When it was made you were another man. Marleys chains symbolize the mistakes hes made in life and the greed that controlled him. Being such a short story there is very little that is extraneous. Click the card to flip Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by AIC-CREATOR-TD Terms in this set (36) 'A lonely boy was reading near a feeble fire'. Stave 1 - why the portly gentlemen are collecting for the poor A happy New Year to all the world. "Are there no prisons?" The repetitive structure and short exclamations create the sense that he cannot put into words how happy he is. Stave 5 - The response of the portly gentleman to the money Scrooge wants to give him: Scrooge was better than his word. Whatever the book. A Christmas Carol Quotes 50 of the best book quotes from A Christmas Carol 01 Share "God bless us every one!" Charles Dickens author God person A Christmas Carol book Tiny Tim character christmas blessings concepts 02 Share "Every traveler has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering." Charles Dickens author They are likely to be of even higher class than Scrooge but are choosing to do good for the poor. said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. Refine any search. Whoever the author.Discover new and exciting books to dive into with our Book Explorer Tool. 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. Fezziwg really represents what Scrooge has and what he could (and eventually does) become. 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. She looked at me as if I had insulted her. 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!' ', 'Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts". Dickens clearly uses them to represent what employment should be like. ``Are there no workhouses? () *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. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. 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. Scrooges offences carry their own punishments. We can infer that the only other person he cared for was Marley and even that wasn't really because of a friendship. Ideas about purgatory and hell would have been recognisable to the mainly Christian readership at the time - and would have made the allegory more frightening. Then, choose the verb form that agrees in number with the subject. This is a great description, wanders around holding a candle snuffer that looks like a hat. 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. 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. And perhaps its because we know the story so well, or maybe because it is pretty obvious, most readers will probably understand that they are in fact commenting on Scrooge. It could also show that, as it has been so long since he was happy, he finds it difficult to describe. This mirrors the Victorian rich's attitude to the poor. Dickens also suggests that, through his adoration of a false god, he is no longer a good christian. Themes= greed and generosity/Christmas/poverty. Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. Fred, as Scrooge's foil, is a kind, forgiving character who is determined to give Scrooge the same chance every year. 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. My life tends that way, now., Bob Cratchit about Tiny Tims grave: I wish you could have gone. Gives the impression of a festive being, full of Christmas spirit. The speaker is clearly fed up with Scrooges behaviour and wants him to get to the end of his journey and realize his mistakes as soon as possible. Scrooge is not unfortunate in the way of relatives - he has a family awaiting his . Scrooges changing attitude is never better highlighted than in his initial responses to the three ghosts. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. 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 tone is impatient as he does so. The ghost of Christmas yet to come is a symbol of the effect that memories have on someone as they age. The two children Ignorance and Want represents the attitudes of the rich to the poor in Victorian society. Summary. The Ghost of Christmas Present greets Scrooge from on top of a pile of luxurious Christmas fare. 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. A description of the school house that Scrooge was left in as a child, by his family. 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. Shows Scrooge's inability to harness any other views that arent his. 6. 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. Whatever the genre. "The cold within him froze his old features", Early description of scrooge. 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. However, these are two children that he has no control over. There is no doubt . We are reminded of the contrast between the rendered status. 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 key theme for Dickens is that money does not lead to happiness, Greed is the single factor that is responsible for the breakup of Scrooge's marriage, 'Another idol has displaced me a golden one', Stave 2: 'The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune', The Cratchit family are used as a depiction of a family in poverty, More than any other time in history there was a huge divide between classes, the lower classes lived in deperate poverty and were in want while the upper classes enjoyed a life of luxury, Stave 1: 'Many thousands are in want of common necessities, sir and many hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts', Scrooge's staff selling off his old goods, Victorian aristocracy were very keen to remain ignorant about the sufferings of the poor. This means that Scrooge is implying Christmas was designed to trick and fool people into spending money. Such as the graveyard at the end. With in-depth analysis, this video aims to help you gain a greater understanding of the novella in a matter of minutes. They now drag him down in death, and hes forced to wander the earth, unable to undo what he did before. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. The adjectives squeezing and wrenching, etc., relate to how one should imagine him with money, refusing to let go of his wealth. Whatever the genre. The Fezziwigs throw a party and treat everyone the same - no matter their status. The innocence of the 'angel' and the 'schoolboy' contrast with the hellish image of Marley's ghost, showing the reader that he will be saved. The multiple similes emphasise Scrooge's joy and elation at his second chance. He is described as been so dislike that even the weather is better in that at least it 'comes down' gracefully. "His eyes sparkled and his breath smocked.". "[He called out in a] comfortable,oily, rich. He must have slept through a whole day and half a night. Stave 2 - The first of the three spirits 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 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. Use if fairy tale convention, shows the story will have a magical ending. The description of the children is designed to shock the reader. They are mans. Dickens though that this was wrong and aimed to change perception, 'Mankind was my business. The style of A Christmas Carol is conversational and direct. All rights reserved. Scrooge realises that his love with money is the reason he pushed everyone away. Both have religious connotations and suggest a true depth of despair at his previous notions. Stave 2 - the spirit takes him to past Christmases including seeing Scrooge alone at school. "Its genial face, its sparking eye, its open hand. Hangman - Try to complete the word by picking the correct letters. The verb 'shrouded' makes explicit reference to death which is reinforced by the 'deep black' of its clothes. 