Scrooge

Question 1

“cold” “blue” “froze” “frosty”

Answer 1

-the conceit(extended metaphor) of the relentless cold hole parallels to scrooges distant and cold attitude
-depict the manner Scrooge treats others

Question 2

how is scrooge ostracised from from society

Answer 2

-he willingly takes strolls in “easterly winds” -he yearns for isolation and misery as he favours going out in the bitter cold rather than interacting with the community.
-the use of weather is exacerbated as “the cold within him froze his old features” reinforcing his internal apathy and detachment is so omnipotent it alters his physical appearance

Question 3

how does weather emphasise Scrooge’s isolation from society

Answer 3

-his internal cold-heartedness has created a “frosty grime” on his head- every inch of Scrooges being,external and internal, is tainted by his distant attitude and want to be ostracised by society
-presented as successful in his ostracisation of himself as even element of nature,typically uncontrollable, he has managed to intercept as even “external heat and cold had little influence” on him

Question 4

Scrooge warns “All human sympathy to keep its distance”

Answer 4

-he is repulsed by human interaction and affection
-“warn” connotes to alert this is used by dickens as ironic as scorches misanthropic and apathetic nature will imminently cause him to be alerted by the reality of his ways

Question 5

dickens presentation of Scrooge and message

Answer 5

-archetypal villain in the context of an impoverished(poor)
-D uses his allegorical novel to make Scrooge an emblem of the miser upper class as Scrooge is presented as a scathing microcosm of the frugal rich to critique social injustice prevalent in Victorian society and how it is synonymous with avariciousness from the upper classes

Question 6

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

Answer 6

⁃ The asyndetic listing: The asyndetic listing highlights selfish and avaricious character. It portrays Scrooge’s immoral Characteristics as ongoing, casting him as an unrepentant “sinner”.
⁃ The use of 7 negative adjectives mirrors how there are seven 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 and the sins are used by Dickens to highlight how the rich, symbolises by Scrooge, are more inclined towards moral transgression than the poor. Dickens implicitly critiques societal structures, such as the 1834 poor law, which were ironically designed to address the perceived sin and laziness of the poor.
⁃ “Squeezing” and “wrenching” connotes struggle: The verb “squeezing and wrenching” connotes a struggle, this illustrates how Scrooge struggles to see the detrimental consequences of his frugality and thus, his role in perpetuating social inequality. This struggles may be alluding to Scrooges struggle to assimilate in society.
⁃ Alternatively the undertone of a struggle is used by Dickens to illustrate how the avariciousness of the upper class directly causes a struggle for the impoverished.
-alternatively this is criticism that scrooge does not endure any struggles yet creates struggle for the poor
-“grasping” emphasises his misanthropic attitude toward

Question 7

“What reason do you have to be merry? You’re poor enough”

Answer 7

-recognises that poverty causes misery as he questions Fred
-however continues to live in a state of ignorance, more significantly, through neglecting others, without offering to alleviate this misery of poverty

Question 8

“Are there in prisons?… And the union workhouses” “decrease the surplus population”

Answer 8

-reaction to charity men serves as a microcosm for the upper classes relationship with the rest of society
-scrooge questions why he is morally obliged to give,thus giving the Victorian reader an insight to the reason they lived in a destitute society- the rich dont believe it’s their duty to give
-his Malthusian views are prevalent when he questions..
-scrooge is unable to see the poor with any humanity, insted sees them as mere numbers contributing to the surplus population.

Question 9

motif of weather “fog and darkness” thickened”

Answer 9

-uses pathetic fallacy by describing the setting as having to resemble the bleakness of the protagonist Scrooge.
-contextually, the fog in London from 1873-1879 killed hundreds of people. D may be alluding to how, similarly to the weather, the rich have the ability to destroy lives. This is heightened through the conceit of bitter

Question 10

Motif of weather “piercing, searching, biting, cold”.

