A christmas carol - the Ghosts Flashcards
The ghost of christmas past - “felll upon the heart of Scrooge with a softening influence, and gave a freer passage to his tears”
This illustrates to the reader that Scrooge’s past had a significant impact on him, emphasising the importance of reflection. The phrase “a freer passage to his tears” implies that his tears were previously stopped from flowing. It can be speculated that due to a lack of reflection Scrooge was experiencing an emotional block of sorts. Perhaps this contributed to his miserly and apathetic personality, presenting the idea that if Scrooge had reflected on his past he may have been a very different individual.
The ghost of christmas present - “sprinkled incense on their dinners from his torch”
“Sprinkled incense on their dinners from his torch” Sprinkling incense was a way of making disagreements vanish and spreading good spirits in the Victorian times. This Ghost emphasises that it is working to spread positive spirits to the “to a poor one most” because they have a greater need. This presents the Ghost as aware of social issues and as a force which actively endeavours to do good. It could be argued that the Spirit acts as an example to readers particularly because it uses incense to repair relationships. This presents the idea that readers too can emulate the Spirit’s behaviour, pushing them towards social reform.
The ghost of christmas yet to come - “shrouded in a deep black garment”
The use of imagery in this phrase resonates with both Victorian (contemporary) and modern-day readers, who likely find the image similar to that of the Grim Reaper - a widely recognised symbol of death. The black colour of the garment is further described as being “deep”, developing the Phantom’s solemn presence.
The ghost of christmas yet to come - “read upon the neglected grave his own name, EBENEZER SCROOGE”
The adjective “neglected” is used both during the life of Scrooge as well as his death. Therefore, the reader is able to see the unchanging timeline of Scrooge’s life. The way that Scrooge lived in life is how he died, a type of poetic justice (irony, getting what is deserved).
The ghost of christmas yet to come - “Hear me, im not the man i was”
A fear of the future is what persuades Scrooge to change his ways. The exclamation mark underlines the way in which the scenes have resonated within him, highlighting his eagerness to change.
