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English lit > Christmas carol > Flashcards

Christmas carol Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

‘Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at
the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing,
wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching,
covetous, old sinner!’

Stave 1 page 20

A
  1. Description of Scrooge
  2. Oh shows emotion
  3. Adjectives linked with hand and how tightly he held onto things-his wealth
  4. Squeeze money out of people
  5. 7 adjectives-seven deadly sins
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2
Q

‘Hard and sharp as flint, from which no
steel had ever struck out generous fire;
secret and self-contained, solitary as an
oyster.’

Stave 1, page 70

A
  1. Description of Scrooge
  2. Flint and oysters are not palatable things to be compared to
  3. No human has ever gained warmth from him
  4. It will take a lot to prise him open but it could be worth it
  5. There could be a pearl inside-foreshadowing-simile
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3
Q

‘It was cold, bleak, biting weather.’

Stave 1, page 21

A
  1. Description if the weather
  2. Personification
    3.Scrooge’s lack of enjoyment in life
    4.Heart is cold
    5.His life is bleak
    6.He created a fog out of his own unhappiness
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4
Q

‘Scrooge had a very small fire, but the
clerk’s fire was so very much smaller
that it looked like one coal.’

Stave 1, page 21

A
  1. Scrooges lack of generosity
  2. His small fire respresents his miserly fire
  3. intensifier ‘very’ emphasises how little generosity is shown
  4. His meanness expands to his clerk who suffers as well due to his lack of generosity
  5. It also may represent his poor situation
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5
Q

‘Bah!’ said Scrooge, ‘Humbug!’

Stave 1, page 22

A
  1. It is an exclamation which shows his dislike for the christmas season.
  2. He believes it to be a trick and thinks it is decieving as in the Christmas spirit.
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6
Q

‘Every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry
Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled
with his own pudding and buried with a
stake of holly through his heart. He
should!’

Stave 1, page 23

A
  1. He feels hostility to those which present happy to him, shows he doesn’t fit in society
  2. A comical line which keeps Scrooge likeable enough to be able to have a change at the end of the novella but harsh enough so there is a change.
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7
Q

‘Are there no prisons?’ asked Scrooge

Stave 1, page 20

A
  1. He feels like nobody should worry about the poor as they have their place
  2. Similar to Dickens’ actual message to improve the working conditions for the poor
  3. Shows how inempathetic he is to the poor
  4. Dickens uses this to show how niave the rich can be to the poor and their lives
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8
Q

‘if they would rather die,’ said Scrooge,
‘they had better do it and decrease the
surplus population.’

Stave 1, page 29

A
  1. Scrooges perception on poor people
  2. Shows how he has a lack of empathy
  3. Shows he onlu cares about the economic and money side of things
  4. After the portly gentlemen said many people would rather die than work in a workhouse
  5. He sees the poor as a burden to society
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9
Q

‘The chain he drew was clasped about
his middle. It was long, and wound
about him like a tail; and it was made
(for Scrooge observed it closely) of cash-
boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds,
and heavy purses wrought in steel. His
body was transparent: so that Scrooge,
observing him, and looking through his
waistcoat, could see the two buttons on
his coat behind. ‘

Stave 1, page 38

A
  1. Description of Marley’s ghost
  2. He looks the same apart from his chains related to his life
  3. He only has chains related to business which shows how lonely his life is, as it is similar to Scrooges.
  4. Marley is used as the first signal to Scrooge to change
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10
Q

‘I wear the chain I forged in life,’ replied
the ghost.

Stave 1, page 40

A
  1. Verb “forged” implies Marley’s actions in life had dire implications in death- he made it himself
  2. “Chain”- noun- used as a symbol and metaphor for consequences of selfishness- he’s a prisoner, tied down
  3. Suffering due to his own actions
  4. A warning to scrooge
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11
Q

The air was filled with phantoms,
wandering hither and thither in reckless
haste, and moaning as they went. Every
one of them wore chains like Marley’s
Ghost; some few were linked together;
none were free.

Stave 1, page 43

A
  1. People that Scrooge knew were ghosts
  2. They all had chains
  3. Shows that Scroogge will almost definitley have chains and lots
  4. Also symbolises the tormented souls that have been affected by Scrooge’s negative actions
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12
Q

It was a strange figure – like a child: yet
not so like a child as like an old man.

Stave 2, page 50

A
  1. The Ghost of Christmas past
  2. Very contradictory and represents how our past informs our future
  3. Could represent the vague nature of memories
  4. Suggest memory serving as a bridge between different parts of his life
  5. Could show the lack of change in Scrooge
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13
Q

Its hair, which hung about its neck and
down its back was white as if with age;
and yet the face had not a wrinkle in it.

Stave 2, page 50

A
  1. Use of imagery to show the connection between memories again
  2. Shows the juxtaposition
  3. Also shows juxtaposition of gender with a stereotypical long hair for women
  4. Its shows how Scrooge is confused by it
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14
Q

But the strangest thing about it was,
that from the crown of its head there
sprung a bright clear jet of light.

