ghost of christmas ytc

Question 1

“___ in a deep black ___”
- STAVE 4
- selfishness / materialism
- supernatural
- religion
- regret / redemption

Answer 1

“shrouded in a deep black garment”
- visual parallel suggest that Scrooge’s prospects for redemption have dwindled & he now faces an unavoidable journey towards his ominous demise by the “inexorable” hand.

• the archetype of the menacing , faceless ghost haunting Scrooge serves to illuminate the gravity of his misanthropy . This dark & malevolent supernatural presence symbolises the justly forceful intervention needed to catalyse his transformation

Question 2

“it was a ___ place… overrun by ___ & ___”
- STAVE 4
- religion
- social injustice
- selfishness / materialism

Answer 2

“It was a worthy place.. overrun by grass & weeds”
- use of terms like “overrun” & “grass + weeds” creates a semantic field of decay , serving as a mocking commentary on Scrooge’s life. Ironically the vitality & life of the surrounding plants highlights his own insignificance

• serves as a criticism of his materialistic experience , suggesting that he has become even more insignificant than the decaying plants surrounding his grave
• through the ghosts portrayal of Scrooges proleptic death, dickens emphasises the dire consequences of neglecting one’s moral & civic duties , suggesting that such neglect will inevitably lead to eternal neglect & oblivion in death
• exclamatory sentence of “a worthy place” serves as a form of karmic retribution , where scrooges frugal & miserly existence is met with just punishment . This message , delivered by the menacing ghost , imbues the scene with a hellish undertone , evoking a sense of divine justice
• In the Victorian era, readers would find solace in Scrooge’s punishment due to their strong religious beliefs - eternal damnation & divine judgement was a deeply ingrained fear in society. Thus , scrooges rightful punishment reinforces the cautionary tale that excessive covetousness & materialism will ultimately lead to divine condemnation