Answer 10

-dickens personifies the weather as it is “piercing, searching, biting, cold”. The powers of the nature maybe be an allusion ti the forthcoming supernatural forces to come

Question 11

“Still very foggy and extremely cold” stave 2

Answer 11

-the pathetic fallacy foreshadows how scrooge will remain oblivious and ignorant as fog prevents clear vision, this is akin to how Scrooge presets himself from embarking on a pathway of atonement
-“fog” can represent institutionalised oppression, dickens uses this to subtly indict how the oppression is in every crevice in London- although this is not the focus of the plot at this point it is always lurking

Question 12

“Darkness and the mist had vanished with it”

Answer 12

-dickens frequently use this weather to be symbolic of the changes within Scrooge. The diminishing ‘quote’ symbolises how with each ghost Scrooge is gaining clarity, diminishing his own mental darkness, on how ti be the moral individual- he is unblocking the hopeful potential the reader initially encounters with him being an “oyster”

Question 13

Ghost of Christmas past aim

Answer 13

—ghost of past is full of the “bright clear jet of light”. This crates are iridescent image with light and bright, this is suggestive of how the ghost is trying to brighten scrooges life through revelation and reminiscence
-dictation ‘clear’ reinforces this clarity of revelation the ghost aims to bring Scrooge though ‘light’ing up his last and allowing him e to reminisce and reflect on his past that has undeniably contributed to his present.

Question 14

“He seized the extinguisher-cap and by a sudden action pressed it down upon its head”

Answer 14

-resits his chance of receptions as the light symbolises revelation and reminiscence, scrooge wants to exterminate this due to him unable to confront his pain from the past
-cap connotes restriction:symbolic of how Scrooge desperately wants to restrict and repress the memories of his past-he envies his free young spirit and regrets his idolisation of money and covetousness
-aggressive verb ‘pressed’ paired with the rapid adverb of ‘sudden’ explores of S is engulfed with deeply repressed emotions, he acts out irrationally due to sheer panic that he will have to face these stifled memories of the past.
-as he is unsuccessful I’m restricting the ghosts light, this mirrors how Scrooge with be unsuccessful in obstruction his redemption

Question 15

“In came the six young followers whose hearts they broke. I’m came all the youn men and women employed in the business”

Answer 15

-a buoyant and infectious atmosphere is presented at fezziwigs Prague compounding scrooges nostalgia
-the repetition of ‘in came’ followed by vivid descriptions of abundance of people arriving creates and atom o sphere of entering chaos reminding the reading that there was a time when Scrooge immersed himself into social events- most importantly into society istself

Question 16

“His heart and soul were in the scene, and with his former self”

Answer 16

-he is presented as having a warm and welcoming ambience around him as when watching fezziwigs party unfold ‘quote’. This is a direct juxtaposition to his former cold presentation where the “cold had little influence”

Question 17

“I was bred in this place, I was a boy here!”

Answer 17

-first insight the reader gets to a compassionate and benevolent Scrooge
-the exclamative sentence provides the reader with the 1st insight to his raw emotions; his unexpected immersion into his past means that scrooge is not consciously repressing his emotions, he is momentarily liberated.
-contemporary readership would see ‘bred’ as having animalistic connotation, thus intensifying their sense for Scrooge as it could be an allusion for the barbaric reatment he suffered as a childinthelate1700

Question 18

“A solitary child neglect by his friends”

Answer 18

-description of childhood hold parallel language to description in stave 1
-reminiscent of previous description “solitary as an oyster”
-repeated use of solitary highlights how Scrooges neglected state as a defenceless child has directly caused his lonesome and solitary adult existence
-the ghost pities his younger self and makes Scrooge recognise how he was an extremely ‘lonely boy’

Question 19

Home, little Fan? Returned the boy”

