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christmas carol > Characters > Flashcards

Characters Flashcards

1
Q

Scrooge - miserly (2)

A

“a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!”

“from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire”

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2
Q

Scrooge - Cold-hearted + Unfeeling (2)

A

“cold within him”

“No wind that blew was bitterer than he”

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3
Q

Scrooge - Unsympathetic (2)

A

“He kept the coal box in his own room”

“If they would rather die […] they had better do it and decrease the surplus population” - Relates to Malthusian Theory

  • Links to poverty and social responsibility (theme) - he is apathetic about the plight of the poor, he believes his taxes pay for prisons and workhouses so he doesn’t feel he needs to donate to charity.
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4
Q

Scrooge - Isolated (2)

A

“solitary as an oyster”

“secret and self-contained”

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5
Q

Scrooge - Christmas Spirit (Theme)

A

-Sees Christmas purely in monetary terms
-Questions how Fred can be merry when he is “poor enough” (Scrooge links happiness with money)

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6
Q

Scrooge (at the end) - Charitable

A

“endeavour to assist your struggling family”

“I’ll raise your salary”

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7
Q

Scrooge (at the end) - Values family and companionship

A

-“to Tiny Tim […] he was a second father”

-went to see Fred

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8
Q

Scrooge (at the end) - Sociable

A

“became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city new”

“Wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful unamity”

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9
Q

Scrooge (at the end) - Happy

A

“Good Morning sir! A merry Christmas to you!”

“His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him”

“Scrooge regarded every one with a delighted smile”

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10
Q

Scrooge (at the end) - Christmas Spirit (theme)

A

promises to “honour Christmas” in his heart and to “try to keep it all the year”

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11
Q

Scrooge (at the end) - Redemption (theme)

A

Realises that “the time before him was his own to make amends in” - he can use the rest of his life to make up for his previous behaviour.

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12
Q

Fred - Jovial (1)

A

“Scrooge’s nephew revelled in another laugh”

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13
Q

Fred - Purpose in the novella

A
  • A mouthpiece for Dickens
  • Dickens uses Fred as a foil to Scrooge’s character. The differences between them emphasise Scrooge’s negative qualities.
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14
Q

Fred - Caring (1)

A

“Bob told them of the extraordinary kindness of Mr Scrooge’s nephew”

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15
Q

Fred - Even-tempered (2)

A
  • says he “couldn’t be angry” with Scrooge if he tried
  • “I’ll keep my Christmas humour to the last”
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16
Q

Fred - Happy + Laughter

A

-Fred’s laugh is “irresistibly contagious”

  • Dickens links the theme of family with the idea of happiness.
  • For example, Fred’s family are shown having fun together as they celebrate Christmas.
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17
Q

Fred - Christmas Spirit (theme)

A

-Presented as someone who shows lots of the values associated with Christmas and the Christmas spirit

  • “A merry Christmas Uncle! God save you!”
  • “I mean to give him the same chance every year, whether he likes it or not”
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18
Q

Bob Cratchit - Kind and devoted father

A
  • Hugs Martha “to his heart’s content” when she appears
  • Tries to be cheerful for his family even in grief - “‘I am very happy,’ said little Bob”
  • Caring and tender with Tiny Tim - sits “very close to his father’s side”
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19
Q

Bob Cratchit - Uncomplaining and tolerant

A

Works quietly in his “dismal little cell” of an office despite bitter cold.

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20
Q

Bob Cratchit - Family (theme)

A

He is very close to children - especially Tim - which makes his grief at losing him even sadder for the reader.

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21
Q

Cratchits - Family (theme)

A

Unlike Scrooge, who’s rich but lonely, the Cratchit family are poor, but rich in love. The Cratchits’ happiness shows that family and companionship is more likely to bring happiness than money.

this is shown:
“kissing her a dozen times”
-hyperbole
-emphasises love between Bob and Mrs Cratchit - very close and loving family

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22
Q

Cratchits - purpose in the novella

A

Cratchits are presented as a perfect, good family. Dickens idealises the Cratchits so his middle and upper class readers would be more likely to sympathise with them than if they were realistic and flawed.

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23
Q

Mrs Cratchit - Protective of family’s feelings when Tim dies

A

Speaks in a “steady, cheerful voice” and hides her “weak eyes” from Bob

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24
Q

Mrs Cratchit - Works hard to make family happy

A

Goose has to be “eked out” to feed whole family but Cratchits greet food with “universal admiration”.

