Theme= poverty/greed and generosity. Check ()(\checkmark)() the blank before each sentence that contains a subordinate clause. The Victorian's would have seen this as fitting. The ribbons are her means of dressing more festively. Fred, as Scrooge's foil, is a kind, forgiving character who is determined to give Scrooge the same chance every year. Active Themes External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. Any study of the time will tell you about the working conditions for the lower classes. 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. Stave 1 - Marley's ghost is distressed at Scrooge's suggestion that he was a 'good man of business'. Themes= greed and generosity/time. 'This boy is ignorance.most of all beware the boy"-Stave 3-Ghost of Christmas present Metaphor. Stave 3 - ignorance and want His house is dark - which reflects the darkness in his character and also adds to the gothic atmosphere of his house. The simile has connotations of stillness and endings. Scrooge has been transformed - just as his room has been transformed by the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas present - and wants to learn. Description of the Ghost of Christmas Past, Stave 2, the holly symbolises Christmas. Only financial gain. Partially because of the nature of its main character. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish. Recognizing Progressive Forms and Tenses. However, some of the scenes are to help develop Scrooge's character and add backstory. Accessed 4 March 2023. In many ways, it is the child who can most tug on Scrooges heartstrings. She looked at me as if I had insulted her. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. 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. - 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. I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Timshall weor this first parting that there was among us? Stave 3 - Christmas at Fred's The fog has lifted and Scrooge can 'see' the truth. 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. Stave 1 - description of Scrooge's house "His eyes sparkled and his breath smocked.". This shows that scrooge is only hurting himself by being so money orientated it doesnt affect his family but does himself. "It was long and wound about him like a til.". Seven Years 3. They were a boy and girl. 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. You must cook those fresh eggs for that kind of special salad. Stave 5 - Scrooge's reaction to discovering it is not too late Of course, Dickens does use his trademark lengthy descriptions but nearly everything has a point. The repetition of the adjective 'good' reinforces this idea. Here in this quote, one can see Dickens playing with literal and figurative meanings to great effect. In this quote, Dickens describes London as a dark and dangerous place. Scrooge is presented as a miserly character - his money does not even bring him any happiness. My little, little child!'' He is cheerful and oily where scrooge is cold and sharp. The multiple similes emphasise Scrooge's joy and elation at his second chance. These compare with the bells at the start of the novel, signifying the hellish arrival of Marley's ghost. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them. Whoever the author.Discover new and exciting books to dive into with our Book Explorer Tool. cried Bob. These include Scrooge's cold nature, the power of wealth, and loss. A happy New Year to all the world. Stave 4 - About Scrooge's grave: "Mankind was my business. His narrator describes events as they happened and doesnt spend a great deal of time on extraneous details. For characters like Fred and Bob Cratchit, Christmas represents the Christian ideal of goodness and moral prosperity, but Scrooge is at his most miserly when Christmas is mentioned. His selfish ways have left him this way. A description of the ghost of Christmas present. The simile shows Bobs wealth in his family; he values them more than money and so is content with their love. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. He looked so irresistibly pleasant, in a word, that three or four good-humoured fellows said, "Good morning, sir. The boy is ignorace - the lack of education and the girl is want - the lack of money. I am as giddy as a drunken 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. Stave 1 - description of Marley's ghost Does this line support or contradict the speaker's statement in the final stanza, "Nothing really happened"? Hangman - Try to complete the word by picking the correct letters. The description of the children is designed to shock the reader. He is described as been so dislike that even the weather is better in that at least it 'comes down' gracefully. Hallo!" Click the card to flip Definition 1 / 5 'The Ghosts' in A Christmas Carol (Key Quotes & Analysis) Dr Aidan 22.1K subscribers Subscribe 47K views 3 years ago Studying A Christmas Carol? This means that Scrooge is implying Christmas was designed to trick and fool people into spending money. Her gown is poor but she is 'brave in ribbons'. The use of the word 'alone' is repeated showing again that selfishness will lead to a life of loneliness. I think he wanted to make it accessible to all classes so he could better spread his message. The portly gentlemen are also instrumental in delivering Dickens' message. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! Arguably, this is the most famous quote from A Christmas Carol. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy., Scrooge says to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart., Two Business Colleagues: Its likely to be a very cheap funeral, said the same speaker; for upon my life I dont know of anybody to go to it., Scrooge to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come: I see, I see. 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. Who suffers? Underline the verb phrase in each sentence. Key quotes from a Christmas Carol- Stave 2, A Christmas Carol Vocabulary, A Christmas Car, myPerspectives, English Language Arts, Grade 8, myPerspectives: English Language Arts, California (Grade 9, Volume 1), myPerspectives: English Language Arts, Grade 7, myPerspectives: Grade 10, Volume 2 California Edition, A Christmas Carol - quotation analysis-Stave. 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. Charles Dickens only really scratched the surface of this. It would have done you good to see how green a place it is.". I think this is why the character of Fezziwig exists to show that Scrooge is not representative of all the upper classes. This is a great description, wanders around holding a candle snuffer that looks like a hat. A merry Christmas to everybody! Of course, Dickens does use his trademark lengthy descriptions but nearly everything has a point. The verb sparkled has magical and positive connotations, shows Fred is the antithesis of scrooge. This again leads back to Dickens' idea of collective responsibility - that everything that we do influences others. Their terrible behaviour is a consequence of the ignorance and want that Dickens personified in stave 3. This mirrors the Victorian rich's attitude to the poor. Example: The scientist, along with her two assistants, (is, are) working on a computer simulation of earthquake activity. " Scrooge entered timidly and hung . 