Answer 19

-motif of innocent children permeates dickens work, he uses both Scrooges innocence as a child paired with his sisters tragic death to evoke pathos but to also emphasise the injustices that pervaded Victorian society- particularly the victimisation of children
-dickens offers an alternative twist in his social commentary- he is scathing of the entitled upper class yet showing how they have emotions and capabilities to contribute to positive social reform

Question 20

“He signs of care and avarice. There was an eager, greedy, restless motion in the eye”

Answer 20

-avarice is one of the 7 deadly sins, commended in a highly Victorian society, his embodiment of 7 deadly sins foreshadows that his disintegration of his marriage is synonymous with his greed
-Belle eyes are described as “sparkled in the light”. Interestingly dickens uses the motif of light, a like to the ghost of the past present and Fred, to reinforce that Scrooge has blindly ignored the beauty and vitality of others and life

Question 21

Scrooges dismantled marriage

Answer 21

-S’s materialistic pursuit has left him seeking comfort in the “cheap..darkness” as he cannot face how much vitality and light he as let out of his life
-poignantly, the reason for the breakdown of this marriage was that a “golden” idol had “displaced” belle. As golden connoted valuable and precious, this is used ironically to indicate how Scrooge, a microcosm of the upper class, views materialistic things as valuable and precious over loved ones and other members of society

Question 22

“Tell me if tiny tim will live” stave 3

Answer 22

-stave 3 clear turning point: displays genuine emotions if remorse, compassion, and empathy. His emotional chnage is clear with his use of imperatives: ‘tell me if tiny Tim will live’
-use of imperatives paired with the verb dried highlights his catharsis as he is so overcome with guilt due to his blatant disregard and ignorance to the plight of the destitute- this being personified through the cratchits
-commanding to know well-being of others: developing solicitude and benevolence

Question 23

“If he be like to die, he had better do it and decrease the surplus population” ghost of present

Answer 23

-D’s anti Malthusian tale is clear within Scrooges exchange with the ghost
-the ghost emulated Scrooges heartless Malthusian view: ‘quote’ resulting in Scrooge being ‘overcome with penitence and grief’
-feels intense remorse as he has seen the physical effects of his blissful ingnorwnce towards the plight of the poor: tiny Tim is a microcosmic for the victimisation of poor children as infuviduals like scrooge see them as inconvenience in society

Question 24

“Forgive me if I am not justified in what I ask”

Answer 24

-shows respect and is receptive to the ghosts teaching
-has biblical undertones of asking for salvation and forgiveness from god ‘forgive me father for I have sinned’
-appears to be understanding his need ti be cleansed of sin- he uses the spirit perhaps as an incarnation of god to be aided with this

Question 25

“Scrooge entered timidly and hung his head before this spirit”

Answer 25

-appears submissive to the ghost, open and welcoming the idea of his moral and spiritual awakening.
-he for the 1st time shows remorse and obedience to his teachings

Question 26

“Ivy, turkey, geese, game, poultry, brown, meat, pigs, sausages, oysters”

Answer 26

-asyndetic list creates image of abundance and excessive wealth. This could compound his Scrooge is in the financial position it offird these luxuries and yet takes them for granted
-however all these foods ‘vanished instantly’ alluding ti how materialistic luxuries only provide and ephemeral amount of joy(meaningless in the face of love and benevolence)
-structurally this presentation of abundance is before the destitute cratchits, used by D as indictment of the access to abundance the rich have.
-the use of oysters being in the asyndetic list mirrors Scrooges earlier description
-as it symbolises Scrooge containing his internal moral ‘pearl’ the repeated reference could suggest that this concealed moral nature is slowly being brought to the surface

Question 27

description of want and ignorance and want as “yellow”

Answer 27

-allegorical characters to highlight the unjustified abuse on innocent children as a result if poverty
-personifies poverty through the boy and the girl
-skin colour doesn’t resemble that of healthy young child as it it yellow. Could imply that children and physically sick and malnourished because of the neglect ion of society and obliviousness of individuals to social injustice
-‘yellow’ connotes sickness mirroring how upper class believed that poverty was alike to a contagious illness.
- thus the upperclass members like Scrooge in society gelt it was easier to distance themselves from the ‘disease’ of poverty oppose to helping them