Stave 2, page 51

A
  1. Represents the Ghosts knowledge
  2. Represents a path
  3. Represents purity
  4. Represents all of light and connotations
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15
Q

‘The school is not quite deserted,’ said
the Ghost. ‘A solitary child, neglected by
his friends, is left there still.’

Stave 2, page 54

A

1.Dickens gives the reader a hint to why Scrooge became a lonely man
2.Lets the reader empathise with Scrooge as he has a reason for being miserable
3.Repetition of solitary from oyster which could hint to a good side of Scrooge again

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16
Q

‘There was a boy singing a Christmas
Carol at my door last night. I should
have liked to have given him something:
that’s all.’

Stave 2, page 50

A
  1. Shows regret for the first time shown by Scrooge
  2. Shows a sad feeling that he has before repressed
  3. Relating to his younger self, he remembers the child he rejected forcefully who tried to sing to him
  4. Whether his empathy with the boy results from the boy’s solitary status or his poverty, the incident rekindles Scrooge’s instinct for kindness.
17
Q

‘Father is so much kinder than he used
to be, that home’s like Heaven!’

Stave 2, page 56

A
  1. Illustrates how Scrooge has been neglected by his father
  2. Shows that Scrooge does has a family again after introducing Fred
  3. The adjective kinder shows that in the past he was not infact kind
18
Q

‘Yo ho, my boys!’ said Fezziwig. ‘No
more work tonight. Christmas Eve,
Ebenezer!’

Stave 2, page 60

A
  1. yo ho shows the lack of standardised English and the relaxed nature shown by Fezziwig
  2. Fezziwig shows how Scrooge could have been to his clerk
  3. Direct contrast to Scrooge telling Bob to come into work
  4. My boys yet again shows how informal fezziwig is
  5. Fezziwig symbolises generosity and compassion
19
Q

‘I should like to be able to say a word or
two to my clerk just now! That’s all.’

Stave 2, page 64

A
  1. Scrooge wishing to be as generous to his clerk as Fezziwig was to him
  2. Another source to show that he was guilty for not being good in his past
  3. Could symbolise early stages of change in his perception
20
Q

‘I release you. With a full heart, for the
love of him you once were.’

Stave 2, page 64

A
  1. Signinficant to Scrooge as it was an early warning to what his greed could cost him-his love life
  2. After Belle had broken up with him
  3. Could be seen as a warning to the audience this book was presented to
21
Q

‘…there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see;
who bore a glowing torch, in shape not
unlike Plenty’s horn, and held it up, high
up, to shed its light on Scrooge…’

Stave 3, page 76

A
  1. The Spirit is a large, happy man. The noun phrase “jolly Giant” position the Ghost as non-threatening to both Scrooge and the reader. This is a Spirit whose physical presence and jolliness fill the room, perhaps symbolising Dickens’s desire for goodwill to others in all its form to spread in a similar way
  2. The “horn” is a Horn of Plenty, a symbol of abundance, good fortune and fertility. We have more images from the semantic field of light with the “glowing” torch, held high to “shed its light” on Scrooge. As with the Ghost of Christmas Past, the light symbolises knowledge. The spirit has come to literally and metaphorically shed light on Scrooge’s misdemeanours so that he realises that he needs to change
  3. Dickens uses the Spirit to show Scrooge how others are celebrating Christmas. Despite their poverty, the Cratchits, miners, sailors all celebrate Christmas in a similar way: there is a sense of community, Christmas Day is special, there is good will to others, and singing. Remembering Christ’s message brings out the best in them. Fred is wealthier (despite Scrooge calling him poor), yet he shows a similar generosity of spirit at his party. All of these Christmases contrast with Scrooge’s experiences and, when we see him enjoy the party games at Fred’s, we realise that his character has undergone a significant shift in its development
22
Q

There never was such a goose……Eked
out by apple sauce and mashed
potatoes, it was a sufficient dinner for
the whole family.

Stave 3, page 86

A
  1. Sufficient shows the dinner was not massive
  2. Goose shows that the family is poor as rich would have turkeys
  3. Shows to the reader and to Scrooge that money does not make the Cratchits happy
  4. They were grateful for what they had
22
Q

They were a boy and a girl. Yellow,
meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but
prostrate, too, in their humility….
‘This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want.
Beware them both, and all of their
degree, but most of all beware this boy,
for on his brow I see that written which
is Doom…’

Stave 3, page 99

A
  1. Ignorance symbolises the things that we ignore and remain oblivious to
  2. The adjectives are all negative, which shows the two things are not to be desired
  3. They symbolise the poor and how they have been forgotten and neglected in Victorian society
23
Q

‘Have they no refuge or resource?’ cried
Scrooge.
‘Are there no prisons?’ said the Spirit,
turning on him for the last time with his
own words.’ Are there no work houses?’

