A Christmas Carol Quotes - Ghosts As A Whole Flashcards
Marley was dead: to begin with
(Marley’s ghost)
Dickens makes absolutely sure that the reader realises there is something of the supernatural,
and that Marley is now dead.
Epistrophe used here to show Marley’s separation from Scrooge seven years ago when he died.
Scrooge never painted out Old Marley’s name.
(Marley’s ghost)
Shows that Scrooge dislikes change.
Also shows that Scrooge and Marley shared the same capitalistic and mercantile ego.
I wear the chains I forged in life.
(Marley’s ghost)
Dickens is using Marley’s chains as a gothic trope, in order to enhance Marley’s supernatural being
Chains are also symbolic of Scrooge and Marley’s materialistic nature.
Chains also signify the post industrial era of Britain
[Scrooge’s chain] was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. You have laboured on it since. It is a ponderous chain.
(Marley’s ghost)
Adjective ponderous symbolises labour and working class, and how the upper classes’ capitalistic views have lead to economic segregation in the post industrial era.
Were there no homes to which [the Christmas star’s] light would have conducted me!
(Marley’s ghost)
He is bitter that no one did for him what he is doing for Scrooge.
However, he uses his experience to be a better person and change Scrooge too, rather than making him bitter too. This suggests that everyone will change to be better at some point, and scares the Victorian reader into changing before suffering further.
Adjective “light” is symbolic of Scrooge’s enlightenment, and The verb “conduct” foreshadows how Marley and other supernatural being s would conduct Scrooge towards his moment of epiphany.
Expect the first tomorrow when the bell tolls one.
(Couldn’t I take ‘em all at once and have it over, Jacob” hinted Scrooge.)
Expect the second on the next night at the same hour.
(Marley’s ghost)
The bells are a gothic trope here.
Marley won’t be interrupted, meaning he truly believes he is doing the right thing. This suggests to the reader that changing to be more charitable is good thing.
jaws were brought together by the bandage
(Marley’s ghost)
Adverb “together” represents his sins in life and his guilt in failing to help his fellow Man.
Also representative of being brought closer to who he used to work with
“It was a strange figure - like a child: yet not so like a child”
(Ghost of Christmas Past)
Antithetical language is used here to show the figure’s abnormality
Antithetical language here also show the ongoing conflict between Scorges material self
“It wore a tunic of the purest white”
(Ghost of Christmas Past)
Superlative “purest” links to being sent from heaven - deifies the spirit.
Colour symbolism of white links to “tabul rasa” (blank slate) showing that Scrooge must rewrite his destiny from being mercantile.
“Branch of fresh green holly”
(Ghost of Christmas Past)
Symbolic of the Christmas spirit with religious connotations
Holly is ever green and ever lasting, foreshadowing a sincere transformation, that Scrooge would attain.
“Lustrous belt” and ”bright clear jet of light”
(Ghost of Christmas Past)
Deifies the ghost
Verb “light” is symbolic of Scrooge’s enlightenment
“Your welfare”
(Ghost of Christmas Past)
After Scrooge asked what his business was.
Answers in short snappy sentences.
Leave an impact on Scrooge.
Links to social views where Dickens believed that the poor and destitute despite their financial wealth also deserved basic needs like food and shelter.
“Rise! And walk with me!”
(Ghost of Christmas Past)
Exclamative sentences used to convey the ghosts power over Scrooge
“Would you so soon put out the light I give”
(Ghost of Christmas Past)
Scrooge doesn’t want to see anymore. Also mirrors how the past has already happened and has gone, and Scrooge cannot go back in time to avoid those mistakes.
“Crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe, and ivy”
(Ghost of Christmas Present)
All 3 of these symbolise the key theme of Christmas.