Question 28

Ignorance and want described as “Scowling” and “wolfish”

Answer 28

-animalistic image highlights how poverty dehumanises individuals stripping them if their humanity and reducing them ti less than an animalistic state of being
-alternatively the animalistic dehumanising portrayal could be an attack in the rich’s dehumanising treatment of the lower classes
-dickens makes Scrooge and extentjskon kf the the ignorant rich to meet to dehumanised poor for sense of justice for his readership- rich force to recognise how they are perpetuating poverty

Question 29

Scrooges death stave 4

Answer 29

-D uses prolepsis to create S to have a proleptic death
-D represents the ever growing Victorian capitalist notion of business being central to society and particularly to and individual. Hence uses economical language around
-S’s death ti highlights that S’s focus on being ‘a good man of business’ has caused his solitary and sombre death
-ironically businessmen use this economical language, they too not understand the consequences of being infatuated with money
“What has he done with his money?”“cheap funeral” “marketing the corpse” Mrs Dilber uses ‘to profit us when he was dead’
-ironic as in Scrooges life money caused him to treat the poor in a dehumanising way, however in his death is dehumanised by only referring to him in economic terms- his value as a human is lost to his value as an emblem of money.
-mrs dilber is metaphorically used to trivialise being enamoured with miney, S’s focus on miney was futile as even his simple privacy of having bed

Question 30

“Ragged sheet” “a bare uncurtained place” overrun by grace and weed”

Answer 30

-image of exposure ‘bare’ ‘uncurtained’ suggesting S is exposed in bus death, his money failing to protect him when he is no longer alive
-‘ragged’ connotes neglected grave being overrun by grass and weeds. The image of neglect paired with image of death and decay highlight how S in bus death has been devalued and forgotten- his uncompassionate nature is physically reflected in his uncared for grave
-overrun presents grass and weed as having more vitality and life then him.
-Mockery of his materialist driven life: even more insignificant than decaying plants
-the exclamative sensatce of it being a “worthy place” is a form of karmic retribution- Scrooges frugal and misery existence has been justly punished
-Victorian reader would seek comfort in S’s justly punishment due strong religious beliefs. Idea of eternal damnation and judgment from god was one of the most fearful ideas that pervaded Sociegy. Covetousness lead to eternal damnation though S punishment.

Question 31

“Hear me! I am not the man I was”

Answer 31

-understands that his dire and bleak future is imminent as well as the bleak future that the crachits with be subject too if he doesn’t transform
-despaired at idea he is “past all hope” so commands ‘hear me!I am not the man I was’ imperative phrase shows desperation to be allowed chance at redemption and salvation. Exclamative sentence compounds this deperatiom as he is housing and pleading the ghost

Question 32

‘live in the past, the present and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me”

Answer 32

-S’s relation marks the climax of the allegorical novella as he says he will ‘live in the past, the present and the future. The spirits of all three shall strive within me”
-person pronoun ‘I’ reinforces him taking personal responsibility for his injurious actions
-concept of three could be biblical alluding to the three different forms of god within the hold trinity. emphasise how the 3 ghosts almost acted as incarnations of god himself-relaying a moral/religious message penetrated deeply with Scrooge.
-S in stave 5 has clearly embarked on his pathway of salvation and redemption as he is indoctrinating himself with the teaching he learnt from the ghost of Christmas yet to come. Repetition emphasises his persistence to ensure this chnage is permanent
- When he speaks of them “striving within me”, it signifies his internalisation of their moral teachings and his desperation to atotne for his ignorance and obliviousness to the plight of the destitute.
- The juxtaposing passages of time in “past, present and future” serve as a symbolic reference to the stark contrast between Scrooge’s former avaricious self and his transformation to a person dedicated to moral and spirtual enlightenment.
- The passage of time also emphasises his realisation of how his attitude in the “past” and the “present” was not only perpetuating his solitary existence but also contributed to the systemic opression and exploitation of the vulnerable in society.