Stave 3, page 100

A
  1. Shows the redemption Scrooge has gone through for his first thoughts not to be workhouses
  2. The Ghost reflects his own thoughts back at him
  3. Scrooge crying it emphasizes the change that he has gone through to show this amount of empathy for the poor
24
Q

The phantom slowly, gravely, silently,
approached.
It was shrouded in a deep black
garment, which concealed its head, its
face, its form

Stave 4, page 104

A
  1. Suggests the creature is ambiguous and mysterious
  2. Shrouded keeps the identity closed-this could represent the future not being set and not being able to see
  3. The Ghost of Christmas yet to come’s description
  4. The small features you can see e.g. his head is the things of your future that are unchangable-shows Scrooge can change lots
  5. Scares the reader
25
Q

‘Ghost of the Future!’ he exclaimed. ‘I
fear you more than any spectre I have
seen.

Stave 4, page 104

A
  1. Shows the respect he shows
  2. Could represent a bad side to Scrooge where he is only influenced to change if the ghost insists by being threatening.
  3. Spectre-another word for ghost
  4. Exclaimed shows emotion
26
Q

They left the busy scene, and went into
an obscure part of the town, where
scrooge had never penetrated
before

Stave 4, page 107

A
  1. Could show how niave rich people are
  2. Shows that Scrooge has lived a sheltered life
  3. Symbolises his ignorance which could show the ignorance of all rich people
27
Q

A pale light, rising in the outer air, fell
straight upon the bed; and on it,
plundered and bereft, unwatched,
unwept, uncared for, was the body of
this

Stave 4, page 111

A
  1. Shows to Scrooge what could happen if he doesn’t change
  2. Light connotations
  3. Power of 3, with aliteration shows the emphasis of the uncared for aspect
  4. Shows Scrooge dead
28
Q

‘Are these the shadows of the things
that Will be, or are they the shadows of
things that May be only?’

Stave 4, page 119

A
  1. Scrooge finally realising how he needs to change
  2. This could also represent a shift in the readers attitude
  3. He is worried
  4. Shadows-not set so they can be changed-foreshadowing
29
Q

Scrooge crept towards it, trembling as
he went; and following the finger, read
upon the stone of the Neglected grave
his own name, EBENEZER SCROOGE.

Stave 4, page 121

A
  1. Neglected shows that he still is not cared for
  2. His name - the point of realisation
  3. Trembling-emotion which is not usually shown
  4. Lots of hints to suggest he has changed
30
Q

‘I will honour Christmas in my heart, and
try to keep it all the year. I will live in the
past, the present, and the Future. The
Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.
I will not shut out the lessons that they
teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away
the writing on this stone!’

Stave 4, page 120

A
  1. He starts to agree Christmas is a good time
  2. Sponge away part shows it will be difficult as you can’t sponge away an engravement
  3. Shows Scrooge yet again being niave and underestimating it
  4. He won’t shut out the lessons so the reader could also take it as a lesson
31
Q

I am as light as a feather, I am as happy
as an angel. I am as merry as a school
boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man.

Stave 5, page 123

A
  1. He is using similes to represent his happiness
  2. He is using words which have never been associated with him before representing change
  3. Angel-christian imagery
  4. Innocent ideas which would contradict Marley’s ideas of him carrying a burden
  5. Redefining himself
32
Q

‘It’s Christmas day!’ said Scrooge to
himself. ‘I haven’t missed it. The spirits
have done it all in one night.’

Stave 5 page 124

A
  1. Shows how he has cared about the spirits and has not missed it
  2. Shows how he valued the spirits
  3. Time imagery where they manipulate time
  4. Shows to the reader how easy it is to be influenced into being a good person
33
Q

‘if you please, ‘said Scrooge. ‘Not a
farthing less. A great many back-
payments are included in it, I assure
you.’

Stave 5, page 126

A
  1. A change in his perception towards the poor
  2. Shows how he has also changed as in being nice to the portly gentlemen
  3. Being generous as he is giving money-first time seeing him spend in the book
34
Q

‘It’s I. Your Uncle Scrooge. I have come
to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?’

Stave 5, page 127

A
  1. Shows his change in thought with his family
  2. Not sure if he will be allowed due to them saying things earlier
  3. A contrast to earlier where he didn’t want to go to dinner
35
Q

‘…and therefore I am about to raise your
salary!’

Stave 5, page 128

A
  1. Shows a more generous change
  2. Shows humour shown by Scrooge
  3. Shows to his Clerk that he is being nice to him
  4. Being more like Fezziwig
36
Q

Scrooge was better than his word. He
did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny
Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second
father.

Stave 5, page 129

A
  1. Ending on Tiny Tim- a main emotional placeholder
  2. Father shows that he is caring unlike the father he had
  3. Better shows he has done well adapting to the change
  4. Tiny tim representing the poor situation
37
Q

he could not hide the light: which streamed from under it

Stave 2 page 72

A
  1. Shows that Scrooge’s past will always stay with him
  2. Despite Scrooge’s efforts, he cannot “hide” or escape his memories, and the fact that they’re the influence that has shaped his character and life in the present, nor the “light” symbolizing the truth that they bring. The light being unhidable could also suggest a change in Scrooge has been triggered by seeing his memories and the truth they show, which cannot be undone.

English lit (3 decks)

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