'It was a strange figurelike a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man'. In the first stave of A Christmas Carol, the following quote is really important in characterizing Scrooge:. Marleys chains symbolize the mistakes hes made in life and the greed that controlled him. There is no magic formula to revision but this three-point ', 'secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! 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. He always did.". Stave 5 - Scrooge walks the streets enjoying the company of others. We can infer that the only other person he cared for was Marley and even that wasn't really because of a friendship. Stave 3 - description of Mrs Cratchit He has learned his lesson and been transformed from darkness into light - which is reflected in the world around him. 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. Dr Aidan, PhD, brings you the second video. He spreads joy over all like a force of nature. Belle to Scrooge: "Another idol has displaced me a golden one.". With key quotes \u0026 analysis, this video provides an ideal format to gain a greater understanding of this novella in a matter of minutes. Mr and Mrs Fezziwig ..'.shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas.'. Stave 5 - description of Scrooge's redemption Bovey, Lee-James "A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis " Book Analysis, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. It is too much linked to his miserly ways thus suggesting that the learning is not finished yet. Oh, glorious, glorious! Glorious!'. So while he did not invent these particular traditions many people credit him with popularizing them. These words are then used against him by the ghost of the Christmas present. With in-depth analysis, this video aims. Gives the impression of a festive being, full of Christmas spirit. The noun 'contract' reflects the language of business - reflecting the change that Scrooge has undergone. Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. The shortness of the main clause at the end makes the message more shocking. Though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it! They are mans. Ultimately he tries to extinguish the ghost's light. The onomatopoetic verb 'gasping' makes the reader explicitly imagine the death, suggesting struggle and pain. Christmas is now a time for family, friends and feeling good. Dickens was openly opposed to this view and challenges it throughout the novella. 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. 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." 'Long and wound about him like a tail made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds and heavy purses.'. Themes= family/greed and generosity/ time. Repetition of 'chuckle' emphasises Scrooge's newfound delight in giving. Note the use of the adjective poor to describe Bob Cratchit. 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. 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. Part of the reason that A Christmas Carol is so widely studied is the abundance of different themes that it touches upon. Scrooge realises that his love with money is the reason he pushed everyone away. Ignorance could represent the wealthy upper classes who are ignorant of what they must do to help. 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. 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. Fan is portrayed with affection - and her term of endearment shows that Scrooge has known affection. Contrasting similes emphasise his god like figure- he is at once innocent and knowledgeable. A happy New Year to all the world. The opening line says, ''Marley was dead: to begin with. 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. A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens On this page, readers can explore the quotes, they are broadly separated into a few sub-categories. The noun 'idol' shows that Belle believes Scrooge is so enamoured of money that he worships it. As it is used in line 32 , the word reticent means the opposite of. This is where the clerk lives. Stave 3 - ignorance and want Themes= poverty/family/greed and generosity. The verbs suggest age, disfiguration and pain suggesting how unnatural their conditions are that have led to this. However, these are two children that he has no control over. Accessed 4 March 2023. Each sentence below contains a verb This is one of Freds lines, and it really helps to highlight the difference in viewpoints between Fred and his uncle. God save you! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. Tail has connotations of the devil- reinforcing evil image. Below one can explore the themes, symbols, and more that appear throughout the novel. but stopped at the first syllable', Repeated phrase (Juxtaposition and patterning), Stave 5: 'Hear me! 'Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend and sole mourner'. It also explains why he becomes hard and sharp like a flint, later on. in Its progressive form. Whoop! This use of listing to describe everything as 'good' helps to demonstrate the far reaching consequences of Scrooge's redemption. Stave 2 - Belle breaks off the engagement 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". Fezziwg really represents what Scrooge has and what he could (and eventually does) become. With in-depth analysis, this video aims to help you gain a greater understanding of the novella in a matter of minutes. "Every person has a right to take care of themselves. "Every person has a right to take care of themselves. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. It could also show that, as it has been so long since he was happy, he finds it difficult to describe. For example, the first ghost is a metaphor for how memories and the past shape ones experience, while the last ghost is a metaphor for death and ones legacy. 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. 4 major themes of this novel are forgiveness, the influence of the past, greed, and poverty. 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. 5. Scrooges words to the charity collectors as he refuses to give charity. Himself. Th onomatopoeia here makes the bells sound particularly noise -and yet Scrooge sees them as 'glorious' which is suggestive of noises from heaven. The repetition of the word 'little' reinforces to the reader how young and innocent and undeserving of death was Tiny Tim. But it does share a lot of gothic conventions. 