[Part 3]- Scrooge

Question 1

‘growled’ 🐺

Hint: compares Scrooge to

Answer 1

• the verb ‘growled’ compares Scrooge to a wolfish animal [link to ignorance and want].
• And Dickens’ use of zoomorphism, perhaps implies that the middle and upper-middle class [ruling classes] treat the working class like animals.

Question 2

‘growled’ 🐺

Hint: seen as teachers in Europe- why?

Answer 2

• Though it’s also interesting to note, that wolves are sometimes seen as teachers in Europe because, they teach tough lessons [; they’re also feared]
• therefore this reflects, how although it’s a tough moral lesson to accept, Dickens’ moral lesson must be accepted, otherwise Scrooge and Dickens’ Victorian readers will be damned to walk the Earth, like Marley

Question 3

‘ogre’

Answer 3

• L- the Cratchit family metaphorically compare Scrooge to an ‘ogre’, as they believe he doesn’t pay Bob Cratchit enough

Question 4

‘ogre’ 🥩

Hints: feeds on human flesh

Answer 4

• L- ‘ogre’- ; the noun ogre means a monster, that feeds on human flesh.
• [perhaps implying that like an ogre feeds on human flesh, Scrooge feeds on the poor by exploiting them]

Question 5

‘ogre’ 🥩

Hint: zoomorphism- why?

Answer 5

• Dickens’ use of zoomorphism, to metaphorically compare Scrooge to an ogre, perhaps also suggests that the Cratchit family [and the poor] are terrified of Scrooge
• This is because, like ogres are terrifying and frightening, so is Scrooge to them. [because of his behaviour and actions]

Question 6

‘ogre’ 🥩

Hint: what does the zoomorphism reinforce ?

Answer 6

• ; the use of zoomorphism also reinforces the idea of Scrooge being a monster.
• This is because, the noun ogre descends from French origin- and is from Orcus [a demon prince of the underworld, but most importantly an Etruscan and Roman God]- therefore this reinforces the idea of Scrooge as a frightening monster

Question 7

‘ogre’ 🥩

Answer 7

• Aditionally, it’s also interesting to note, that Ogres are also described as descendants of Cain [from Tolkien’s translation of the poem ‘Beowulf’, which was translated from Old English to modern English?]

Question 8

‘ogre’ 🥩

Answer 8

• by describing ogres as descendants of Cain, and then using a comparison of Scrooge to an ogre, it reflects how perhaps Scrooge now has to live in regret with the knowledge of the sins he committed
• This is because, like Cain [in Genesis] was punished by God for murdering Abel and then had to live with the fact he murdered his brother, so does Scrooge now have to live with the knowledge of his sins aswell

Question 9

What are some of Scrooge’s sins ?

Answer 9

• Scrooge plays a part in the poor [and less fortunate’s death], by exploiting his power and status [and position] in a Victorian society

Question 10

How is theme of light and darkness, represented in Scrooge ?

Answer 10

• light is associated with purity and warm has connotations of emotional warm

Question 11

How is theme of light and darkness, represented in Scrooge ?

Answer 11

• Scrooge tries to hide the light that comes from the Ghost of Christmas past’s head- the ghost of Christmas past is an embodiment of not only the past, but also light
• ; the ghost of Christmas yet to come is surrounded in darkness- representing of how Scrooge can’t see in the future, which is similar, to how he cannot see in darkness

Question 12

What can you tell me about Scrooge and the ghost of Christmas past ?

Answer 12

• although [Jacob] Marley’s ghost is the catalyst for Scrooge to change, the ghost of Christmas past is the beginning of Scrooge’s change [and rebirth]
• this is evident in Stave 2, as the ghost sees Scrooge lip is ‘trembling’. Dickens’ use of this adjective, reflects how Scrooge is starting to not only mentally, but physically change.

Question 13

‘Tonight if you aught to teach me, let me profit by it’ 🪙

Answer 13

• L- monetary semantic field- Scrooge knows he needs to change [to redeem his soul] but, he’s still using a monetary semantic field.
• This highlights how Scrooge wants to change for his own benefit, and doesn’t want to change for others’ benefits yet.

