scrooge

Question 1

” H S T E C A B A S A P I D U H H”
- STAVE 2
- supernatural
- redemption

Answer 1

he seized the extinguisher cap & by a sudden action pressed it down upon his head

• ethereal figure serves as more than a symbol of Scrooges past; symbolizes the supernatural intervention necessary for Scrooge’s spiritual awakening - wants to place the restrictive ‘cap’ upon its head in a Futile attempt to evade the necessary of confronting his own humanity & the repercussions of his actions
• ghost is presented with iridescent imagery as it has a ‘bright clear jet of light’ - symbolises that the ghost aspires to illuminate both the literal & metaphorical darkness in Scrooge’s life through revelation & reflection
• ghosts illumination of the past & its interconnected nature to present , offers Scrooge chance to embark on a pathway of redemption. However , his attempt to cover the ghost with the ‘cap’ signifies his reluctance to embrace the opportunity for redemption

Question 2

“Q A B ” & “M A A S B “
- stave 5
- selfishness / materialism
- social justice
- religion
- redemption / regret

Answer 2

‘Quite a baby’ ‘merry as a school boy’
both ‘baby’ & ‘schoolboy’ connote innocence & youth , he is showcasing how through him repenting for his sins- he’s regained his youthful innocence & ability to see the world in an untainted light - he now views it through compassion , kindness & benevolence

• concept of rebirth holds significance in Christianity - symbolizing a spiritual renewal & connection with god - deeply intertwined with the belief in Jesus Christ’s rebirth , which offered salvation to humanity.
• similarly , scrooges own rebirth may hold the promise of salvation & relief for the less fortunate , as he assumes a paternal role akin to a “second father” to tiny Tim , embodying compassion & generosity toward those in need

Question 3

“squeezing _____ grasping ____ clutching covetous old ____”
- selfishness
- selfishness / materialism
- social justice
- religion

Answer 3

“squeezing wrenching grasping scraping clutching covetous old sinner”

• use of 7 negative adjs mirrors how there are 7 deadly sins - known as cardinal sins - which were seen in the Bible as the root of all evil. As the foundations of Victorian morality was religion , the parallels between Scrooge & the sins are used by dickens to highlight how the rich , symbolized by Scrooge, are more inclined towards moral transgression than the poor
• dickens implicitly critiques societal structures , such as the 1984 poor law, which were ironically designed to address the perceived sin & laziness of the poor
• verbs ‘squeezing’ & ‘wrenching’ connote struggle - illustrates how Scrooge struggles to see the detrimental consequences of his frugality & thus, his role in perpetuating social inequality
• alt, the undertone of a struggle is used by dickens to illustrate how the avariciousness of the upper classes directly causes a struggle for the impoverished

Question 4

what were dickens intentions

Answer 4

• D crafts an allegorical novella with a didactic purpose , aiming to convey a message about the virulent consequences of avariciousness & frugality in society. Criticizes the upper class for their apathy toward the poor & their complicity in perpetuating dehumanizing laws & social structures through ignorance.
• D communicates to his upper class reader the important role of repentance & compassion increasing both personal & societal moral redemption . By holding up a mirror to his readership , he prompts the, to introspect & assess whether their attitudes perpetuate social injustice or contribute to social reform

Question 5

“yellow” “____” “scowling” - GOCP
- stave 3
- selfishness/ materialism
- social justice
- redemption

Answer 5

“yellow” “wolffish” “scowling”
- ignorance + want are allegorical characters to aim to highlight the unjustified abuse of children as a result of the callous & apathetic attitudes of the upper class

• colour “yellow” serves as a stark reminder of the physical sickness & malnutrition endured by neglected children , a consequence of societal neglect & individuals’ obliviousness to social injustice
• encounter between Scrooge & these marginalized children illuminates that their poverty & suffering are directly caused by the affluent members of society , epotimised by characters like Scrooge , whose covetousness outweighs their compassion
• feral + animalistic portrayal of the children as they’re described as ‘scowling’ & ‘wolfish’ - highlights how poverty dehumanizes individuals , stripping them of their humanity & reducing the, to less than an animalistic state of being
• alternatively , dickens employs Scrooge an extension of the ignorant wealthy , to encounter the dehumanized poor , illustrating that the only remedy to societal ills is for the rich to acknowledge their role in perpetuating poverty & dehumanizing the impoverished
• notion is exemplified in scrooges repentance in stave 3 , evident in his use of imperatives like ‘tell me if tiny Tim will live’, showcasing his desperate attempt to reverse his ignorance towards the plight of the destitute , recognising their humanity amidst a society that has treated them in an animalistic way

Question 6

“I will live in the ___ , the ___ and the ____. The spirits of all three shall ___ ___ me”
- STAVE 4
- selfishness/ materialism
- supernatural
- religion
- regret / redemption

Answer 6

“I will live in the past , the present and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me.”
- concept of “three” could be a biblical allusion to the three differential aspects of god within the holy Trinity : father , son & Holy Spirit. - could emphasise how the 3 ghosts almost acted as incarnations of god himself - relaying a moral & religious message that penetrated deeply within Scrooge

• when he speaks of them striving “within me” m it signifies his internalization of their moral teachings & his desperation to be given the opportunity to embark on the path of salvation & redemption
• juxtaposing passages of time in “past, present & future” serve as a symbolic reflection of the stark contrast between scrooges former avaricious self & his transformation into a person dedicated to redemption , moral & spiritual enlightenment.
• passage of time also emphasises his realisation of how his attitude in the ‘past’ & ‘Present’ was not only perpetuating his ‘solitary’ existence , but also contributed to the systemic oppression & exploitation of the vulnerable in society