorian rich's attitude to the poor. This brightly\underline{\text{brightly}}brightly lit room will be perfect for my art studio. Scrooge awakes and finds his room as dark as when he fell asleep at two o'clock. Scrooge, showing that through the visits of the different ghosts he began to change more and more, as in stave two his "lip was trembling", but now he is having "a violent fit of trembling". Lord bless me!" The boy is ignorance. Fred represents the spirit of Christmas and carries Dickens' message about collective responsibility and how we should treat one another. It could also show that, as it has been so long since he was happy, he finds it difficult to describe. '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. The synonyms 'alone' and 'by himself' emphasise again the loneliness of the life he has chosen. This is evident in his early relationship with his nephew Fred. A merry Christmas to everybody! Scrooge has been transformed - just as his room has been transformed by the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas present - and wants to learn. Stave 5 - the bells ring Without the ghost of Christmas future, Scrooge wouldve been unlikely to change. "Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.". 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. Dickens was familiar with the terrible working conditions of the poor and campaigned for education of children. "Every person has a right to take care of themselves. International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, 2023 Book Analysis. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Christmas Carol, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents. Marley 2. So, therefore, we should take responsibility for being a positive influence. The description of Marley's ghost has his chain wound about him. 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. 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. 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. 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. Then, identify each underlined word by writing above it ADV for adverb or ADJ for adjective. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. Dickens uses Tiny Tim to remind his readers of the story of Jesus performing miracles and his teaching of acceptance of all. Himself. 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. 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. The simile has a snake like connotations, Marley is a symbol of evil. It is too much linked to his miserly ways thus suggesting that the learning is not finished yet. So while he did not invent these particular traditions many people credit him with popularizing them. But, they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another and contented with the time. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Dickens believed in collective responsibility - that the wealthy should take responsibility for helping the poor, specifically through the provision of education and support for children. About Scrooge: As solitary as an oyster., External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge., If they would rather die, said Scrooge, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population., Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it., Marleys Ghost: Mankind was my business., Marleys Ghost: I am here to-night to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate., There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. You must cook those fresh eggs for that kind of special salad. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. Whatever the book. "I am light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. A merry Christmas to you.". Home Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Best Quotes. The adjective dismal connotes a lack of light and hopeless atmosphere. Accessed 4 March 2023. We are reminded of the contrast between the rendered status. ', 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.'. The ghost of Christmas presents it sitting on a throne of food. Throughout the book, Dickens makes use of metaphors, personification, imagery, and more. A Christmas Carol is rarely classified as a gothic novel. Belle to Scrooge: "Another idol has displaced me a golden one.". Watching Scrooge forge his own invisible chain served as part of Marley's punishment for his deeds in life. I am not the man I was', When Scrooge sees the name on the gravestone, he realises that time for change is limited, The ghost of Christmas past shows Scrooge some memories that may have been lost to time, Stave 2: 'each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares long forgotten', Stave 4: 'Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only? I am as giddy as a drunken man. Ghost stories were very popular during the Victorian era. 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. 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. As it is used in line 32 , the word reticent means the opposite of. Their terrible behaviour is a consequence of the ignorance and want that Dickens personified in stave 3. Dickens though that this was wrong and aimed to change perception, 'Mankind was my business. Ignorance could represent the wealthy upper classes who are ignorant of what they must do to help. Stave 2 - The first of the three spirits The simile has connotations of stillness and endings. In many ways, it is the child who can most tug on Scrooges heartstrings. Discuss why you think the poet made these choices. 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. People can change, but Scrooge has thus far been content with his situation. Scrooge's language has been formal and official: here he is informal, natural and joyous. It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand. 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. Whatever the book. Towards the end of the book, Scrooge has clearly learnt that fact and decides to spend his remaining days sharing his time, his wealth, and enjoying the fruits of his fellow men. Ghost of Christmas Present, Stave 3, he warns that if Scrooge doesn't change himself that "doom" will be in his future. Arguably, this is the most famous quote from A Christmas Carol. Dr Aidan, PhD, provides you with key quotes and analysis relating to the theme of 'Christmas'. 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. The spirit of Christmas is personified in his open heart, open hand, and outstretched arm. 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. This is one of Freds lines, and it really helps to highlight the difference in viewpoints between Fred and his uncle. A Christmas Carol Key Quotes and Analysis. Example: The scientist, along with her two assistants, (is, are) working on a computer simulation of earthquake activity. Whatever the genre. Losing a business partner around Christmas time could not have been easy. the adjective idle reveals scrooge believes the poor are lazy and are to be blamed for their own situation. Hes comparing Cratchits actual body temperature to Scrooges personality. Here in this quote, one can see Dickens playing with literal and figurative meanings to great effect. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop Oh, no, no! The finger was still there. Accessed 4 March 2023. This means that Scrooge is implying Christmas was designed to trick and fool people into spending money. Studying A Christmas Carol? Marleys ghost is the one that kicks everything off but also acts as a mirror to Scrooge to show him the error of his ways. A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens On this page, readers can explore the quotes, they are broadly separated into a few sub-categories. The girl is want. '', Stave 3 - the ghost uses Scrooge's words against him when he asks where there is refuge for the children, ignorance and want. And I know I know my dears, that when we recollect how patient and how mild he was; although he was a little, little child, we shall not quarrel easily among ourselves and forget poor Tiny Tim in doing it. () At the time, Camden town would have been a crowded suburb. He has learned his lesson and been transformed from darkness into light - which is reflected in the world around him. 6. 