Question 14

‘Tonight if you aught to teach me, let me profit by it’ 🪙

Answer 14

• I= Alternatively, it could be be argued the semantic field of education suggests Scrooge wants to change for a genuine reasons- since he is no longer interested in earning profit, but instead wanting to profit for how own attitude.

Question 15

‘Tonight if you aught to teach me, let me profit by it’ 🪙

Answer 15

• D= Aditionally, this could also link to Rousseau’s philosophical theory: blank state theory- because this moment shapes Scrooge’s future rebirth in stave 5.

Question 16

‘Tonight if you aught to teach me, let me profit by it’ 🪙

Answer 16

• C= though contextually this link to education is important because, Dickens’ felt that a good education was important because, he though it could improve people’s quality of life.
• and without education, Dickens’ argued that people couldn’t escape their circumstances and improve their lives.

Question 17

‘Scrooge was overcome by penitence and grief’ 😞

Answer 17

• *this is Scrooge’s reaction to the ghost of Christmas past, as he repeats Scrooge’s own words of ‘are there no workhouses…’ when Scrooge asks about ignorance and want
• L- penitence- abstract noun- reflects how it’s a necessity for Scrooge to have regret for the sins he’s committed, otherwise he will be damned to walk the Earth, like Marley.
• Though the abstract noun also reflects, how Scrooge is an embodiment of the theme of [forgiveness, redemption] repentance

Question 18

‘It’s likely to be a very cheap funeral’ 🪦

Answer 18

• L- adjective- cheap echoes Dickens’ use of anaphora, earlier in the novella: ‘Darkness was cheap and Scrooge liked it’

Question 19

‘It’s likely to be a very cheap funeral’ 🪦

Answer 19

• there is no one, who wants to pay for his funeral and the businessmen don’t know anybody who will go to Scrooge’s funeral.
• And they say they’ll only go to Scrooge’s funeral if they’ll be provided with food- reflecting how they’re uncaring and have a lack of respect for the dead
• they only care about things they will benefit from, which Dickens’ urges against in his novella- link to moral lesson.

Question 20

‘It’s likely to be a very cheap funeral’ 🪦

Answer 20

• ; this also highlights the theme of isolation- because he’s rejected everyone, Scrooge is not only isolated in life but in death aswell.

Question 21

‘plundered’ and ‘overrun by grass and weeds’ 🥀

Answer 21

• L- emotive adjective- plundered- means to steals goods from a person, and because they steal from the dead body [for their own benefit] it reflects the small amount that they care for Scrooge.
• This is because, they [e.g- chairwoman] see him as a ‘weed’, that wasn’t natural in life

Question 22

What does it mean, that Scrooge wasn’t natural in his life ?

Answer 22

• Scrooge wasn’t natural in his life because:
• he didn’t have loved ones, or friends that cared for him.
• But if he did, he’d have somebody to look after him, instead of lying and gasping on his deathbed, alone.

Question 23

What does the quote ‘plundered’, suggest on a metaphorical level ?

Answer 23

• on a metaphorical level, it also reflects how the middle and upper-middle classes [the ruling classes] are stealing from the poor and less fortunate because, [like Scrooge], they exploit them

Question 24

‘plundered’ and ‘overrun by grass and weeds’ 🥀

Answer 24

• L- noun- weeds- a weed is a wild plant, that prevents other plants from freely growing.
• And on a metaphorical level, it suggests Scrooge is the weed- taking nutrients and resources from other plants [the poor and less fortunate in Victorian society]- he takes things from the poor and less fortunate that they need [e.g- money]

Question 25

What alternative interpretations p, relate to the quote: ‘plundered’ and ‘overrun by grass and weeds’ 🥀 ?

Answer 25

• ; a weed also prevents other plants from freely growing by also competing for space, restricts the other plants from having any space to blossom.
• I= so perhaps this comparison, also reflects how Scrooge and the middle and upper-middle class [ruling class] restrict the poor and less fortunate.

Question 26

How do the ruling classes, restrict the poor ?

Answer 26

• This is because, by taking their nutrients [resouces] it limits them from escaping their horrific circumstances.
• And, if Scrooge exploits the poor to the extent they have little money, they cannot access education and escape their circumstances- [contextual link to Dickens’ views of education, as a necessity]