a christmas carol Flashcards
What is the quote for Scrooge being isolated?
“…secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster”
What is the analysis of the quotation: “… secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster”?
- he chooses to be isolated ~ suspicous in 1843 especially at christmas and creates the impression of villainous behaviour.
- sibilance: suggests snake like qualitites which suggests slyness or danger, especially from a religious britain suggestion.
Also slows the pace of the text so the reader takes note of it ~ implies importance - “soliatry as an oysetr” ~ simile and oysters are usually found in groups which contrasts with the soliatry description. This suggests that although Scrooge is surrounded by lots of people, his hard outer shell prevents others getting closer to him. Oysters also produce pearls which suggests to the reader that he has value hidden within.
- links to the quotation “a solitary child, neglected by his friends”. Solitary paired with neglected suggests that this isolation is done by his own choice. This also suggets that his childhood trauma translates to the way that he treats others.
Analysis of the quote; “ he carried his own low temperature always about with him”
- tells us more about Scrooges character as lots of the description relates to the cold: “cold”, “nipped”, “blue”, “frosty”. Although we know that it is winter, we know these are about Scrooge himself.
- by carrying his own low temperature about him, he makes himself and others sad as well
- Can compare to a description of Fred: “he had so heated himself with rapid walking in the fog and frost”. Whilst Scrooge brings frost and chill whereever he goes, Fred heats himself litteraly and metaphorically. By not letting Scrooge’s behaviour to damped his christmas spirit or friendly personality. This impiles that he is the opposite to Scrooge or not likley to get along with him
What is the quotation that tells us that scrooge is a cold person?
” he carried his own low temperature always about with him”
anaylysis of the quotation when talking about Christmas time: “a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasent time”
- delievered by Fred who is a foil to Scrooge; his ‘good’ highlights Scrooge’s ‘bad’
- this reinforces the power of the christmas spirit as at the beginning of the play Scrooge had none of these qualities but at the end he has them all
- also alot of Victorians were Christians and this message reminds them of the values that they should have been upholding .
What is the quoation that shows Christians the qualities of Christmas
when talking about Christmas time: “a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasent time”
analyse the quoation; “If they would rather die…do it, and decrease the surplus population”
- shows no empathy for the poor because he has no personal interaction with them and therefore is able to dehumanise them.
- he is echoing the view of wealthy victorians of the time period ~ general belief that the poor were criminals and lazy. They introduced to New Poor Law which sent all unemplyed people to workhouses to earn through hard labour (they had sub- human living and conditions for adults and children)
- “decrease the surplus population” is part of the Malthusian theory that suggested that urbanisation lead to over population and starvation
- his words are repeated back to him by the ghost of christmas present when he begs for Tiny Tim’s life. It shows that Scrooge is able to grow empathy for the struggles of the poor and understand the cruleness of the rich at the time.
Which quotation tells us the views of the upper class victorians about the poor?
“If they would rather die…do it, and decrease the surplus population”
analyse the quote: “I wear the chain I forged in life…”
- from the dead business partner Marley and his chain is made from the tools of his trade
- reinforces the obsession with moneymaking that both men have even when taking advantage of the poor and forcing them into deaper debt as they cant pay them back
- Dicken’s father was sent to Debter’s prison so he uses Marley to shows what people shouldn’t do in life.
- Marley has lived a very similar life to Scrooge which acts as a preview to Scrooges death
- by saying that what he did in his life also affects him in death it reinforces those christian views
What is the quote that tells us that Scrooge needs to change?
“I wear the chain I forged in life…”
Why does Marley repeat the words business in his speach to Scrooge?
It shows the dangers of only thinking of business, Scrooge sees the world only in terms of business, so he cannot empathise with the poor.
