Ghosts Flashcards
What is the importance of the spirits (2)
1they are central to Scrooges transformation and going from possible damnation to redemption
2 They all have slightly different roles and all presented slightly differently
What is the purpose of Marley
to make Scrooge fearful of what awaits him in the after life if he does not change
Are the spirits ghosts of people who have passed , what do they represent
no they are incarnations of Christmas
1 the first 2 force Scrooge to reconnect with his past (including painful memories) and show him how people are currently celebrating Christmas
2 The final spirit is the ghost of christmas yet to come who gives scrooge an indication of what the future might be like if he continues to be driven by money at the expense of those around him
to what does Scrooge associate the ghost of Christmas past
light
“from the crown of its head there spring a bright clear jet of light” “and it uses a great extinguisher for a cap”
How is light significant
Traditionally in literature light is a positive image representing hope - implies ghost of christmas past will not be a frightening ghost and is there to help Scrooge by reflect on his past Scrooge will learn more about himself and understand the impact of the choices he has made .
what other imagery does Dickens use to describe the ghosts of C past
colour imagery “wears a tunic of purest white” and holds a branch of green holly”
white symbolises innocence and purity associated with childhood or ghosts - positive conetations
Dickens describes an action by Scrooge when he distinguishes the ghosts light “ he siezed the extinguisher-cap and by a sudden action presssed it down upon it’s head. What is the purpose of this imagery
it seems like Scrooge is able to block out the painful memories of his childhood by blocking them out or extinguishing them as he does with the light of the Spirit.
However as Scrooge is unable to to extinguish the light completly suggests some of the lessons and memories of his time with the ghosts will remain with him
how is the ghost of christmas present described
1 as a large happy man “a jolly giant,”The phrase jolly giant makes the ghost non threatening to Scrooge and reader.
2 This is a spirit whose physical and jolliness fills the room. Dickens desire for goodwill to others is spread in a similar way
3 The horn is a symbol of good fortune and is another image from semantic field of light with his glowing torch held high to shed it’s light on Scrooge - again light symbolises knowledge spirit has come to shed on scrooges wrong doings so he can realise the need for change
what is significant about use of word shrouded
has 2 meanings
1- cloth covering a corpse
2 making something hard to see