Question 33

“I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy”

Answer 33

-elation at the the chance to live the live he once wishes away
-antithesis to his simile in stave one ‘as hard and sharp as a flint’ The juxtaposing similes now feeling light from the burdens if carrying his once ‘own low temperature’
-religious smilie ‘happy as an angel’:his redemption led him back to oath of god and faith’. Previously described as sinner embodying the 7 deadly sins. Yet his redemption has led to this restoration of religious moral these being imperative to Victorian society
- Infantile langusge: Scrooge’s infantile self descriptions indicates his rebirth as he brands himself as quite a baby and a schoolboy, connoting innocence and youth, scrooge is showcasing how through him repenting for his sins, he has regained his youthful innocence and ability to see the world in an untainted light; he now views it through compassion, kindness and benevolence.
- As being a baby is the start of life it signifies that Scrooge has been reborn as he gone from a selfish “sinner” back to the most innocent form of human life, he has had the ultimate rebirth.
- Christian ideas of rebirth: The concept of rebirth holds significsnce in Christianity, symbolising a spirtual renewal and connection with God. This is deeply intertwined with the belief in Jesus Christ’s rebirth, which offered salvation to humanity.
- Similarly, Scrooge’s own reborth may hold the promise of salvation and relief for the less fortunate as he assuemes a paternal role akin to a “second father” to Tiny Time, embodying compassion and generosity towards those in need.

Question 34

‘Quite a baby’ ‘as merry as a schoolboy’

Answer 34

-infantile language indicates his rebirth
-as both a ‘baby’ and ‘schoolboy’ connote innocence and youth, Scrooge is showcasing how through him repenting for his sins, he is regained his youthful innocence and ability to see the word in an untainted light
-as being a ‘baby’ is the start of life,this signifies that S has been reborn as he has gone from an ‘old sinner’ back to the most innocent form of human life:most ultimate rebirth
-idea of rebirth is salient in Christianity:rebirth indicates that a person develops a strong personal and emotional connection with god, It holds significance as Jesus Christ was reborn to provide salvation for mankind. Perhaps suggest scrooges rebirth will provide relief for others
-his religious rebirth is clear as he now actively seeks solace from God as he relieved with his chance at redemption ‘he went to church and walked about the street’ the syntax of church being first highlights how we has now understood the importance of religious teachings and how it provides and integral moral foundation to an individual

Question 35

“No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial’

Answer 35

-weather is constant pathetic fallacy and reflection of Scrooges stagnancy/progression
-symbolic of how parsimonious upper class individuals changed alike to Scrooge when institutionalised oppression would be eradicated and society would live in harmony- London would be governed by love not greed

Question 36

“I’ll send it to Bob Cractchit’s”

Answer 36

-becomes altruistic and benevolent :his acts of atonement towards the coach it’s are exemplary of this
-S symbolises social reform: his transmogrification attitudes to the poor resembles how easy social reform would be for society if all individuals took accountability for their selfishness
—D uses S as a microcosm of the upper class to make them reflect on the immense positive impact it would have on society if everybody adopted a collective social conscience.
-the deprivation of the lower classes can be alleviated with the help of the upper class members

Question 37

“A second father” “the two nations”

Answer 37

-D highlights that the uniting of the lower and upper classes,consequently eliminating social ills, would make society seem more alike to a family then segregated groups of people through S taking on a paternal role of being a second father to tiny Tim
-D wanted society to recognise and tackle what Disraeli called ‘the two nations’ the rich and poor.He believed that the social remedy for society is compassion and empathy: without this society would continue to victimise and deprive the destitute.