Analyse the quotation: “ the happiness he gives is quite as great as if it cost a fortune”
- this is a turning point for Scrooge as before this, business and money control Scrooge’s perspective on life but now he has been taught the lesson of being a good emplyers and the real value of money is the happiness that it can bring when used correctley
- he defends Fezziwig because he remebers the appreciation he felt as an emplyee (defends against people calling a bit cheap)
- we see that this lesson has worked when he changes Bob Crachit’s working situation by raising his salary and endeavour to assist his struggling family
Analyse when Belle says that “your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master-passion, Gain, engrosses you”
- belle breaks up with scrooge because of his obsession with money
- master- passion ~ suggests that he was a servant to making money but he wasn’t always this way as he once had nobler aspirations
- this should have been when Scrooge changes but his troubles from when he was a child hold him back as of his neglect. It results in him shutting himself out from the world even more and focusing more on money
What quotation tells us when Scrooge became too obsessed with money?
“your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master-passion, Gain, engrosses you” ~ Belle
Analyse the quotation: “If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die”
- Tiny Tim has the opposite of Scrooge’s childhood which shows Scrooge who had a richer family, that happiness is about those who make it not about how much money you have. This makes scrooge want tiny tim to have the cildhood that he never did.
- Tiny Tim is the most important factor behind Scrooge’s transformation. He sees that his life rests in his hands and he can save it by being a better employerand raise bobs salary.
- this tells us that the smallest amount of money can do a world of help and Dickens tells us that the innocent and vulnerable are victims of society
analyse “I mean to give him the same chance every year, for i pity him”
- This is said by fred who refuses to give up on his uncle as even though he isnt wanted by Scrooge he shouws up anyway.
- he says that he pities him which is wierd as he is rich selfish and mean. He sees beyond his hard outer shell and knows that he has just lost his way over the years
- Fred represents the hope for Scrooge’s future
- he gives scrooge a chance every christmas because it is a time assosiated with forgivness and family
What is the quotation that shows Fred will be there for Scrooge?
“I mean to give him the same chance every year, for i pity him”
analyse the quote “ this boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both… but most of all beware this boy for on his brow I see that written which is Doom.”
- This is said by Present when he reveals two ragged children.
- ignorance refers to the rich ignoring the struggles of the poor. This may be in reference to the amount of revolutions occuring at the time in Europe. The rich were a minority at the time so perhaps it was in their best interest to be kind and generous
- by using children it could be interpretted in two ways; 1. they were going to grow bigger and become even more of a problem if not dealt with now 2. Dickens believed that education could break the cycle of poverty ~ children being educated. Eductaion meant learning a trade rather than turning to crime out of desperation. eg Ragged schools
What quote warns scrooge and society over the growing problems that should be erradecated?
” this boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both… but most of all beware this boy for on his brow I see that written which is Doom.”
Analsye the quote “I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future.
- he said this to the ghost of christmas yet to come in the previous stave when begging for a second chance. This repetition says that his present actions are affected by his past experiences, as change means resolving his abandonment issues from childhood. Scrooges actions now affect his future and the future of others ie Tim.
- Scrooge shows that he understands the Ghosts lessen through this second chance to make amends
How does Scrooge show the theme of Christmas
- Title and Structure
- Scrooge’s nephew Fred
- Tiny Tim
How does Dickens show the theme of Christmas through the title and structure?
HOW : The theme of the novella is clear from the title -A Christmas Carol- which refers to thetraditional carols that are sung at Christmas time.
EVIDENCE : the novella has an unusual layout, using five staves rather than chapters
ANALYSIS : The five staves reflect the structure of a carol and link the story to the joy of singing.
How does Dickens show the theme of Christmas through Fred?
HOW : Fred is persistent in his cheerful approach to Christmas. We see him celebrating wholeheartedly with his friends
EVIDENCE : After a while they played at forfeits; for it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.
ANALYSIS : Dickens shows Scrooge’s nephew as the opposite of Scrooge. He is able to abandon himself pleasures at Christmas and enjoys the company of his friends
How does dickens show the theme of Christmas through the character of TIny TIm?
HOW : Through the character of Tiny TIm, Dickens shows the importance of family and love in the Christmas tradition.
EVIDENCE : back came Tiny Tim before another word was spoken, escorted by his brother and sister to his stool before the fire;
ANALYSIS : Tiny Tim is well-loved by his family as we see in the generosity that his siblings show him here.
