Christmas carol Flashcards
What is a misanthropist
a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society. A person who is not willing to help or support other people
How was scrooge a misanthropist
When charity workers come to scrooge to collect money he says ‘‘Are there no prisons are there no workhouses” He then later says “I help to support the establishments I have mentioned: they cost enough”
he is suggesting he pays enough to society through his taxes.
shows his ignorance
how does dickens use the supernatural to convey his message
Dickens uses the supernatural as a catalyst to bring about a change in Scrooge and to appeal to the inherent goodness inside humanity in order to show everyone has the capacity to change.
A quote about scrooges childhood isolation
A lonely boy was reading near a feeble fire
The adjective feeble can mean lacking strength of character. this shows scrooges insecurities and gives a reader and idea to why he acts like he does
This quote portrays him as vulnerable and causes the reader to become more empathetic
from stave 2
2 quotes to show scrooges lack of charity from stave 1
“If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.
It’s not my business,” Scrooge returned. “It’s enough for a man to understand his own business,
In stave 1
The adjective surplus shows that Scroogee thinks there is more than what is needed or used; excess. amount of population
quotes that show the charitable spirit of the Cratchit family
“God bless us every one!” said Tiny Tim
“Mr Scrooge!” said Bob; “I’ll give you Mr Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!”
Oh, a wonderful pudding! Bob Cratchit said, and calmly too, that he regarded it as the greatest success achieved by Mrs Cratchit since their marriage.
Although Scrooge isa horrible person towards them he is still appreciated by the Cratchits
Quote that shows scrooge getting closer to the cratchit family
To Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father.
the Cratchit family and scrooge are now close and show the end of scrooges redemption
who was Thomas malthus
Thomas Malthus wrote ‘An essay on the Principle of Population’, in 1798, that stated that population growth would grow faster than food supplies. This overpopulation meant that poverty was inevitable and the poor would die of famine.
what are examples of scrooges isolated life at early and later stages in the play
In stave 2 scrooge is said to be “a lonely boy was reading by a feeble fire”
here he gives a reason for why some of the events have happened further later on in his life. the fire imgaery is also present in this quote
later on in the play
what is Marleys main role within the novella
his main role is to warn scrooge about what will happen unless he changes, most likely he will die.
Marley and scrooge are very similar personalities and how Marley comes across as his ghost makes the message he makes more important he is presented with “death cold eyes” “a chilling influence” and he has chains attached to him that pull him down he is the definition of a horrible image and this is designed to scare scrooge and make him consider how e could redeem himself.
Marley regrets that he didn’t change his ways and he wants to help scrooge.
what was the poor law
In 1834, nine years before Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, the Poor Law Amendment Act made it much harder for people to get financial help from the government. Instead of giving poor people money, it was decided that they should go to workhouses where, in return for food and shelter, they had to work very hard, in terrible conditions. Dickens believed the workhouses were cruel and not helpful to the poor.
what happened in Charles dickens childhood that was significant in him writing the play
In 1824, when Dickens was 12 years old, his father was sent to prison because he owed money and couldn’t pay it back. Dickens went to work in a factory, while his mother and younger siblings lived in prison with his father. Dickens realised how important family was and how hard life was for people with little money, like the Cratchits.
what is dickens message for the wealthier people within victorian society
Like many rich Victorians, Scrooge is in favour of the workhouses. When he is asked to donate to charity in Stave One he asks whether the prisons and workhouses are still in operation. Through Scrooge’s personal journey of change, Dickens shows how wealthy Victorians could help to improve society for everyone by showing more kindness.
why is the contrast between stave 1 and stave 5 significant within a Christmas Carol
Scrooge does many of the same things in Stave Five as he did in Stave One, but in Stave Five he does them the right way. These contrasts show how much Scrooge has changed.
some of the contrasts between stave one and stave 5 are shown bellow
Scrooge rudely turns down Fred’s invitation
Scrooge goes to Fred’s house for Christmas dinner
Scrooge refuses to give any money to charity
Scrooge donates a large amount of money to charity
Scrooge refuses to give Bob Cratchit any more coal for the fire
Scrooge tells Bob to “make up the fires”
Dickens repeats the word “melancholy”
Dickens repeats the word “chuckle”
The weather is very cold and foggy The weather is bright
Activity
how is scrooge shown to have changes his misanthropist ways from the start of the play at the end of the play
He Is a different man after his redemption he says many different quotes that show a large contrast between the begging and end of the play
At one point he laughs and says he is as “merry as a school boy” This is change from the begging when he was shown to be alone in school it could be what he hopped his childhood could be like.
he was also sociable at the end calling Freds gathering a “wonderful party, wonderful games, wonderful unanimity
