Scrooge

Question 1

Overview paragraph

Answer 1

Dickens presents the character of Scrooge in A Christmas Carol as a vehicle to highlight on the general attitudes of the upper class during the Victorian era and how they can be affected. Throughout the novella, Scrooge is presented as a miserly, reflective and redeemed character. However, because of his encounters with the Spirits, who catalysed a change within Scrooge and allowed him to change. Dickens having experienced poverty while he was young, would understand and acknowledge the importance of treating others equally especially considering the large social divide at the time.

Question 2

Solitary as an oyster

Answer 2

’– Shows that Scrooge is very isolated. Use of the simile shows that there is some good in
everyone, even if they are very negative.

Question 3

Are there no prisons?… if they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus
population.’

Answer 3

He doesn’t show any sympathy in his response - also he thinks that poor people don’t deserve freedom
and should be in prison. Links to context; Malthusian energy as the population increases, it will kill the food supply.

Question 4

Darkness was cheap and Scrooge liked it

Answer 4

Miserly he is depriving himself, simply to not use only. Scrooge is shrouded in darkness’. Also shows how Scrooge likes it as he doesn’t like spending a lot of money.

Question 5

Squeezing,wrenching, grasping,scraping,clutching,covetous old sinner

Answer 5

asyndetic list shows the extent of Scrooge’s greed, sinner context would demonstrate how terrible Scrooge is and make the Christian audience not like this

Question 6

There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something: that’s all.”

Answer 6

Stave 2. This quote demonstrates a subtle shift in Scrooge’s character as he expresses regret for not giving to the caroling boy, indicating his growing awareness of the importance of generosity and kindness.

Question 7

“Gave a freer passage to his tears”

Answer 7

Now he is allowing himself to feel this way, character development, not afraid to show his emotions

Question 8

Spirit Said Scrooge tell me if tiny Tim will live

Answer 8

showing his concern for the well-being of the poor boy. This moment marks a significant shift in Scrooge’s character, as he begins to display empathy and compassion

Question 9

I am as light feather, hi am happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy

Answer 9

The feelings of joy and happiness are expressed through the repetition of the similes. The multiple exclamations also indicate to us, the extent of his excitement. The reference to heaven through the ‘angel’ is also a direct contrast to the imagery associated to hell in stave 1.

Question 10

A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy new year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!

Answer 10

Here we see Scrooge’s genuine plea for all to enjoy the time of Christmas, which was a stark contrast to stave 1, when Scrooge would state ‘Bah! Humbug!’ The all-encompassing pronouns of ‘all’ and ‘everybody’ indicates the Scrooge wants every single person to enjoy this time of festivity.

Question 11

Make up the fires and buy another coal- scuttle before you dot another I, bob cratchit!

Answer 11

We see Scrooge helping construct a fire, which is a repeated motif in the novella. This tells us that Scrooge is becoming a warmer, more sensitive and kind individual as opposed to stave 1. Here we see him prioritising warmth over profits which was unheard of for Scrooge in stave 1. We see a stark contrast to Scrooge in stave 1 as ‘he carried his low temperature about with him.’ Where as, now we see Scrooge generating warmth.