The word 'business' reflects Scrooge's earlier response to the portly gentlemen. The reader does not know that Tim has died, so Dickens foreshadows his death through the use of the simile. This reminds us of Freds line during the beginning of the book a phrase that Dickens later called The Carol Philosophy: It is only during Christmas that we open our shut up hearts and think of each other as being fellow passengers to the grave and not other beings on some other journey. During this section, Scrooge is reminded that we all die in the end, it is the only sure thing in life, and that all we have to work with is the short time that we have down here. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. This quote shows Ebenezer Scrooge's miserly, miserable attitude toward Christmas at the opening of the story; he is obsessed with his money and has no time for festivities, family, or joy. Studying Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'? "Are there no prisons?" Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. His narrator describes events as they happened and doesnt spend a great deal of time on extraneous details. "[He called out in a] comfortable,oily, rich. Stave 1 - description of Marley's ghost It is through your support of visiting Book Analysis that we can support charities, such as Teenage Cancer Trust. Whatever the genre. 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. Tiny Tim is frequently referred to in Christian terms - as though his true goodness is close to God. 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. Along with the words, 'sole' and 'solitary' used throughout the novel to suggest that each individual must take responsibility for his own choices - just as Marley is paying for his individual sins. But it does share a lot of gothic conventions. It acts as a mirror for Scrooges wealth and position but also as a stark contrast in approach. But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and. enthusiastic- "a merry Christmas uncle. Dr Aidan, PhD, brings you the second video in his 'A Christmas Carol' series, looking here at the role and importance of the ghosts in this story. Bell, dong, ding; hammer, clang, clash! Invite Scrooge to come for Christmas dinner 4. The two children are the personification of man's ills - ignorance and want. It has harsh imagery and the symbolism of cold, shows he is lacking Christmas spirit. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. The simile 'like a tail' is suggestive of a snake, which is symbolic of the devil. Stave 5 - The response of the portly gentleman to the money Scrooge wants to give him: Scrooge was better than his word. Her gown is poor but she is 'brave in ribbons'. 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. sungiemarie. He is cheerful and oily where scrooge is cold and sharp. His house is dark - which reflects the darkness in his character and also adds to the gothic atmosphere of his house. Inclusive now of society - not isolated and solitary. Stave 5 - Scrooge's reaction to discovering it is not too late A merry Christmas to everybody! Throughout the book, Dickens makes use of metaphors, personification, imagery, and more. The Victorian's would have seen this as fitting. Money 5. 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. When you analyse poverty in A Christmas Carol, you may want to reference the setting as well as using direct quotes from characters. 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. The Fezziwigs throw a party and treat everyone the same - no matter their status. 6. 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. However, how the poor were treated was far more extreme in Victorian England. Here in this quote, one can see Dickens playing with literal and figurative meanings to great effect. 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. 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. Of course, Dickens does use his trademark lengthy descriptions but nearly everything has a point. The verbs suggest age, disfiguration and pain suggesting how unnatural their conditions are that have led to this. 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. We are reminded of the contrast between the rendered status. 'He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. Oh, glorious, glorious! Ultimately he tries to extinguish the ghost's light. 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. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. Belle "Our contract is an old one. Of course, the suggestion that people might be talking about him is beastly to Scrooge. Themes= family/greed and generosity/ time. A Christmas Carol is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a stingy, cruel, wealthy, old bachelor.The book opens with a funeral. Key quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. 'The Ghosts' in A Christmas Carol (Key Quotes & Analysis) Dr Aidan 22.1K subscribers Subscribe 47K views 3 years ago Studying A Christmas Carol? This is said by criminals who plundered/ stole from scrooge after he died. Of Mice and Men Section Overview . No, Spirit! Workhouses were a terrible place and menial and dangerous jobs such as sweeping chimneys still existed. Dickens uses the scene to allow the reader to feel sorry for the child 'Scrooge' whose loneliness was not by choice - although the adult Scrooge's is. Describes Fred, who is a symbol of Christmas spirit. Stave 1 - Scrooge's rponse to being asked to give money to charity, "If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.". 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. The idea that anybody would be so callous about the dead is quite jarring and would have been especially impactful with a conservative Victorian readership. This phrase is repeated to describe both Mrs Crarchit and her daughter. Whoop! The two children Ignorance and Want represents the attitudes of the rich to the poor in Victorian society. Dickens uses Tiny Tim to remind his readers of the story of Jesus performing miracles and his teaching of acceptance of all. I am not the man I was. Does this line support or contradict the speaker's statement in the final stanza, "Nothing really happened"? "I am light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. ". Thus Dickens is ending with the message that we can all change our selfish ways and be a positive influence. Dickens uses him to enable the reader to see that this is unfair, perhaps looking to make his readers reflect on the high mortality rate amongst poor children. Stave 2 - Belle breaks off the engagement 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! ', "Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it.". The portly gentlemen are also instrumental in delivering Dickens' message. We can infer that the only other person he cared for was Marley and even that wasn't really because of a friendship. Stave 5 - Scrooge's reaction to discovering it is not too late No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. 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." This is to illustrate to the rich that they can be part of the solution, Dickens was of the belief that things in society could change and this was something he wished to portray to people to ensure they didn't lose hope, Stave 2: 'I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now', Stave 4: 'Fear you more than any other spectre I have seen. If you watch any of the adaptations of A Christmas Carol Tiny Tim is almost always one of the loveable characters and with good reason. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Stave 4 - Tiny Tim's burial place is eden like - as, despite his poverty and place in life, he was good and will be welcomed by god. ``Are there no workhouses? Scrooge listened to this dialogue in horror he viewed them with a detestation and disgust. in Its progressive form. Whoever the author.Discover new and exciting books to dive into with our Book Explorer Tool. You could make a strong argument for this being a tale of redemption. Then, choose the verb form that agrees in number with the subject. 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. 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. Description of the Ghost of Christmas Past, Stave 2, the holly symbolises Christmas. That being said the fact that Marley is suffering damnation suggests that he too led a similar path to Scrooge. Hallo there! The synonyms 'alone' and 'by himself' emphasise again the loneliness of the life he has chosen. 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. "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. 5. Themes= greed and generosity/time. A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens On this page, readers can explore the quotes, they are broadly separated into a few sub-categories. 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. Clash, clang, hammer; ding, dong, bell! Stave 2 - the Fezziwig's party Example: The scientist, along with her two assistants, (is, are) working on a computer simulation of earthquake activity. Walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds. With the title of the book being A Christmas Carol you would expect Christmas to feature prominently throughout the novel. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! 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. ", 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 verb 'shrouded' makes explicit reference to death which is reinforced by the 'deep black' of its clothes. however, her reference to their father suggests that he had not been kind in the past, thus reinforcing our sympathy. 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. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop The problem is internal, within Scrooges heart. 'Dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons'. Stave 3 - ignorance and want ', 'I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it! The ghost of Christmas yet to come is a symbol of the effect that memories have on someone as they age. The repetition of the word 'little' reinforces to the reader how young and innocent and undeserving of death was Tiny Tim. What is interesting is that a lot of the traditions that Dickens writes about werent quite so commonplace before his novella. In the first stave of A Christmas Carol, the following quote is really important in characterizing Scrooge:. This is another quote where Dickens draws on the semantic field of the cold weather. ". Scrooges changing attitude is never better highlighted than in his initial responses to the three ghosts. This mirrors the Victorian rich's attitude to the poor. Oh, glorious! A Christmas Carol is a widely studied book filled with memorable quotes. Stave 2 - the spirit takes him to past Christmases including seeing Scrooge alone at school. Scrooge will avoid spirits for the rest of his life geddit? 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. Themes= Christmas/greed and generosity/family. The shortness of the main clause at the end makes the message more shocking. Hallo!" Click the card to flip Definition 1 / 5 "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. Dr Aidan, PhD, brings you the second video. Recognizing Progressive Forms and Tenses. A description of the school house that Scrooge was left in as a child, by his family. The Spirit pointed from the grave to him, and back again. a squeezing, wrenching . The multiple similes emphasise Scrooge's joy and elation at his second chance. 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'. Click the card to flip Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by AIC-CREATOR-TD Terms in this set (36) jovial voice.". 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. Given an unexpected opportunity to communicateperhaps as a Christmas miracleMarley feels determined to help Scrooge and he warns him here. The boy is ignorance. Oh, glorious. 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. Themes= greed and generosity/ time. 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. Stave 3 - the ghost uses Scrooge's words against him Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. With key quotes \u0026 analysis, this video provides an ideal format to gain a greater understanding of this novella in a matter of minutes. 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. He is described as been so dislike that even the weather is better in that at least it 'comes down' gracefully. Marley haunts scrooge- a description of his chains. This girl is Want. 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. "Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?". The Total Abstinence Principle was a phrase used for teetotallers (people who refrained from drinking). Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. His description of the setting suggests that poverty has bred crime and deep unhappiness. The metaphor shows he is rigid in his unfeeling behaviour to others. A happy New Year to all the world. Refine any search. Oh! Only financial gain. as if its hold were of uncommon strength." Themes= Christmas/greed and generosity/family. " Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop ), 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. Fred is unrelenting in his attempts to change his uncles way of thinking. Are there no prisons?'' 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. Shows Bob's place of work, and shows scrooges harsh treatment on him. "Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.". The chains are a metaphor for his punishment for his greedy life. Home Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Best Quotes. 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. Dickens creates sympathy for the poor, through the Crachit's and their tight knit family. Discuss why you think the poet made these choices. 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 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. Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words and was overcome with penitence and grief. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them. Whatever the book. 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. Dickens considers ignorance the worst, because it leads to want. It was a worthy place. Of course, Dickens does use his trademark lengthy descriptions but nearly everything has a point. Stave 1 - Marley's ghost is distressed at Scrooge's suggestion that he was a 'good man of business'. It is uncared for just as he was uncared for, gasping out his last alone. So we have tried where possible to focus on the most vital sections of the novella. A description of the ghost of Christmas past, who symbolises memory and who shows scrooge events from the past. 2. This is a great quote for highlighting the sort of character that Scrooge was in A Christmas Carol. He must have slept through a whole day and half a night. Mr and Mrs Fezziwig ..'.shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas.'. A Christmas Carol: Key Moments Being such a short story there is very little that is extraneous. Stave 4 - the final ghost Whereas the line about being solitary as an oyster suggests that Scrooge refuses to let anybody into his life. Representing Victorian society. Charles Dickens only really scratched the surface of this. 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. Family Theme Analysis. Themes= family/poverty/greed and generosity. 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.'. The last line of A Christmas Carol is God bless us, everyone. Its spoken by the well-loved character Tiny Tim. Then, identify each underlined word by writing above it ADV for adverb or ADJ for adjective. Marley tells scrooge he is responsible fro his punishment- he is suffering the consequences for his actions. Stave 2 - Belle's husband tells Belle about seeing Scrooge. ', 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. This is one of Freds lines, and it really helps to highlight the difference in viewpoints between Fred and his uncle. () *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. The boy is ignorace - the lack of education and the girl is want - the lack of money. Stave 5 - Scrooge walks the streets enjoying the company of others. "', 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. Belle to Scrooge: "Another idol has displaced me a golden one.". These include Scrooges cold nature, the power of wealth, and loss. However, inside that shell - like Scrooge - the oyster is soft and vulnerable. Stave 3 - Scrooge's willingness to learn 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. ", 'A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. Stave 2 - The first of the three spirits Ghost stories were very popular during the Victorian era. This again leads back to Dickens' idea of collective responsibility - that everything that we do influences others. Setting includes not only the physical surroundings, but also the ideas, customs, values, and beliefs of a particular time and place. As a result of this he was damned to walk as a ghost chained with money boxes surrounding him. 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. 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. The verb forged shows skill and effort- Marley spent his whole life's time and effort in his greed so is suffering the consequences. Dr Aidan, PhD, provides you with key quotes and analysis relating to the theme of 'Christmas'. Then there are some of the settings contained in A Christmas Carol. The simile has connotations of stillness and endings. 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. Here, Scrooge is talking about Fezziwig and how he uses his wealth to lift others up. 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. cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. These cover themes like wealth, poverty, Christmas, and kindness. This use of listing to describe everything as 'good' helps to demonstrate the far reaching consequences of Scrooge's redemption. Without the trauma from Scrooges youth and the death of his sister, Fran, its unlikely that he wouldve become the person that he did. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! Fire symbolizes emotion and warmth. Y. 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. Himself, always. 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. The Ghost of Christmas Present greets Scrooge from on top of a pile of luxurious Christmas fare. The ghost of Christmas presents it sitting on a throne of food. But, they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another and contented with the time.