A Christmas Carol Flashcards
He was solitary as an oyster
Start of play
Stave 1
The image of the oyster is almost perfect for Scrooge at this stage in the book. Like an oyster, he keeps himself to himself, hidden beneath a hard shell that he uses to protect himself from the world.
Marley was dead to begin with
Stave 1
This opening line sets a somber tone, emphasizing the finality of death, which becomes central to the story’s themes of redemption and the afterlife.
Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend, and sole mourner.”
The repetition of “sole” highlights Scrooge’s isolation and self-centered nature, hinting at his emotional barrenness.
Stave 1
Bah! humbug!
Scrooge’s iconic dismissal of Christmas as nonsense symbolizes his rejection of joy, generosity, and human connection.
Stave 1
Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”
This rhetorical question shows Scrooge’s cold indifference to the poor, reflecting Victorian attitudes toward social inequality.
Stave 1
A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still.”
This description of young Scrooge in his boarding school reveals the root of his isolation and emotional detachment, eliciting sympathy for his character.
Stave 2
There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something: that’s all.”
This moment of regret marks the first glimpse of Scrooge’s softening heart as he begins to recognize the consequences of his actions.
Stave 2
No more! Show me no more!”
Overwhelmed by the painful memories of his past mistakes, Scrooge’s plea reflects his initial resistance to fully confronting the emotional consequences of his actions.
Stave 2
Come in! and know me better, man!”
The Ghost of Christmas Present’s cheerful and welcoming demeanor contrasts sharply with Scrooge’s coldness, inviting him to embrace the warmth and joy of the festive season.
Stave 3
They are Man’s… And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both.”
The ghost’s warning about Ignorance and Want critiques society’s neglect of education and poverty, calling attention to the dangers of social inequality.
God bless us every one!”
Tiny Tim’s heartfelt exclamation symbolizes hope, faith, and the importance of kindness, even in the face of hardship, contrasting with Scrooge’s earlier selfishness.
Stave 3
Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die?”
host challenges Scrooge’s earlier indifference to the poor, forcing him to reckon with his moral responsibility for others’ lives.
Stave 3
“The Spirit answered not, but pointed onward with its hand.”
The silence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come creates an ominous and foreboding tone, emphasizing Scrooge’s fear of the unknown and the gravity of his fate.
Stave 4
Am I that man who lay upon the bed?”
Scrooge’s horrified realization that the dead man being discussed with indifference is himself highlights the ultimate consequence of his selfish and unkind life.
Stave 4
It’s likely to be a very cheap funeral, for upon my life I don’t know of anybody to go to it.”
callous remarks of others about Scrooge’s death underscore the loneliness and lack of love his life has created, reinforcing the idea that his legacy will be meaningless unless he changes.
Stave 4