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. Mrs Cratchit, although poor, represents the family's will to make the best of things - to celebrate in spite of their poverty. Invite Scrooge to come for Christmas dinner 4. Watching Scrooge forge his own invisible chain served as part of Marley's punishment for his deeds in life. They are likely to be of even higher class than Scrooge but are choosing to do good for the poor. This is clearly not possible. He listens for the church bell but when it comes, it strikes twelve. 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. A description of how the Cratchit family mourned the death of Tiny Tim. A Christmas Carol is a widely studied book filled with memorable quotes. This girl is Want. 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. However, the verb 'profit' still has a hint of selfishness - as well as an implication of individual, even material, gain. Stave 1 - Scrooge's view of the plight of the poor Fred represents the spirit of Christmas and carries Dickens' message about collective responsibility and how we should treat one another. This compares directly with the explicit description of Scrooge at the start of the novel where even beggars will not speak to him. Dickens also suggests that, through his adoration of a false god, he is no longer a good christian. However, how the poor were treated was far more extreme in Victorian England. In Victorian times, most of the readers would have been christian and would therefore heap additional judgement on Scrooge who needs to repent. There is a very real suggestion that Scrooge knows that the people are describing him. Draw an arrow from each underlined word to the word it modifies. 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. Clash, clang, hammer; ding, dong, bell! 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. It is uncared for just as he was uncared for, gasping out his last alone. "The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it costs a fortune.". God bless us!, At the time people rid themselves of any guilt by blaming the poor for the fact they were poor. For each of the following sentences, identify the subject of the verb in parentheses. 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. Stave 5 - Scrooge's reaction to discovering it is not too late 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. Summary. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. The simile 'like a tail' is suggestive of a snake, which is symbolic of the devil. The verb forged shows skill and effort- Marley spent his whole life's time and effort in his greed so is suffering the consequences. 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. How does the speaker begin and end "Incident"? Without the ghost of Christmas future, Scrooge wouldve been unlikely to change. "I wish you could have gone. 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 adjective idle reveals scrooge believes the poor are lazy and are to be blamed for their own situation. Scrooge will avoid spirits for the rest of his life geddit? Stave 2 - Scrooge's response to the ghost saying that it was only a small thing that Fezziwig did. The book also explores what you might call the true meaning of Christmas and while this might not be true from a Christian standpoint, from a morality/spiritual view, you could claim that it really does help to make that point. Stave one 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." 'Dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons'. As a result of this he was damned to walk as a ghost chained with money boxes surrounding him. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Version 1 December 2016 . Pre-modified adjectives create a sensory description -they remind scrooge of the delights of generosity and how it will create happiness. All rights reserved. I defy himif he finds me going there, in good temper, year after year, and saying, Uncle Scrooge, how are you? If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds, thats something. () The famous phrase Humbug really means either shame or hoax. 6. The ribbon for the bookmark should be seven (inches, in) long. The boy is ignorance. The gothic was a popular genre in the Victorian age and would have seemed fitting for a ghost story to Victorian readers. 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. Dr Aidan, PhD, provides you with key quotes and analysis relating to the theme of 'Christmas'. ', 'Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts". It is through your support of visiting Book Analysis that we can support charities, such as Teenage Cancer Trust. Key quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. The dying fire at the beginning of the novel symbolizes Scrooges lack of either. 'A lonely boy was reading near a feeble fire'. The repetitive structure and short exclamations create the sense that he cannot put into words how happy he is. 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. 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.'. ". Of Mice and Men Section Overview . "Cherry cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears.". Fire symbolizes emotion and warmth. Themes= time/Christmas/generosity and forgiveness. Studying Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'? Dickens uses Tiny Tim to remind his readers of the story of Jesus performing miracles and his teaching of acceptance of all. Stave 3 - the ghost uses Scrooge's words against him Then write the form of that verb The simile has a snake like connotations, Marley is a symbol of evil. "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. With the title of the book being A Christmas Carol you would expect Christmas to feature prominently throughout the novel. I am as giddy as a drunken man. Themes= greed and generosity/Christmas/poverty. Ghost of Christmas Present, Stave 3, he warns that if Scrooge doesn't change himself that "doom" will be in his future. He is designed to show that the wealthy can make a significant difference. If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population. Stave 2 - Belle breaks off the engagement. They often came down handsomely, and Scrooge never did. This phrase is repeated to describe both Mrs Crarchit and her daughter. 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. "', The ghost of Christmas present focuses greatly on the Crachit family and how, despite their poor financial situation, In the Victorian era, family and family time were extremely important, particularly around Christmas, ' A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. Instant PDF downloads. The relative clause describing Tiny Tim reinforces the idea that it is Scrooge's actions that caused him to live. Themes= greed and generosity/Christmas. ', People with lots of money already are more likely to be greedy for more, not thinking about sharing that money with others effectively. 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. This is fitting because it is traditionally colder at Christmas but also because the cold is an apt metaphor for Scrooges personality. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop