Ebenzer Scrooge Flashcards
1
Q
” A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner “
A
- Perhaps Dickens uses the ASYNDETIC LISTING to LEAVE THE READER BREATHLESS to REFLECT how the NARRATOR is OVERWHELMED by Scrooge’s EXTREMELY HARSH NATURE
- RELENTLESS VERBS are used to PORTRAY Scrooge’s LACK OF SYMPATHY. This makes it DIFFICULT for us as READERS to FEEL SYMPATHETIC towards Scrooge. Perhaps this could be done on PURPOSE by Dicken’s to CONVEY how PESSIMISTIC Scrooge WAS
- VERBS are SEMANTICALLY LINKED to CREATE an IMAGE OF A TIGHT HAND. Perhaps Dicken’s does this to REFLECT Scrooge’s MATERIALISM and SINGLE-MINDED FOCUS FOCUS on AQUIRING WEALTH
- The fact that Dicken’s USES a LIST OF 7 to DESCRIBE Scrooge here PERHAPS could be USED to DESCRIBE Scrooge’s NEGATIVE CHARACTER. This is SYMBOLIC of THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS - GREED in particular
- Dickens is CRITICISING BUSINESMEN and FACTORY OWNERS, LIKE Scrooge who at the time were SELFISH with their MONEY DESPITE being SURROUNDED by POVERTY. Dickens BELIEVED it was the duty of someone with Scrooge’s wealth to HELP the poor
2
Q
” I’m quite a baby “
A
- This quote JUXTAPOSES from the EARLIER DESCRIPTIONS Scrooge such as ‘ covetous old sinner ‘ to PORTRAY his DRMATIC TRANSFORMATION
- The IMAGE of A ‘ baby ‘ has CONNOTATIONS of INNOCENCE which PORTRAYS that Scrooge NOW has CHANGED, he has been FORGIVEN for his SINS. This is Dickens way of CONVEYING his BELIEF that ANYONE, even Scrooge, can be REDEEMED
- This IDEA of DICKENS BELIEF is REINFORCED by the IDEA of Scrooge being OLD at the START OF THE NOVELLA and being YOUNG, like a “baby”, at the END OF THE NOVELLA. Dickens uses the JUXTAPOSITION of Scrooge’s AGE to PORTRAY he has been REBORN to HIGHLIGHT the EXTENT of HIS CHANGE
2
Q
” As solitary as an oyster “
A
- The ADJECTIVE ‘ solitary ‘ DEPICTS Scrooge as an ISOLATED, UNSOCIABLE and HOSTILE INDIVIDUAL
- This quote JUXTAPOSES the ADJECTIVE ‘ solitary ‘ and ‘ oyster ‘ as the IMAGE of an OYSTER is that they have a HARD and DARK EXTERIOR but contain a BEAUTIFUL and PRECIOUS PEARL INSIDE. Perhaps Dickens uses this quote as FORESHADOWING for Scrooge’s TRANSFORMATION
- Perhaps Dickens is INDICATING that Scrooge will BREAK out of his EMOTIONLESS SHELL and REVEAL his PHILANTHROPIC SELF
- Perhaps this is Dickens MAKING A CRITISCISIM of the INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION at the time and THROUGH the CHARACTER of Scrooge PORTRAYING the NEGATIVE EFFECTS it can have on PEOPLE
3
Q
” A squeezing, … , … , … , clutching, … old sinner “
A
” A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner “
4
Q
” I’m … a … “
A
” I’m quite a baby “
5
Q
” As … as an … “
A
” As solitary as an oyster “
