"I wish you could have gone. Scrooge realises that his love with money is the reason he pushed everyone away. This means that Scrooge is implying Christmas was designed to trick and fool people into spending money. Gives the impression of a festive being, full of Christmas spirit. Fan is portrayed with affection - and her term of endearment shows that Scrooge has known affection. 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. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish. With key quotes \u0026 analysis, this video provides an ideal format to gain a greater understanding of this novella in a matter of minutes. 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. Stave 2 - the spirit takes him to past Christmases including seeing Scrooge alone at school. A description of the ghost of Christmas past, who symbolises memory and who shows scrooge events from the past. Dickens uses Scrooge to show the extent of change that is possible in a small amount of time. I am as giddy as a drunken man. 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. 'A Christmas Carol' is a widely studied book filled with memorable quotes. It has harsh imagery and the symbolism of cold, shows he is lacking Christmas spirit. 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. "Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.". The childhood innocence has been 'shrivelled' and 'twisted' showing the ill effects of their treatment. ', 'Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts". The simile has connotations of stillness and endings. Stave 2 - the arrival of his sister, Fan "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop Accessed 4 March 2023. 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. There is no doubt . Refine any search. They often came down handsomely, and Scrooge never did. It acts as a mirror for Scrooges wealth and position but also as a stark contrast in approach. the strength of Scrooge's dismay about hearing his own words repeated back to him is reinforced through the use of the nouns, penitence and grief. He begins with no compassion for others but eventually learns a better way to live. This is fitting because it is traditionally colder at Christmas but also because the cold is an apt metaphor for Scrooges personality. It is through your support of visiting Book Analysis that we can support charities, such as Teenage Cancer Trust. 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! 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. Like an oyster, he keeps himself to himself, hidden beneath a hard shell that he uses to protect himself from the world. Themes= greed and generosity/ time. "Crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light." Description of the Ghost of Christmas Past, Stave 2, this ghost is much less scary than Marley which symbolises the innocence of childhood. Whoever the author.Discover new and exciting books to dive into with our Book Explorer Tool. Below one can explore the themes, symbols, and more that appear throughout the novel. 'Dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons'. "His eyes sparkled and his breath smocked.". Scrooge's sympathy for himself leads to sympathy for the carol singer from the night before. This poignant moment arrives when Scrooge is looking at Christmas yet to come. It is a dark, sad moment but Bob Cratchit handles the situation with grace and dignity. In this quote, Dickens describes London as a dark and dangerous place. The tone is impatient as he does so. People can change, but Scrooge has thus far been content with his situation. Exhausted- "i cannot rest,i cannot stay, i cannot linger anywhere.". Bitter- "no wind that blew was bitterer than he. 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. The verb 'shrouded' makes explicit reference to death which is reinforced by the 'deep black' of its clothes. This mirrors the Victorian rich's attitude to the poor. I am as giddy as a drunken man. 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. ', 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. Mr and Mrs Fezziwig ..'.shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas.'. phrase on the line at the right. "It was a large house but one of broken fortunes.". 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? ". The simile 'like a tail' is suggestive of a snake, which is symbolic of the devil. Scrooge can see the error of his ways and then acts accordingly to become a better person. The Ghost of Christmas Present greets Scrooge from on top of a pile of luxurious Christmas fare. Stave 5 - pathetic fallacy Jacob Marleys demise is possibly part of what shaped Scrooge into the person that he is. Dickens also suggests that, through his adoration of a false god, he is no longer a good christian. The simile shows Bobs wealth in his family; he values them more than money and so is content with their love. 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. With in-depth analysis, this video aims. This symbolises his generosity and air of festivity. 'Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend and sole mourner'. Ghost stories were very popular during the Victorian era. The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. Dickens, therefore, is attacking the Malthusian capitalist theories. With the title of the book being A Christmas Carol you would expect Christmas to feature prominently throughout the novel. 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. Of course, there is still a massive equality gap between the rich and the poor. Foul weather didnt know where to have him. 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. