He always did.". The noun unanimity suggests that he is happy to be involved. Ultimately he tries to extinguish the ghost's light. 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. 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. Mrs Cratchit, although poor, represents the family's will to make the best of things - to celebrate in spite of their poverty. 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. Fire symbolizes emotion and warmth. Her gown is poor but she is 'brave in ribbons'. He spreads joy over all like a force of nature. Draw an arrow from each underlined word to the word it modifies. With in-depth analysis, this video aims. 'It was a strange figurelike a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man'. Copyright2007 - 2023 Revision World Networks Ltd. 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. You must cook those fresh eggs for that kind of special salad. All rights reserved. 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. This again leads back to Dickens' idea of collective responsibility - that everything that we do influences others. His narrator describes events as they happened and doesnt spend a great deal of time on extraneous details. Tail has connotations of the devil- reinforcing evil image. These cover themes like wealth, poverty, Christmas, and kindness. Hangman - Try to complete the word by picking the correct letters. Fred is unrelenting in his attempts to change his uncles way of thinking. We are reminded of the contrast between the rendered status. The verb sparkled has magical and positive connotations, shows Fred is the antithesis of scrooge. A happy New Year to all the world! Stave 2 - Belle breaks off the engagement. 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. The list of adjectives show his wealth but also his warmth and generosity towards others. A merry Christmas to you.". With the title of the book being A Christmas Carol you would expect Christmas to feature prominently throughout the novel. He greets Scrooge with a drink that makes him feel good: the milk of human kindness though one could be forgiven for seeing an alcoholic connection and then takes him on a tour of Christmases around the country. Hallo there! '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. 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. 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. For each of the following sentences, identify the subject of the verb in parentheses. You could make a strong argument for this being a tale of redemption. 'a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! This shows that scrooge is only hurting himself by being so money orientated it doesnt affect his family but does himself. Home Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis. The image of the oyster is almost perfect for Scrooge at this stage in the book. "If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.". Arguably, this is the most famous quote from A Christmas Carol. The adjective monstrous, creates a negative impression of the man, almost evil, and reinforces Dickens message that it was the ignorance of the rich that created many society's problems. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. Of course, there is still a massive equality gap between the rich and the poor. Charles Dickens only really scratched the surface of this. 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! His house is dark - which reflects the darkness in his character and also adds to the gothic atmosphere of his house. The ribbons are her means of dressing more festively. Whatever the book. ". The relative clause describing Tiny Tim reinforces the idea that it is Scrooge's actions that caused him to live. International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, 2023 Book Analysis. Himself, always. ', 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 gothic was a popular genre in the Victorian age and would have seemed fitting for a ghost story to Victorian readers. 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. He teaches scrooge to learn from his mistakes of his past. 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. Stave 3 - the ghost uses Scrooge's words against him ', 'Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts". In this way, like a patient completing therapy, he has faced his past, but can now move on. 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. 'A lonely boy was reading near a feeble fire'. The word 'business' reflects Scrooge's earlier response to the portly gentlemen. Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents. The reader does not know that Tim has died, so Dickens foreshadows his death through the use of the simile. "Cherry cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears.". Stave 3 - Scrooge's willingness to learn 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. It has harsh imagery and the symbolism of cold, shows he is lacking Christmas spirit. Scrooge's grave, by comparison to Tiny Tim's is 'overrun by weeds'. Whoop! She looked at me as if I had insulted her. However, inside that shell - like Scrooge - the oyster is soft and vulnerable. A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Stave 5 - description of Scrooge's redemption Scrooge is not unfortunate in the way of relatives - he has a family awaiting his . Stave 1 - description of Scrooge's relationship with Marley. Studying Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'? The onomatopoetic verb 'gasping' makes the reader explicitly imagine the death, suggesting struggle and pain. Summary. Stave 3 - ignorance and want "Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.". I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Timshall weor this first parting that there was among us? 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. 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. () At the time, Camden town would have been a crowded suburb. Stave 3 - Scrooge asks if Tiny Tim will live, having been moved by his goodness. Stave 5 - Scrooge walks the streets enjoying the company of others. Oh! Their terrible behaviour is a consequence of the ignorance and want that Dickens personified in stave 3. Example: The scientist, along with her two assistants, (is, are) working on a computer simulation of earthquake activity. I think he wanted to make it accessible to all classes so he could better spread his message. 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. Setting includes not only the physical surroundings, but also the ideas, customs, values, and beliefs of a particular time and place. On this page, readers can explore the quotes, they are broadly separated into a few sub-categories. The simile 'like a tail' is suggestive of a snake, which is symbolic of the devil. Dr Aidan, PhD, provides you with the 10 key quotes in Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', along with in-depth analysis, to he. Hallo there! Perfect for those studying the book at school (particularly GCSE students) or simply those wanting to learn more about it.For more in Dr Aidan's 'A Christmas Carol' series:The 10 Most Important Quotes in A Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/8wpegV4ueYYPicture credits: Grim Reaper: openclipart.comCornucopia: openclipart.com ". It also explains why he becomes hard and sharp like a flint, later on. I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. These morally repugnant, ugly people are simply treating Scrooge the way he treated others and he is horrified. 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. however, her reference to their father suggests that he had not been kind in the past, thus reinforcing our sympathy. Workhouses were a terrible place and menial and dangerous jobs such as sweeping chimneys still existed. Inclusive now of society - not isolated and solitary. Repetition of 'chuckle' emphasises Scrooge's newfound delight in giving. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. I am as giddy as a drunken man. Exhausted- "i cannot rest,i cannot stay, i cannot linger anywhere.". 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. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. 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'. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. They often came down handsomely, and Scrooge never did. Stave 4 - Bob's reaction to Tiny Tim's death Why show me this, if I am past all hope! For the first time, the hand appeared to shake. People can change, but Scrooge has thus far been content with his situation. Dickens, therefore, is attacking the Malthusian capitalist theories. scientist; is. The noun 'idol' shows that Belle believes Scrooge is so enamoured of money that he worships it. To Kill a Mockingbird -Analysis of Major Characters. The Cratchits are generous and loving in very difficult circumstances. Stave 2 - Scrooge becomes distressed by what he is seeing. The noun 'father' shows the idea that one laugh leads to another - happiness breeds happiness. The spirit of Christmas is personified in his open heart, open hand, and outstretched arm. The repetition of the adjective 'good' reinforces this idea. Compare the different settings in "Grape Sherbet" Describe each setting using details from the poem. Themes= time/Christmas/generosity and forgiveness. Underline the word or symbol in parentheses that best completes each sentence. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Christmas Carol, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Here, Scrooge is talking about Fezziwig and how he uses his wealth to lift others up. 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. Ghost of Christmas Present, Stave 3, he warns that if Scrooge doesn't change himself that "doom" will be in his future. He always did!". Dr Aidan, PhD, provides you with key quotes and analysis relating to the theme of 'Christmas'. In what ways does the text indicate lbn Batutta's social status? But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and. 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 use of pathetic fallacy shows that he is in direct opposition to anyone who tries to help him. It is uncared for just as he was uncared for, gasping out his last alone. Theme= poverty/greed and generosity. Dickens was familiar with the terrible working conditions of the poor and campaigned for education of children. Analysing the evidence "I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. Stave 1 - description of Marley's ghost I am as giddy as a drunken man. Active Themes Being such a short story there is very little that is extraneous. My life tends that way, now., Bob Cratchit about Tiny Tims grave: I wish you could have gone. Themes= Christmas/greed and generosity/family. But, they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another and contented with the time. 'This boy is ignorance.most of all beware the boy"-Stave 3-Ghost of Christmas present Metaphor. The Christmas Spirit By Section Stave One: Marley's Ghost Stave Two: The First of the Three Spirits Stave Three: The Second of the Three Spirits Stave Four: The Last of the Spirits Stave Five: The End of It By Character Ebenezer Scrooge Bob Cratchit Fred Jacob Marley The Ghost of Christmas Past The Ghost of Christmas Present I am not the man I was. "Its genial face, its sparking eye, its open hand. However, it could also be argued that ignorance reflects the lack of education of the poor. The Spirit pointed from the grave to him, and back again. Spirit! he cried, tight clutching at his robe, hear me! Thus Dickens is ending with the message that we can all change our selfish ways and be a positive influence. Any study of the time will tell you about the working conditions for the lower classes. ', 'secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The childhood innocence has been 'shrivelled' and 'twisted' showing the ill effects of their treatment. So we have tried where possible to focus on the most vital sections of the novella. Bell, dong, ding; hammer, clang, clash! 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 5 - Scrooge's reaction to discovering it is not too late Ghost stories were very popular during the Victorian era. Stave 5 - The response of the portly gentleman to the money Scrooge wants to give him: Scrooge was better than his word. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them. A description of the ghost of Christmas past, who symbolises memory and who shows scrooge events from the past. This compares directly with the explicit description of Scrooge at the start of the novel where even beggars will not speak to him. Hallo!" Click the card to flip Definition 1 / 5 This compounds our sympathy for the Cratchit's as Tim was a symbol of innocence. The Fezziwigs throw a party and treat everyone the same - no matter their status. as if its hold were of uncommon strength." 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.'. This is said by criminals who plundered/ stole from scrooge after he died. The adjective 'brave' suggests that the Cratchit's approach to life is noble and admirable - but not easy. They are mans. ), phrases like holding a candle for someone mean to remember them, while candles are used in c. Scrooge finishes the stave by putting out the candle, which shows him symbolically putting down his past leaving behind the resentment he has harboured at having lost his childhood to neglect. Scrooge can see the error of his ways and then acts accordingly to become a better person. forgiving- "to Mr Scrooge, the founder of the feast.". Describes Fred, who is a symbol of Christmas spirit. The 10 Most Important Quotes in A Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/8wpegV4ueYY'The Ghosts' in A Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/15HiKFCMEyk'Scrooge' in A Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/c2x9wiRRFQYQuick, relaxed, and informative, Dr Aidan's Guide to Literature aims to make literature accessible to everyone. 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. Whatever the book. Themes= family/time/poverty. () A famous geographer Thomas Malthus came up with the theory that the poor were just surplus population and thus should be left to their own devices - even if this meant letting them die. Oh, glorious, glorious! 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. enthusiastic- "a merry Christmas uncle. Themes= poverty/family/greed and generosity. The image of the 'lonely boy near a feeble fire' reflects very closely the older Scrooge we have seen, alone eating gruel. Themes= time/Christmas, "A solitary child, neglected by his friends.". Then, identify each underlined word by writing above it ADV for adverb or ADJ for adjective. 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. ", 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. The ghost of Christmas yet to come is a symbol of the effect that memories have on someone as they age. 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. Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. 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. Here, we get the image of a country that is united during this time of year; a place where Christmas and Britishness are inextricably linked, which would have been incredibly popular for a Victorian audience who were in the throws of empire building. ', People with lots of money already are more likely to be greedy for more, not thinking about sharing that money with others effectively. Here in this quote, one can see Dickens playing with literal and figurative meanings to great effect. The declarative 'will' conveys certainty showing how urgent it is that Scrooge change. A Christmas Carol Key Quotes and Analysis. "Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?". Partially because of the nature of its main character. 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. No Way- he tells them that the poor should go and die then there would be less people in the world. Of course, the fact that this is obvious does not detract from the big reveal due to the way that Dickens masterfully creates tension. The adjectives: genial show his joy/ cheer, sparkling presents tense- has connotations of light and magic and open emphasises his generosity.Themes= greed and generosity/Christmas. The ghost is dressed in green reminiscent both of the Green Man from Pagan mythology, and also the traditional character of St Nicholas or Father Christmas, who has more recently come to symbolise the holiday period. 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. We have never had any quarrel, to which I have been a party. Contrasting similes emphasise his god like figure- he is at once innocent and knowledgeable. Scrooge's sympathy for himself leads to sympathy for the carol singer from the night before. Accessed 4 March 2023. A merry Christmas to everybody! "It was a large house but one of broken fortunes.". 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. With in-depth analysis, this video aims to help you gain a greater understanding of the novella in a matter of minutes. However, some of the scenes are to help develop Scrooges character and add backstory. Themes= family/greed and generosity/ time. However, how the poor were treated was far more extreme in Victorian England. A Christmas Carol is a widely studied book filled with memorable quotes. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. Scrooge is presented as a miserly character - his money does not even bring him any happiness. These include Scrooge's cold nature, the power of wealth, and loss. Each sentence below contains a verb The noun phantom has negatives connotations in contrast to the more positive spirits - once again, warning scrooge of his fate if he doesn't change his ways. The problem is internal, within Scrooges heart. So while he did not invent these particular traditions many people credit him with popularizing them. Bitter- "no wind that blew was bitterer than he. Themes= greed and generosity of the poor. His selfish ways have left him this way. Stave 2 - the Fezziwig's party However, this in itself would probably not have been enough to alter his ways. Key quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Without the ghost of Christmas future, Scrooge wouldve been unlikely to change. 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." Such as the graveyard at the end. Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words and was overcome with penitence and grief. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Version 1 December 2016 . The Ghost of Christmas yet to come is symbolic. In this quote, Dickens describes London as a dark and dangerous place. Stave 2 - Scrooge's response to the ghost saying that it was only a small thing that Fezziwig did. The two children Ignorance and Want represents the attitudes of the rich to the poor in Victorian society. 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. 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. Below one can explore the themes, symbols, and more that appear throughout the novel. Seven Years 3. Recognizing Progressive Forms and Tenses. Family Theme Analysis. Instant PDF downloads. My little, little child!'' "Are there no prisons?" Themes= greed and generosity/ time. 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. Fred, as Scrooge's foil, is a kind, forgiving character who is determined to give Scrooge the same chance every 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. 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 The use of light throughout the novel suggests the truth/ the right path which Scrooge at first does not want to see. The father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs. 'A Christmas Carol' is a widely studied book filled with memorable quotes. The simile has a snake like connotations, Marley is a symbol of evil. Dickens uses Tiny Tim to remind his readers of the story of Jesus performing miracles and his teaching of acceptance of all. There is a very real suggestion that Scrooge knows that the people are describing him. The noun 'contract' reflects the language of business - reflecting the change that Scrooge has undergone. Bovey, Lee-James "A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis " Book Analysis, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. Then there are some of the settings contained in A Christmas Carol. 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. Oh! 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.