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. "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. The idea that we are all 'fellow passengers' serves to emphasise the idea of the transience of life - we are all going to die some day so we are more similar than we are different. The Victorian's would have seen this as fitting. I think he wanted to make it accessible to all classes so he could better spread his message. 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.'. Scrooge makes explicit reference to the Malthusian idea that the population must decrease in order to create better conditions. The ribbon for the bookmark should be seven (inches, in) long. They were a boy and girl. Setting can help create an atmosphere or mood in a literary work. No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; cold, piping for the blood to dance to; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. 4 major themes of this novel are forgiveness, the influence of the past, greed, and poverty. A description of the ghost of Christmas past, who symbolises memory and who shows scrooge events from the past. Stave 2 - Scrooge becomes distressed by what he is seeing. There is no magic formula to revision but this three-point 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. This again leads back to Dickens' idea of collective responsibility - that everything that we do influences others. Seven Years 3. His narrator describes events as they happened and doesnt spend a great deal of time on extraneous details. I am as giddy as a drunken man. Stave 2 - the Fezziwig's party The Total Abstinence Principle was a phrase used for teetotallers (people who refrained from drinking). Hallo!". Total Abstinence Principle more hilarious punning from Dickens. "Are there no prisons?" However, these are two children that he has no control over. 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. Stave 3 - Christmas at Fred's The Christmas Spirit I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time the only time when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers. His house is dark - which reflects the darkness in his character and also adds to the gothic atmosphere of his house. cried Bob. 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. Stave 1 - why the portly gentlemen are collecting for the poor The verb 'shrouded' makes explicit reference to death which is reinforced by the 'deep black' of its clothes. Ultimately he tries to extinguish the ghost's light. 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. My little, little child!'' When you analyse poverty in A Christmas Carol, you may want to reference the setting as well as using direct quotes from characters. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Marleys chains symbolize the mistakes hes made in life and the greed that controlled him. Gives the impression of a festive being, full of Christmas spirit. These cover themes like wealth, poverty, Christmas, and kindness. 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. The silent. A happy New Year to all the world. Summary. Themes= time/Christmas, "A solitary child, neglected by his friends.". Like an oyster, he keeps himself to himself, hidden beneath a hard shell that he uses to protect himself from the world. patience and hope fro them. His description of the setting suggests that poverty has bred crime and deep unhappiness. Stave 3 - ignorance and want But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! Her gown is poor but she is 'brave in ribbons'. Scrooge. Im sure you will all e familiar with the one percent statistic. I should like to have given him something: thats all., About the Fezziwig family: shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas., Scrooge about Mr Fezziwig: The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it costs a fortune., Belle to Scrooge: Another idol has displaced me., Belle about Scrooge: I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master passion, Gain, engrosses you., Belles husband to Belle about Scrooge: Quite alone in the world, I do believe., There was nothing very cheerful in the climate or the town, and yet was there an air of cheerfulness abroad., About the Ghost of Christmas Present: Sprinkled incense on their dinners from his torch., About the Cratchits goose: a feathered phenomenon., There never was such a goose. Does this line support or contradict the speaker's statement in the final stanza, "Nothing really happened"? Gone are the puritanical values that banned Christmas, and, also, to a large degree, gone as well are the memories of Christmas as a serious and religious celebration of the birth of Christ. This scene is very clever as well because not only does seeing the Fezziwigs party give Scrooges character the chance to see how much power he wields and how that influence could be used but it also offers us the opportunity to see some of the aspects that shaped Scrooge into the person that he was. So we have tried where possible to focus on the most vital sections of the novella. Marley tells scrooge he is responsible fro his punishment- he is suffering the consequences for his actions. Stave 5 - Scrooge walks the streets enjoying the company of others. 'A lonely boy was reading near a feeble fire'. Hallo there! Here, Scrooge is talking about Fezziwig and how he uses his wealth to lift others up. His most famous saying is bah humbug. He used it as an exclamation when he wanted to express his displeasure about something. ', People with lots of money already are more likely to be greedy for more, not thinking about sharing that money with others effectively. "Quite alone in the world, I do believe.". Mr and Mrs Fezziwig ..'.shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas.'. Dr Aidan, PhD, provides you with the 10 key quotes in Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', along with in-depth analysis, to he. It also explains why he becomes hard and sharp like a flint, later on. The tremors of the great San Francisco earthquake that occurred in 1906 (was, were) estimated to have measured 8.3 on the Richter scale. "It was a large house but one of broken fortunes.". You are changed. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. There is a very real suggestion that Scrooge knows that the people are describing him. Any study of the time will tell you about the working conditions for the lower classes. Theme= poverty/greed and generosity. Stave 1 - description of Marley's ghost The declarative 'will' conveys certainty showing how urgent it is that Scrooge change. Stave 3 - ignorance and want He listens for the church bell but when it comes, it strikes twelve. A Christmas Carol: Key Moments Being such a short story there is very little that is extraneous. With key quotes \u0026 analysis, this video provides an ideal format to gain a greater understanding of this novella in a matter of minutes. 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." 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. Jacob Marleys demise is possibly part of what shaped Scrooge into the person that he is. He is cheerful and oily where scrooge is cold and sharp. 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. Such as the graveyard at the end. Dickens, therefore, is attacking the Malthusian capitalist theories. God save you! Everyone is entitled to be a little happier on Christmas, and the Ghost of Christmas Present helps them to be so. The chains are a metaphor for his punishment for his greedy life. Description of the Ghost of Christmas Past, Stave 2, the holly symbolises Christmas. Mrs Cratchit, although poor, represents the family's will to make the best of things - to celebrate in spite of their poverty. Flint is a type of ground that makes it difficult for life to grow kind of like how scrooges character allows no imaginations to grow.
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