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop Hes comparing Cratchits actual body temperature to Scrooges personality. Dickens though that this was wrong and aimed to change perception, 'Mankind was my business. Scrooge makes explicit reference to the Malthusian idea that the population must decrease in order to create better conditions. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Use if fairy tale convention, shows the story will have a magical ending. () At the time, Camden town would have been a crowded suburb. A Christmas Carol is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a stingy, cruel, wealthy, old bachelor.The book opens with a funeral. Of course, the suggestion that people might be talking about him is beastly to Scrooge. Dr Aidan, PhD, provides you with key quotes and analysis relating to the theme of 'Christmas'. Ignorance could represent the wealthy upper classes who are ignorant of what they must do to help. The Ghost of Christmas yet to come is symbolic. ", 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. They are likely to be of even higher class than Scrooge but are choosing to do good for the poor. They were a boy and girl. No Way- he tells them that the poor should go and die then there would be less people in the world. "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. The adjective solitary and neglected highlight his feelings of loneliness and isolation, creating sympathy for him. His narrator describes events as they happened and doesnt spend a great deal of time on extraneous details. Ultimately he tries to extinguish the ghost's light. Scrooge is presented as a miserly character - his money does not even bring him any happiness. Example: The scientist, along with her two assistants, (is, are) working on a computer simulation of earthquake activity. Scrooge listened to this dialogue in horror he viewed them with a detestation and disgust. Scrooge awakes and finds his room as dark as when he fell asleep at two o'clock. The idea that they shake hands with each person 'individually' shows the humanity with which they treat everyone - they do not see the poor as 'creatures' I am not the man I was. 2. The adjectives squeezing and wrenching, etc., relate to how one should imagine him with money, refusing to let go of his wealth. This is a great description, wanders around holding a candle snuffer that looks like a hat. Marleys chains symbolize the mistakes hes made in life and the greed that controlled him. The father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs. God bless us!, At the time people rid themselves of any guilt by blaming the poor for the fact they were poor. Scrooge's language has been formal and official: here he is informal, natural and joyous. "', 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. A description of the school house that Scrooge was left in as a child, by his family. 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. Any study of the time will tell you about the working conditions for the lower classes. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse! 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. I can't afford to make idle people merry.". So while he did not invent these particular traditions many people credit him with popularizing them. She looked at me as if I had insulted her. The girl is want. Shows Scrooge's inability to harness any other views that arent his. however, her reference to their father suggests that he had not been kind in the past, thus reinforcing our sympathy. This is a great quote for highlighting the sort of character that Scrooge was in A Christmas Carol. In many ways, it is the child who can most tug on Scrooges heartstrings. - Scrooge, Is scrooges staple opinion to christmas at the start of stave one, showing off his negative opinions to begin with, this is used to emphasise the change in scrooges character from the beginning to the end. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Stave 1 - why the portly gentlemen are collecting for the poor Stave 1 - Scrooge's response to the gentlemen saying that people would rather die than go to the workhouse. The metaphor shows that the school didn't help any student achieve their dreams, instead it destroyed their lives as they could not fulfil their potential. Bovey, Lee-James "A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis " Book Analysis, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. jovial voice.". He did it all and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father., He knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the Knowledge.. This went against what Victorians considered to be a 'good death' where you die surrounded by friends and family and then are mourned afterwards. That being said the fact that Marley is suffering damnation suggests that he too led a similar path to Scrooge. Stave 2 - Belle breaks off the engagement. Stave 2 - Belle's husband tells Belle about seeing Scrooge. 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 If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population. Whatever the genre. The word 'business' reflects Scrooge's earlier response to the portly gentlemen. ', '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. Total Abstinence Principle more hilarious punning from Dickens. Dickens wished to educate people about the personal consequences of maintaining such an attitude, Scrooge's former staff can be seen selling of his old things as they were not paid sufficiently when he was alive, Stave 1/3: 'If he be like to die, he better do it and decrease the surplus population', Stave 3: 'wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable', Stave 3: 'The girl is ignorance, the boy is want', 'it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. The ghost of Christmas presents it sitting on a throne of food. Here, Scrooge is talking about Fezziwig and how he uses his wealth to lift others up. 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. 