2003-2023 Chegg Inc. All rights reserved. What I think is really clever is that the story is framed so that when we see the ghost of Christmas past, seeing the things that shaped Scrooge into the man he is at the beginning of the play starts to let us feel sympathy for him so that when he is offered a second chance as a reader, we are glad he gets to redeem himself. His description of the setting suggests that poverty has bred crime and deep unhappiness. The noun unanimity suggests that he is happy to be involved. Instant PDF downloads. ', '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. Charles Dickens only really scratched the surface of this. 'It was a strange figurelike a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man'. "It was a large house but one of broken fortunes.". No, Spirit! The verb forged shows skill and effort- Marley spent his whole life's time and effort in his greed so is suffering the consequences. Stave 5 - Scrooge walks the streets enjoying the company of others. Spirit! he cried, tight clutching at his robe, hear me! Themes= greed and generosity/ time. Walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds. 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. Analysis. Scrooge has undergone a metamorphoses - he has literally been reborn as a new man. He listens for the church bell but when it comes, it strikes twelve. Underline the verb phrase in each sentence. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse! Stave 3 - Scrooge asks if Tiny Tim will live, having been moved by his goodness. Studying Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'? In what ways does the text indicate lbn Batutta's social status? The boy is ignorace - the lack of education and the girl is want - the lack of money. The Cratchits are generous and loving in very difficult circumstances. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish. Bitter- "no wind that blew was bitterer than he. Without the trauma from Scrooges youth and the death of his sister, Fran, its unlikely that he wouldve become the person that he did. I am as giddy as a drunken man., Scrooge was better than his word. 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. "Business!" ". as if its hold were of uncommon strength." 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. Partially because of the nature of its main character. Whoop! The synonyms 'alone' and 'by himself' emphasise again the loneliness of the life he has chosen. Stave 5 - the bells ring 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. The opening line says, ''Marley was dead: to begin with. Accessed 4 March 2023. - 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. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Christmas Carol, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Their terrible behaviour is a consequence of the ignorance and want that Dickens personified in stave 3. He is designed to show that the wealthy can make a significant difference. "Every person has a right to take care of themselves. Recognizing Progressive Forms and Tenses. The noun 'idol' shows that Belle believes Scrooge is so enamoured of money that he worships it. Themes= poverty/family/greed and generosity. Jacob Marleys demise is possibly part of what shaped Scrooge into the person that he is. 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. Scrooge will avoid spirits for the rest of his life geddit? But it does share a lot of gothic conventions. Home Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis. Fire symbolizes emotion and warmth. Given an unexpected opportunity to communicateperhaps as a Christmas miracleMarley feels determined to help Scrooge and he warns him here. Themes= greed and generosity/ time. Thus Dickens is ending with the message that we can all change our selfish ways and be a positive influence. Here are some of the best 'A Christmas Carol' Scrooge quotes for this holiday season that will melt your heart. Of course, the fact that this is obvious does not detract from the big reveal due to the way that Dickens masterfully creates tension. "Quite alone in the world, I do believe.". What is interesting is that a lot of the traditions that Dickens writes about werent quite so commonplace before his novella. When you analyse poverty in A Christmas Carol, you may want to reference the setting as well as using direct quotes from characters. This is a great quote for highlighting the sort of character that Scrooge was in A Christmas Carol. Themes= family/poverty/greed and generosity. The problem is internal, within Scrooges heart. The conditional subordinate clause represents Scrooge's future actions. () The introduction of the portly gentlemen provide an opposition to Scrooge. Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words and was overcome with penitence and grief. This may be a way of showing what Dickens thinks should be happening. A description of the ghost of Christmas present. Scrooge's grave, by comparison to Tiny Tim's is 'overrun by weeds'. Dickens uses Tiny Tim to remind his readers of the story of Jesus performing miracles and his teaching of acceptance of all. With the title of the book being A Christmas Carol you would expect Christmas to feature prominently throughout the novel. The simile has a snake like connotations, Marley is a symbol of evil. Bovey, Lee-James "A Christmas Carol Quotes " Book Analysis, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. 'Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend and sole mourner'. 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. Throughout the book, Dickens makes use of metaphors, personification, imagery, and more. The case of this unhappy man might be my own. This is said by criminals who plundered/ stole from scrooge after he died. Themes= greed and generosity/time. "Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.". Exhausted- "i cannot rest,i cannot stay, i cannot linger anywhere.". The words of the charwoman, who disgusts Scrooge, in the rag 'n' bone man's shop reflect the views to which Scrooge subscribed at the start of the novella when he declared that the poor were not his 'business' implying that his only business was himself. Dickens was familiar with the terrible working conditions of the poor and campaigned for education of children. The simile 'like a tail' is suggestive of a snake, which is symbolic of the devil. 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 signed it. These include Scrooge's cold nature, the power of wealth, and loss. Ignorance could represent the wealthy upper classes who are ignorant of what they must do to help. As it is used in line 32 , the word reticent means the opposite of. This symbolises his generosity and air of festivity. The repetition of the adjective 'good' reinforces this idea. The reader does not know that Tim has died, so Dickens foreshadows his death through the use of the simile. Studying 'A Christmas Carol'? Hallo there! His narrator describes events as they happened and doesnt spend a great deal of time on extraneous details. ". Stave 2 - Scrooge becomes distressed by what he is seeing. Analysing the evidence "I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. Description of the Ghost of Christmas Past, Stave 2, the holly symbolises Christmas. "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. He has learned his lesson and been transformed from darkness into light - which is reflected in the world around him. 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'. The Victorian's would have seen this as fitting. Total Abstinence Principle more hilarious punning from Dickens. 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.