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25
Q

Mrs Cratchit - Opinion of Scrooge

A

Thinks Scrooge is an “odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man” but still drinks to his health because Bob wants her to.

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26
Q

Young Cratchits - Excitable

A

They “crammed spoons into their mouths, lest they should shriek for goose”.
-Excitement adds to the positivity of the Cratchit household.

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27
Q

Tiny Tim - Fragile and very ill [2]

A
  • “Feebly cried Hurrah!”
  • “Tiny Tim, bore a little crutch, his limbs supported by an iron frame.”
28
Q

Tiny Tim - Presented as a good character by showing his religious nature [2]

A
  • “Who made lame beggars walk”
  • “God bless us every one!”
29
Q

Tiny Tim - “and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father.”

A

Poverty (theme)

Shows how poverty can lead to suffering and death. If Scrooge hadn’t helped the Cratchits, Tiny Tim would’ve died.

30
Q

Marley - Redemption (theme)

A

Scrooge is lucky - Marley implies most people are already doomed to their fates, but Scrooge will get one last chance at redemption.

Selfless - Marley’s presence now is “a chance and hope” of his own “procuring”, suggesting he’s tried (and succeeded) to find a way to help Scrooge.

31
Q

Marley - “I wear the chain I forged in life… I made it link by link”

A

He regrets his past life and he’s trying to help Scrooge escape the same fate as him.

32
Q

Marley - similar personality to Scrooge

A

“two kindred spirits” who are obsessed with money and don’t care about other people.

33
Q

Marley - Purpose in the novella

A

To warn Scrooge about what will happen after he dies unless he changes

34
Q

Marley - Terrifying [3]

A

-“the spectre’s voice disturbed the very marrow in his bones”

-“the chilling influence” of his “death-cold eyes”

-“lower jaw dropped down upon its breast”

35
Q

Marley - Links to ideas of hell and internal suffering

A

Marley gives off an “infernal” (hellish) atmosphere, and his clothes are “agitated as by the hot vapour from an oven”

36
Q

Ghost of Christmas Past - Represents memory + truth

A
  • A “bright, clear jet of light” shines from its head.
  • Light could symbolise truth that can be found in memories.
37
Q

Ghost of Christmas Past - Forceful

A

“But the relentless ghost pinioned him in both of his arms, and forced him to observe”
- Seems cruel but helped Scrooge to learn (memory of Belle is “torture” for Scrooge)

38
Q

Ghost of Christmas Past
- “What is the matter?… Something, I think?”

A

Spirit makes Scrooge explain things that he realises (insistent questions)

39
Q

Ghost of Christmas Past - Effect on reader

A
  • Helps reader sympathise with Scrooge
  • Parts of his childhood were miserable
  • He wasn’t always so cold and unfeeling
40
Q

Ghost of Christmas Past - Mysterious

A

“It was a strange figure”

41
Q

Ghost of Christmas Past - Appearance

A
  • Strange mixture of child-like and aged.
  • Connected through Scrooge’s memory, to different stages of Scrooge’s life.
42
Q

Ghost of Christmas Present - Compassionate

A
  • Sprinkles incense and water from it’s torch as a blessing, restores “good humour” of angry people so they can enjoy Christmas.
  • Has “sympathy with all poor men”, at the sight of Ignorance and Want.
43
Q

Ghost of Christmas Present - Torch

A

Resembles “Plenty’s horn” (a symbol of abundance from Greek and Roman mythology).

44
Q

Ghost of Christmas Present - Links to poverty

A
  • Spirit speaks emotionally about way society ignores problem of poverty
  • Argues that society denies the problems of ignorance and want
  • Suggests ignoring problems will eventually lead to society’s “Doom”
  • Cares about poor, and challenges Scrooge’s previous harsh words about poverty - calling them “wicked”
45
Q

Ghost of Christmas Present - Friendly + Jolly

A
  • “Come in! and know me better, man!”
  • “there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see”
46
Q

Ghost of Christmas Present - Peace

A
  • Has scabbard with no sword + it is rusted - suggests Christmas should be a time for peace not fighting.
47
Q

