Stave 2 Flashcards
It was so dark
Pathetic fallacy. Sets the scene for the supernatural and the normality of the situation makes the ghost’s appearance even more surprising
Pierce the darkness with his ferret eyes
Zoomorphism
The clock was wrong
Time is broken and it creates tension with the Stave
It’s rapid little pulse beat twelve
Personification of the clock. The clock has a pulse even though it is an inanimate object. Rapid suggested fear or apprehension. Twelve was a magical number in Victorian times suggesting a supernatural event
And thought, and thought, and thought it over and over,
The use of a triple suggest Scrooge’s thoughts are overwhelming him as he tries to find a logical explanation
“Ding, dong!”
Onomatopoeia. Repetition shows his alertness and therefore dread at the possibility of the ghost’s arrival
Light flashed up in the room upon the instant, and the curtains of his bed were drawn.
This sentence holds a certain theatricality resembling stage cues. Dickens had a deep passion of the theatre and performed reading of his works to sold out crowds
Are you the Spirit, sir, whose coming was foretold to me
He is respectful towards the ghost which is unusual however he may be scared from his previous encounter with Marley’s ghost
‘Who, and what are you.’
Scrooge interrogates the ghost as to try and gain control of the situation. He is uncomfortable with it’s presence and doesn’t trust it
He had a special desire to see the Spirit in his cap; and begged him to be covered.
Scrooge is uncomfortable with the light the ghost gives out suggesting he is not yet ready to escape the darkness
‘Remember it.’ cried Scrooge with fervour; ‘I could walk it blindfold.’
He’s reliving his childhood memories causing great emotion within him
A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still.
Suggests the one of the reasons why Scrooge is the way he is now. He was neglected by society as a child so he doesn’t know any different
And he sobbed
A huge turning point in the novella as it is his 1st physical display of emotions. Major character development
It was a large house, but one of broken fortunes;
A very uneasy, unwelcoming setting which is the opposite of what a home should be
It’s dear old honest Ali Baba.
Here Scrooge reflects on the time he spent alone during Christmas among books and reminisces on the stories he read.
I should have like to have given him something: that’s all.
Remorseful statement that shows Scrooge is starting to realise his mistakes and wants to amend them. He doesn’t want to wish his childhood on anybody else
Scrooge knew no more than you do
Direct address of the reader from the author
And a little girl
The little girl in Fan, his younger sister and Fred’s mother. Her actions make Scrooge regret how he has treated Fred
Father is so much kinder than he used to be, that home’s like Heaven
Scrooge’s home life is not a good one
Skipping down from the high desk, with wonderful agility.
Implies his energetic, cheerful mood which is a complete antithesis of Scrooge.
Fuel was heaped upon the fire
Fire is a motif throughout the novella representing happiness and kindness. Scrooge’s fire in Stave 1is very small compared to Fezziwig’s fire showing he is much more generous and loving
Negus
Hot drink of port, sugar, lemon and spice
Plenty of beer
Beer was an expensive luxury so it shows how free Fezziwig is with his money compared to Scrooge’s miserly attitudes
`No,’ said Scrooge,’ No. I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now. That’s all.’
Just like the previous memory, Scrooge regrets his actions towards someone and wishing to change them. He remembers how well Fezziwig treated him and realises he hasn’t treated Bob Cratchit anywhere near as well
If it can cheer and comfort you in time to come, as I would have tried to do
She (Belle, Scrooge’s former fiancée) suggests that money is now a more fitting love for him as it can look after him better than she can
A golden one
Scrooge no worships money like how he once worshipped her
There is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty
Dickens speaks from personal experience as his father was put in debters’ prison because the whole family was too poor
Seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one,
The goodness within his personality such as his kindness and charity has slowly died off one by one as his passion for money increased until there was no space for anything else
I was a boy
Suggests he was immature and irresponsible when making this engagement and it no longer is suitable
May you be happy in the life you have chosen
She is saying it is his fault that they are no longer together. Scrooge loves money and Belle is poor
Winter fire
Oxymoron. Winter is cold but a fire is warm
Now a comely matron
Belle is now married and Scrooge regrets that he is not her husband
What would I not have given to be one of them
Another remorseful statement
Might have called him father,
Shows the importance of family and Scrooge’s wish for 1
Which streamed from under it, in an unbroken flood upon the ground
Metaphor shows how much of his past he wants to hide because of all the bad he has done but he can’t
