Ebenezer Scrooge Flashcards
what does Dickens use the character Scrooge to do (2)
1 to critise the divide between those who have money and those who dont
2 to teach that it is never to late to change your behaviour
what is Scrooge like
1 at the start of the novella he is a miserable, penny pincher but changes to a caring, compassionate citizen
how does Dickens show Scrooge is a lonely character
repetition of the adjective sole “sole executor, sole administrator, sole friend”. This emphasises his solitary nature
Give an examples of how Dickens expresses his opinion of Scrooge (3)
1 Dickens uses a list of adjectives “squeezing, gasping, clutching, old sinner. This list of adkectives suggests he wants to grab every penny from anyone he encounters.
2 They all have nasty connetations
3 from the start Dickens judeges scrooge making him appear wicked and influencing the reader to mistrust him
give an example of when Dickens uses a simile to describe Scrooge and explain
“hard and sharp as flint” the adjective hard suggests he lacks warmth, empathy and compassion. Sharp suggests pain implying he has no mercy towards others. Flint is used to create fire so Dicken’s may imply there is a spark of warmth within Scrooge who might change
give an example of when Dickens uses a similie to describe Scrooges character.
“Solitary as an oyster” this gives the impression Scrooge is like an oyster has a tough hard exterior and is closed to others. The similie is effective becasue it emphasises how he has chosen to isolate himself
Also that there may be more to be discovered just like when yu force an oyster open it may contain a pearl - Dicken is suggesting there may be something worthwhile found within Scrooge.
How does Dickens use temperature to explain Scrooges character
Dickens uses the imagery of coldness in early descriptions of Scrooge “ a frosty time was on his head and on his eyebrow and on his wiry chin … he carried his low temperature always about with him” Dickens uses the metaphore to emphasise his cold hearted nature and attitude towards others. The reader is forced to think of frost on every part of his face - low temperature is his attitude to others He was a coldhearted man.
when do readers begin to feel sympathy for Scrooge
1 when he becomes childlike with the ghost of Christmas past, when visiting his old school the ghost describes him as a “solitary child, neglected by his friends” Scrooge is alone but not by choice. The workd neglected develops readers emphathy when Scrooge sobs in response to the childs neglect - we see a different more empathtic side to Scrooge. This is the start of his transformation
2 when he is reminded of his sister Fran, his former employer Fezziwig and his fiance Belle. Scrooge begins to realise relationships not money bring happiness
reader begins to feel sorry for him we become interested in his transformation and celebrate with him at the end of the novella
when does the reader see Scrooges attitude is changing
When the ghost of Christmas present appears Dickens reminds us Scrooges attitude is changing “if you have aught to teach me, let me profit by it” Here he is prepared for the lessons that await him - have imagery on money the verb profit links to financial transactions we are reminded his transformation is still ongoing
State another moment that signals an important moment in Scrooges character
when Scrooge shows empathy to Tiny Tim. The ghost of Christmas present takes Scrooge to the Crachets house and Scrooge asks the ghost to tell him of the boys future
“tell me if Tiny Tim will live “Scrooge genuinly seems to care about the little boys fate
this contrasts with his earlier comment about the poor and how if they die they will “decrease the surplus population”
Certainly a change in attitude and now his hard attitude to the poor and needy being replaced with interest in their welfare
what does the ghost of Christmas yet to come do
warns Scrooge hw is facing a lonely end if he doesnt start thinking of others
what doe the reader realise about the dead man they are talking about
it is Scrooge and that they aim to profit from his death
how are these people showing a lack of respect - would does this mimic
calling him “a wicked old screw and by stealing the shirt he was to be buried in
it mimics Scooges attitude at the beginning towards others
how does their behaviour impact on Scrooge and why
he is shocked he doesnt understand that the deadman is himself until he reads the name on the headstone
how do we know Scrooge learns a lesson from each of the 3 ghosts
“the spirits of all 3 shall strive within me” - the verb strive implies he will work hard to apply the lessons