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - Purpose + Appearance

A
  • It represents Scrooge’s future
  • Similar in appearance to the Grim Reaper - Victorian readers would have recognised as a symbol of approaching death.
  • “Shrouded in a deep black garment”
48
Q

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - Silent, intimidating + mysterious

A
  • Points instead of speaking and won’t answer questions
  • Adds to sense of mystery surrounding it
  • “it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery”
49
Q

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - Frightening

A

“Scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled beneath him”

50
Q

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - Only shows reaction when Scrooge begins to beg

A
  • “Kind hand trembled”
  • Could suggest ghost pities Scrooge
  • Reminds reader that the ghosts are trying to help him
51
Q

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come - Resolute

A

“the spirit did not stay for anything”

52
Q

Fezziwig - Purpose in the novella

A
  • A contrast to Scrooge but a model for the man he later becomes
53
Q

Fan - Purpose in the novella

A
  • Helps to break Scrooge’s isolation
  • Dead by the time the main events in the book take place - makes reader pity Scrooge
54
Q

Fezziwig - Jovial + energetic

A
  • He and his wife danced vigorously
  • His calves shone “like moons” whilst he danced.
  • This light-hearted simile makes the dancing seem humorous and playful.
55
Q

Fezziwig - Businessman with a generous heart

A
  • Has the power to make people’s lives good or bad, chooses good.
  • Doesn’t spend lots of money on party but what he does spend is used to bring joy to others.
  • He makes his warehouse “snug, and warm, and dry, and bright” for Christmas party for family + workers
  • Contrasts Scrooge’s mean, dark office
56
Q

Fan - Strong bond with Scrooge

A
  • He calls her “quite a woman”
  • She calls him “Dear, dear brother”
57
Q

Fan - Affectionate, loving, full of laughter

A
  • “She had a large heart”
58
Q

Fan - Family (theme)

A
  • Asked her father more than once to let Scrooge come home (she eventually succeeds).
  • Her excitement shows how important it is for her to spend Christmas with him.
  • Parallel to the way her son insists on inviting Scrooge for Christmas every year until he changes his mind. Fan and Fred both want him to be part of their family life.
59
Q

Belle - Purpose in the novella

A
  • “gain, engrosses you” - only money matters to him
  • She tells him hard truths.
  • Releases Scrooge from their engagement because she sees he has begun to love money more than her.
  • She’s poor and knows that Scrooge, who weighs “everything by gain”, has become reluctant to marry her.
  • Their separation is a huge turning point in Scrooge’s life.
  • Belle ends up with a family and a home, which despite being “not very large or handsome”, is “full of comfort”. In contrast, Scrooge chooses a lonely life devoted to money.
60
Q

Charity Collectors - Purpose in the text

A
  • 2 “portly”, “pleasant” men, who visit Scrooge’s office looking for destinations to the poor.
  • Have a sense of social responsibility.
  • They convey Dickens’s belief that prisons and workhouses weren’t acceptable places to send the poor - many people “would rather die” than go to one.
  • They point out the importance of understanding their social responsibility to those who are less fortunate than others.
61
Q

Charity Collectors

A
  • Have compassion for the poor, and show importance of charity at Christmas - a time where “Want is keenly felt” among those in poverty.
62
Q

Joe + Thieves - Poverty (theme)

A
  • He runs a seedy, disreputable shop in a filthy part of the City.
  • Description of area around shop - which “reeked with crime, with filth, and misery” - is brutal and shocking. Dickens doesn’t romanticise poverty here.
63
Q

Joe + Thieves - Purpose in the novella

A
  • As greedy and ruthless as Scrooge.
  • Three thieves feel justified in stealing Scrooge’s possessions.
  • It’s “no sin” because Scrooge was a “wicked old screw” while he was alive.
64
Q

Joe + Thieves - Disrespectful about Scrooge

A
  • Laugh about thefts
  • One takes shirt from his corpse - would have been “wasted” on him
65
Q

Wealthy London Businessmen - Purpose in the novella

A
  • Don’t care about Scrooge
  • Represent greedy rich people of Victorian society
  • Obsessed with wealth - they play with “great gold seals” and jingle money in their pockets
  • One has a “monstrous chin” and another has growth on his nose that “shook like the gills of a turkey cock” - this dehumanises them and reflects the ugliness of their attitudes.

christmas carol (3 decks)

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