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. Whoop! ', 'Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts". This went against what Victorians considered to be a 'good death' where you die surrounded by friends and family and then are mourned afterwards. Belle "Our contract is an old one. 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.'. Accessed 4 March 2023. She looked at me as if I had insulted her. Hangman - Try to complete the word by picking the correct letters. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. 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. Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. The two children are the personification of man's ills - ignorance and want. Oh, glorious! But it does share a lot of gothic conventions. 6. 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. Dickens uses Scrooge to show the extent of change that is possible in a small amount of time. They are mans. Y. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. "He hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple and it might be pleasant for them to remember on Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.". Ghost of Christmas Present, Stave 3, he warns that if Scrooge doesn't change himself that "doom" will be in his future. Invite Scrooge to come for Christmas dinner 4. This mirrors the Victorian rich's attitude to the poor. 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 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. Contrasting similes emphasise his god like figure- he is at once innocent and knowledgeable. "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. The verbs suggest age, disfiguration and pain suggesting how unnatural their conditions are that have led to this. God bless us!, At the time people rid themselves of any guilt by blaming the poor for the fact they were poor. 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. 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. uses long and short clauses to show how busy they are. The last line of A Christmas Carol is God bless us, everyone. Its spoken by the well-loved character Tiny Tim. A description of Fezziwig, a rich merchant t whom Scrooge is apprentice. () The introduction of the portly gentlemen provide an opposition to Scrooge. 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. 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. "Mankind was my business. 'It was a strange figurelike a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man'. 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 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. As we will later learn, his bitterness originates at Christmas time and has warped his perspective of it. 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. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. 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'. Themes= poverty/family/greed and generosity. Themes= family/greed and generosity/ time. Instead, once you know and understand the plot, a great idea is to pick three or four major themes, and three or four major characters, and revise them in great detail. 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. He is described as been so dislike that even the weather is better in that at least it 'comes down' gracefully. The noun cell has connotations of Bob being imprisoned by scrooge. Does this line support or contradict the speaker's statement in the final stanza, "Nothing really happened"? The simile has connotations of stillness and endings. that this creature, who appears to be both young and old, is an image of Jesus who was a baby at Christmas and yet who, as the son of God, represents the divine wisdom that Christians worship. "Business!" Oh! Stave 4 - About Scrooge's grave: ". The multiple similes emphasise Scrooge's joy and elation at his second chance. Himself. Summary. Stave 2 - Belle's husband tells Belle about seeing Scrooge. When it was made you were another man. "Are there no prisons?" That being said the fact that Marley is suffering damnation suggests that he too led a similar path to Scrooge. His description of the setting suggests that poverty has bred crime and deep unhappiness. Like an oyster, he keeps himself to himself, hidden beneath a hard shell that he uses to protect himself from the world. ), 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. In the first stave of A Christmas Carol, the following quote is really important in characterizing Scrooge:. We are reminded of the contrast between the rendered status. Scrooges changing attitude is never better highlighted than in his initial responses to the three ghosts. ', "Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it.". Ultimately he tries to extinguish the ghost's light. Stave 5 - description of Scrooge's redemption Oh, glorious, glorious! I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. 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. All rights reserved. Repetition of 'chuckle' emphasises Scrooge's newfound delight in giving. Tiny Tim's comment is generous in spirit, seeing his disability positively as it will remind others of the true meaning of Christmas by allowing them to think of Jesus on Christmas day. 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. Stave 2 - the spirit takes him to past Christmases including seeing Scrooge alone at school. 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. The adjectives squeezing and wrenching, etc., relate to how one should imagine him with money, refusing to let go of his wealth. It is through your support of visiting Book Analysis that we can support charities, such as Teenage Cancer Trust. "Quite alone in the world, I do believe.". Hallo there! 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. The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it costs a fortune. 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. However, inside that shell - like Scrooge - the oyster is soft and vulnerable. Here in this quote, one can see Dickens playing with literal and figurative meanings to great effect. 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. Recognizing Progressive Forms and Tenses. phrase on the line at the right. However, some of the scenes are to help develop Scrooge's character and add backstory. Stave 3 - the ghost uses Scrooge's words against him 'A Christmas Carol' is a widely studied book filled with memorable quotes. Whereas the line about being solitary as an oyster suggests that Scrooge refuses to let anybody into his life. The metaphor shows he is rigid in his unfeeling behaviour to others. Fan is portrayed with affection - and her term of endearment shows that Scrooge has known affection. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. 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. My little, little child!'' They were a boy and girl. Key quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. He listens for the church bell but when it comes, it strikes twelve. My life tends that way, now., Bob Cratchit about Tiny Tims grave: I wish you could have gone. A merry Christmas to everybody! The case of this unhappy man might be my own. When he sees Tiny Tim and his jubilance despite his disadvantages, Scrooge cannot help but feel compassion and by association guilt, as he has seen from the effect Fezziwg had on his staff that he could have a similar influence on Tiny Tim. Description of the Ghost of Christmas Past, Stave 2, the holly symbolises Christmas. "It was a large house but one of broken fortunes.". Scrooge's language has been formal and official: here he is informal, natural and joyous. Shows Scrooge's inability to harness any other views that arent his. ". Of Mice and Men Section Overview . A description of how the Cratchit family mourned the death of Tiny Tim. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. 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. Scrooge will avoid spirits for the rest of his life geddit? Of course, the suggestion that people might be talking about him is beastly to Scrooge. These words are then used against him by the ghost of the Christmas present. The spirit of Christmas is personified in his open heart, open hand, and outstretched arm. Dr Aidan, PhD, provides you with key quotes and analysis relating to the theme of 'Christmas'. "[He called out in a] comfortable,oily, rich. Dr Aidan, PhD, brings you the second video. The style of A Christmas Carol is conversational and direct. However, the verb 'profit' still has a hint of selfishness - as well as an implication of individual, even material, gain. This again leads back to Dickens' idea of collective responsibility - that everything that we do influences others. He teaches scrooge to learn from his mistakes of his past. The ghost of Christmas future symbolizes death and the mistakes that are sure to haunt him after his death. 'Dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons'. 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. A merry Christmas to everybody! A Christmas Carol Key Quotes and Analysis. No Way- he tells them that the poor should go and die then there would be less people in the world. Stave 5 - The response of the portly gentleman to the money Scrooge wants to give him: Scrooge was better than his word. The synonyms 'alone' and 'by himself' emphasise again the loneliness of the life he has chosen. Mrs Cratchit, although poor, represents the family's will to make the best of things - to celebrate in spite of their poverty. Discuss why you think the poet made these choices. I am as giddy as a drunken man. Stave 2 - Belle breaks off the engagement. 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. 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. The childhood innocence has been 'shrivelled' and 'twisted' showing the ill effects of their treatment. Stave 3 - Scrooge asks if Tiny Tim will live, having been moved by his goodness. Themes= Christmas/greed and generosity/family. But, they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another and contented with the time. This may be a way of showing what Dickens thinks should be happening. The Ghost of Christmas Present greets Scrooge from on top of a pile of luxurious Christmas fare. This has a double meaning both as a sympathetic term of endearment and also the fact that thanks to Scrooge the man is literally poor. He must have slept through a whole day and half a night. 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. I can't afford to make idle people merry.". The noun 'idol' shows that Belle believes Scrooge is so enamoured of money that he worships it. "The noisy little Cratchit's were as still as status". Themes= greed and generosity/Christmas. sungiemarie. In this way, like a patient completing therapy, he has faced his past, but can now move on. 2. cried Bob. "Every person has a right to take care of themselves. 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. Tail has connotations of the devil- reinforcing evil image. It could also show that, as it has been so long since he was happy, he finds it difficult to describe. With key quotes \u0026 analysis, this video provides an ideal format to gain a greater understanding of this novella in a matter of minutes. Setting can help create an atmosphere or mood in a literary work. Hallo!" Click the card to flip Definition 1 / 5 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. Stave 2 - Belle breaks off the engagement 'a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! With in-depth analysis, this video aims to help you gain a greater understanding of the novella in a matter of minutes. The most clearly religious image though is how it wears a tunic of purest white, as though it is a pure, innocent Angel sent to guide him. 2003-2023 Chegg Inc. All rights reserved. Stave 3 - Scrooge's willingness to learn 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. No, Spirit! Charles Dickens only really scratched the surface of this. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse! 1. 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. Analysis. However, how the poor were treated was far more extreme in Victorian England. So, therefore, we should take responsibility for being a positive influence. Studying A Christmas Carol? The list of adjectives show his wealth but also his warmth and generosity towards others. The verb sparkled has magical and positive connotations, shows Fred is the antithesis of scrooge. So we have tried where possible to focus on the most vital sections of the novella. About Scrooge: As solitary as an oyster., External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge., If they would rather die, said Scrooge, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population., Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it., Marleys Ghost: Mankind was my business., Marleys Ghost: I am here to-night to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate., There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. You must cook those fresh eggs for that kind of special salad. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. 'This boy is ignorance.most of all beware the boy"-Stave 3-Ghost of Christmas present Metaphor. Whatever the book. In what ways did Louis XV differ from Louis XIV? 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". Themes= greed and generosity/ time. A Christmas Carol is a well-loved and commonly read novel that focuses on themes of Christmas and poverty. This is said by criminals who plundered/ stole from scrooge after he died. It is too much linked to his miserly ways thus suggesting that the learning is not finished yet. The fog has lifted and Scrooge can 'see' the truth. 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. With in-depth analysis, this video aims. These include Scrooge's cold nature, the power of wealth, and loss. Oh! Total Abstinence Principle more hilarious punning from Dickens. Stave 2 - the arrival of his sister, Fan Studying 'A Christmas Carol'? Theme= poverty/greed and generosity. I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Timshall weor this first parting that there was among us? '', Stave 3 - the ghost uses Scrooge's words against him when he asks where there is refuge for the children, ignorance and want. This is another quote where Dickens draws on the semantic field of the cold weather. Oh, no, no! The finger was still there. I am as giddy as a drunken man., Scrooge was better than his word. ", "there's a cold within him" that "froze his old features", sociable- "wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity".