christmas carol key quotes and analysis christmas carol key quotes and analysis

The repetition of the adjective 'good' reinforces this idea. 1. No Way- he tells them that the poor should go and die then there would be less people in the world. Partially because of the nature of its main character. Bell, dong, ding; hammer, clang, clash! The ghost of Christmas presents it sitting on a throne of food. Dickens uses Tiny Tim to remind his readers of the story of Jesus performing miracles and his teaching of acceptance of all. Pathetic fallacy - Scrooge can see now clearly - reinforced by the adjectives juxtaposing the foggy, misty scenes of earlier chapters when Scrooge could not see the error of his ways. Scrooges changing attitude is never better highlighted than in his initial responses to the three ghosts. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! The noun 'father' shows the idea that one laugh leads to another - happiness breeds happiness. Himself, always. 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. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them. 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. A description of how the Cratchit family mourned the death of Tiny Tim. Stave 2 - the Fezziwig's party as if its hold were of uncommon strength." 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.". Without the ghost of Christmas future, Scrooge wouldve been unlikely to change. Whatever the genre. The Total Abstinence Principle was a phrase used for teetotallers (people who refrained from drinking). 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. The two children are the personification of man's ills - ignorance and want. The style of A Christmas Carol is conversational and direct. Oh, glorious. 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. Recognizing Progressive Forms and Tenses. Stave 3 - the ghost uses Scrooge's words against him I am not the man I was. 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. The conditional subordinate clause represents Scrooge's future actions. Themes= greed and generosity/ time. 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. The problem is internal, within Scrooges heart. "His eyes sparkled and his breath smocked.". Dr Aidan, PhD, provides you with the 10 key quotes in Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', along with in-depth analysis, to he. 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.'. He spreads joy over all like a force of nature. Who suffers by his ill whims? This is fitting because it is traditionally colder at Christmas but also because the cold is an apt metaphor for Scrooges personality. The key theme for Dickens is that money does not lead to happiness, Greed is the single factor that is responsible for the breakup of Scrooge's marriage, 'Another idol has displaced me a golden one', Stave 2: 'The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune', The Cratchit family are used as a depiction of a family in poverty, More than any other time in history there was a huge divide between classes, the lower classes lived in deperate poverty and were in want while the upper classes enjoyed a life of luxury, Stave 1: 'Many thousands are in want of common necessities, sir and many hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts', Scrooge's staff selling off his old goods, Victorian aristocracy were very keen to remain ignorant about the sufferings of the poor. Studying Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'? Mrs Cratchit, although poor, represents the family's will to make the best of things - to celebrate in spite of their poverty. "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. Money 5. External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dying fire at the beginning of the novel symbolizes Scrooges lack of either. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Version 1 December 2016 . 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. For each of the following sentences, identify the subject of the verb in parentheses. 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. ', '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. The spirit of Christmas is personified in his open heart, open hand, and outstretched arm. ', People with lots of money already are more likely to be greedy for more, not thinking about sharing that money with others effectively. 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. Bitter- "no wind that blew was bitterer than he. 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. The simile shows Bobs wealth in his family; he values them more than money and so is content with their love. Stave 1 - description of Scrooge's house Key quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. 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, how the poor were treated was far more extreme in Victorian England. 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. This girl is Want. Marley tells scrooge he is responsible fro his punishment- he is suffering the consequences for his actions. It was a worthy place. Scrooges words to the charity collectors as he refuses to give charity. Stave 2 - the arrival of his sister, Fan The adjective 'brave' suggests that the Cratchit's approach to life is noble and admirable - but not easy. 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. 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. 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. A description of Fezziwig, a rich merchant t whom Scrooge is apprentice. The fog has lifted and Scrooge can 'see' the truth. His most famous saying is bah humbug. He used it as an exclamation when he wanted to express his displeasure about something. Themes= greed and generosity of the poor. God save you! Whatever the book. The description of the children is designed to shock the reader. 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 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. This mirrors the Victorian rich's attitude to the poor. Dr Aidan, PhD, brings you the second video. Scrooge has been transformed - just as his room has been transformed by the arrival of the Ghost of Christmas present - and wants to learn. 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. Home Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis. Themes= family/greed and generosity/ time. This compounds our sympathy for the Cratchit's as Tim was a symbol of innocence. The ghost of Christmas future symbolizes death and the mistakes that are sure to haunt him after his death. Themes= greed and generosity/time. 'a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! "Cherry cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears.". Example: The scientist, along with her two assistants, (is, are) working on a computer simulation of earthquake activity. 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. Themes= greed and generosity/Christmas/poverty. Family Theme Analysis. patience and hope fro them. Although their behaviour is callous and cruel, the italicised personal pronoun he reminds us that scrooge (and the rich) are partly to blame fro the behaviour of the poor. Oh, glorious! The father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs. I should like to have given him something: thats all., About the Fezziwig family: shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas., Scrooge about Mr Fezziwig: The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it costs a fortune., Belle to Scrooge: Another idol has displaced me., Belle about Scrooge: I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master passion, Gain, engrosses you., Belles husband to Belle about Scrooge: Quite alone in the world, I do believe., There was nothing very cheerful in the climate or the town, and yet was there an air of cheerfulness abroad., About the Ghost of Christmas Present: Sprinkled incense on their dinners from his torch., About the Cratchits goose: a feathered phenomenon., There never was such a goose. This symbolises his generosity and air of festivity. Scrooge's grave, by comparison to Tiny Tim's is 'overrun by weeds'. Then there are some of the settings contained in A Christmas Carol. Does this line support or contradict the speaker's statement in the final stanza, "Nothing really happened"? 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' Contrasting similes emphasise his god like figure- he is at once innocent and knowledgeable. All rights reserved. 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 Ghosts' in A Christmas Carol (Key Quotes & Analysis) Dr Aidan 22.1K subscribers Subscribe 47K views 3 years ago Studying A Christmas Carol? At this point, Scrooges character has become fairly well established but the reason that this particular meeting is of such importance is that it highlights Scrooges outlook towards the poor as well as provides his comments about how the poor should be treated. A merry Christmas to everybody! jovial voice.". It is too much linked to his miserly ways thus suggesting that the learning is not finished yet. () 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. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish. Stave 2 - The first of the three spirits This is clearly not possible. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. enthusiastic- "a merry Christmas uncle. Bovey, Lee-James "A Christmas Carol Quotes " Book Analysis, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. In many ways, it is the child who can most tug on Scrooges heartstrings. Pre-modified adjectives create a sensory description -they remind scrooge of the delights of generosity and how it will create happiness. This went against what Victorians considered to be a 'good death' where you die surrounded by friends and family and then are mourned afterwards. Stave one 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." Clash, clang, hammer; ding, dong, bell! The gothic was a popular genre in the Victorian age and would have seemed fitting for a ghost story to Victorian readers. Part of the reason that A Christmas Carol is so widely studied is the abundance of different themes that it touches upon. A merry Christmas to everybody! I defy himif he finds me going there, in good temper, year after year, and saying, Uncle Scrooge, how are you? If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds, thats something. The multiple similes emphasise Scrooge's joy and elation at his second chance. uses long and short clauses to show how busy they are. ', "Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it.". Studying Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'? 'A Christmas Carol' is a widely studied book filled with memorable quotes. Scrooge has undergone a metamorphoses - he has literally been reborn as a new man. Stave 1 - description of Marley's ghost Of course, the suggestion that people might be talking about him is beastly to Scrooge. 6. A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens On this page, readers can explore the quotes, they are broadly separated into a few sub-categories. Christmas is now a time for family, friends and feeling good. ', 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. cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. The Ghost of Christmas Present greets Scrooge from on top of a pile of luxurious Christmas fare. 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 - the final ghost He teaches scrooge to learn from his mistakes of his past. 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. Themes= family/poverty/greed and generosity. I think this is why the character of Fezziwig exists to show that Scrooge is not representative of all the upper classes. Dickens' use of the word 'good' repetitively to demonstrate the juxtaposition between Scrooge at the beginning of the novel, where Dickens describes Scrooge as a 'covetous old sinner'. The noun cell has connotations of Bob being imprisoned by scrooge. So we have tried where possible to focus on the most vital sections of the novella. 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. This again leads back to Dickens' idea of collective responsibility - that everything that we do influences others. Use if fairy tale convention, shows the story will have a magical ending. With in-depth analysis, this video aims to help you gain a greater understanding of the novella in a matter of minutes. In the first stave of A Christmas Carol, the following quote is really important in characterizing Scrooge:. "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.". The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. The verb forged shows skill and effort- Marley spent his whole life's time and effort in his greed so is suffering the consequences. Oh, glorious, glorious! These include Scrooges cold nature, the power of wealth, and loss. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop These include Scrooge's cold nature, the power of wealth, and loss. My little, little child!'' Stave 1 - why the portly gentlemen are collecting for the poor The two children Ignorance and Want represents the attitudes of the rich to the poor in Victorian society. 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. Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. The case of this unhappy man might be my own. Exhausted- "i cannot rest,i cannot stay, i cannot linger anywhere.". 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? Bovey, Lee-James "A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis " Book Analysis, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. Dr Aidan, PhD, provides you with key quotes and analysis relating to the theme of 'Christmas'. Whoever the author.Discover new and exciting books to dive into with our Book Explorer Tool. 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. 'It was a strange figurelike a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man'. Scrooge's language has been formal and official: here he is informal, natural and joyous. Refine any search. "Reeked with crime, and filth, and misery". 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. Marley haunts scrooge- a description of his chains. Lord bless me!" Note the use of the adjective poor to describe Bob Cratchit. Scrooges offences carry their own punishments. They were a boy and girl. The repetition of the word 'little' reinforces to the reader how young and innocent and undeserving of death was Tiny Tim. Workhouses were a terrible place and menial and dangerous jobs such as sweeping chimneys still existed. Accessed 4 March 2023. Themes= family/time/poverty. Everyone is entitled to be a little happier on Christmas, and the Ghost of Christmas Present helps them to be so. Key quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Dickens was familiar with the terrible working conditions of the poor and campaigned for education of children. The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it costs a fortune. 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. The reader does not know that Tim has died, so Dickens foreshadows his death through the use of the simile. To Kill a Mockingbird -Analysis of Major Characters. Hallo!" Click the card to flip Definition 1 / 5 the adjective idle reveals scrooge believes the poor are lazy and are to be blamed for their own situation. 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. Themes= time/Christmas/generosity and forgiveness. Hes comparing Cratchits actual body temperature to Scrooges personality. Whoop! That being said the fact that Marley is suffering damnation suggests that he too led a similar path to Scrooge. 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. There is no magic formula to revision but this three-point "Tonight, if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it.". ", "there's a cold within him" that "froze his old features", sociable- "wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity". Themes= greed and generosity/ time. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. 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. Stave 1 - Scrooge's view of the plight of the poor A Christmas Carol is a well-loved and commonly read novel that focuses on themes of Christmas and poverty. Like an oyster, he keeps himself to himself, hidden beneath a hard shell that he uses to protect himself from the world. God bless us!, At the time people rid themselves of any guilt by blaming the poor for the fact they were poor. Representing Victorian society. But, they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another and contented with the time. Stave 1 - Scrooge's response to the gentlemen saying that people would rather die than go to the workhouse. These compare with the bells at the start of the novel, signifying the hellish arrival of Marley's ghost. A description of the ghost of Christmas past, who symbolises memory and who shows scrooge events from the past. "The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it costs a fortune.". It is through your support of visiting Book Analysis that we can support charities, such as Teenage Cancer Trust. I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. Invite Scrooge to come for Christmas dinner 4. Stave 3 - Scrooge asks if Tiny Tim will live, having been moved by his goodness. Discuss why you think the poet made these choices.