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. They now drag him down in death, and hes forced to wander the earth, unable to undo what he did before. A Christmas Carol is rarely classified as a gothic novel. This may be a way of showing what Dickens thinks should be happening. 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. 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. You could make a strong argument for this being a tale of redemption. However, these are two children that he has no control over. However, this in itself would probably not have been enough to alter his ways. 'a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! 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. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! "If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population." It is too much linked to his miserly ways thus suggesting that the learning is not finished yet. Draw one line under each main verb and two lines under each auxiliary verb. 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. However, some of the scenes are to help develop Scrooge's character and add backstory. However, how the poor were treated was far more extreme in Victorian England. A Christmas Carol Key Quotes Major Themes Major characters How to revise effectively Isolation and loneliness Ebenezer Scrooge One mistake people often make is to try to revise EVERYTHING. The verbs suggest age, disfiguration and pain suggesting how unnatural their conditions are that have led to this. Given an unexpected opportunity to communicateperhaps as a Christmas miracleMarley feels determined to help Scrooge and he warns him here. "Every person has a right to take care of themselves. Bovey, Lee-James "A Christmas Carol Quotes " Book Analysis, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. Stave 3 - ignorance and want 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 workers will be repairing the building. The Fezziwigs throw a party and treat everyone the same - no matter their status. 5. My life tends that way, now., Bob Cratchit about Tiny Tims grave: I wish you could have gone. The repetition of the adjective 'good' reinforces this idea. However, it could also be argued that ignorance reflects the lack of education of the poor. 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. 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. 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. ), 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. Themes= greed and generosity/time. Stave 4 - the final ghost A description of Fezziwig, a rich merchant t whom Scrooge is apprentice. '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 boy is ignorance.most of all beware the boy"-Stave 3-Ghost of Christmas present Metaphor. A merry Christmas to everybody! Key quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Hallo there! Who suffers by his ill whims? The noun cell has connotations of Bob being imprisoned by scrooge. However, some of the scenes are to help develop Scrooges character and add backstory. Scrooge. Themes= greed and generosity/ time. patience and hope fro them. 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. A Christmas Carol is a widely studied book filled with memorable quotes. These include Scrooge's cold nature, the power of wealth, and loss. Stave 3 - Scrooge asks if Tiny Tim will live, having been moved by his goodness. Of Mice and Men Section Overview . He is designed to show that the wealthy can make a significant difference. 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. Scrooges changing attitude is never better highlighted than in his initial responses to the three ghosts. Stave 5 - the bells ring A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Version 1 December 2016 . I think he wanted to make it accessible to all classes so he could better spread his message. I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. 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. Setting includes not only the physical surroundings, but also the ideas, customs, values, and beliefs of a particular time and place. Stave 2 - Scrooge becomes distressed by what he is seeing. Themes= greed and generosity/time. The final ghost appears as a phantom a spectre dressed in black: clearly an image of The Grim Reaper himself. Part of the reason that A Christmas Carol is so widely studied is the abundance of different themes that it touches upon. 'Long and wound about him like a tail made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds and heavy purses.'. The shortness of the main clause at the end makes the message more shocking. Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words and was overcome with penitence and grief. 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. When it was made you were another man. This shows scrooges selfishness and his addiction to money with belle feeling replace with money she feels like she doesnt matter to him and that all he cares about is money. No, Spirit! 6. Studying 'A Christmas Carol'? Shows Bob's place of work, and shows scrooges harsh treatment on him. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. All rights reserved. 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. Each sentence below contains a verb Glorious! Belle "Our contract is an old one. Scrooge becomes part of two families: Dickens reveals that we are part of not only our blood relatives but also a wider family that of society. In many ways the vision works like memory can do: it changes depending on perspectives or moods. Studying Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'? Home Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis. We can infer that the only other person he cared for was Marley and even that wasn't really because of a friendship.