CC Stave 1 Flashcards
secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster
simile
- isolated - lives at the bottom of a seabed
- misanthropic
- may be a pearl of goodness hidden inside(goodness is shut off from everyone else)
- harsh hard exterior
- sibilance adds sinister tone
a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner
asyndetic list + authorial intrusion
- semantic field of touch, emphasises extreme desperation by which Scrooge will hold on to every penny
- “old sinner” - biblical connotation of wickedness
- Dicken explicitly judges Scrooge and influences readers to mistrust him
even the blindsmen’s dogs appeared to know him… and would tug their owners into doorways and up courts
hyperbole
emphasised how Scrooge is so recognisably terrible
so well known in society that his intimidating character is felt by animals too
all types of people avoid him, understanding he is awful and an outsider
no warmth could warm, nor wintry weather chill him
pathetic fallacy
not just outsider to society, but also nature as he is immune to it
isolated, heartless and callous
anaphora, repetition of ‘no’ exaggerates just how ostracised he is
darkness was cheap, and scrooge liked it
saves money- miserly
symbolises his choice to cut himself off from people and feelings
lodgings are ‘gloomy’ and ‘dreary’
he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone
single-minded focus on acquiring wealth(greedy)
represent opposite of generous
forces others to work long hours and suffer
hard and sharp as flint
simile
hard- lacks warmth, empathy and compassion
sharp- suggests pain, implies no mercy towards others
flint- potential for fire and a change
if they would rather die… they had better do it and decrease the surplus population
cold-hearted
social injustice- indifference of wealthy towards the poor
Dickens uses the book as a diatribe, condemning the upper class for not helping the poor
the clerk’s fire was so much smaller that it looked like one coal
exposes Scrooge’s lack of generosity and care
Cratchit is scared of Scrooge and doesn’t want to challenge him(Scrooge threatens to terminate his job)
Bob can’t afford to lost his job so suffers in silence
boiled with his own pudding and buried with a stake of holly through his heart
puritan distaste
ill-intended violence mirrors the rich people of England’s abuse of the poor in workhouses
poor were forces into slavery, half-starved, long hours and whipped
his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled
Fred is Scrooge’s foil and antithesis
energetic, friendly, cheery, good-hearted and generous
persistent with wanting Scrooge at dinner
embodiment of Christmas ideals
keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine
no interest in spending time with Fred- exiled himself to fringe of society
scrooge thinks he feels better alone
doesn’t show any affection
I wear the chain I forged in life
Marley’s everlasting punishment is the justice for his choices in life that were similair to Scrooge’s
He valued money and business over other’s welfare and now watches others do the same thing(guilty of failing humanity)
What reason do you have to be merry? You’re poor enough
sees himself as superior because he’s richer
snobbish and materialistic- capitalist view
rude and doesn’t understand the meaning of christmas
I am here tonight to warn you, that you have a chance of escaping my fate
Marley feels determined to help Scrooge change his ways(the same ones that led Marley to his torture)
Dickens is saying everyone deserves a second chance: a shot at redemption
