Stave 3 Flashcards
I don’t mind calling on you
Direct reference to the reader from the author
Bade him enter. He obeyed.
Establishes the power dynamic
Simple green robe, or mantle, bordered with white fur
Simple shows his selflessness whilst green has major connotations with Christmas. White fur shows large wealth
Holly wreath
Religious imagery evoking connotations with Jesus.
‘A tremendous family to provide for.’ muttered Scrooge.
Whilst his attitude has changed slightly, he still values money quite a lot and is concerned with the costs associated with providing for a large family
White sheet of snow upon the roofs
The pure white snow on top of the impure blackened roofs indicate that goodness will overcome his bad character and he shall be redeemed
Half thawed, half frozen,
Pathetic fallacy representing Scrooge’s changing heart
There was nothing very cheerful in the climate or the town and yet was there an air of cheerfulness
By contrasting the town’s gloomily atmosphere with the joy people felt because it was Christmas, Dickens creates a positive atmosphere within this part of the stave
To a fish, went gasping round and round their little world in slow and passionless excitement
Dickensian humour as he is saying dead fish are filled with more Christmas spirit than Scrooge is
Carrying their dinners to the baker’ shops.
Not all people had the sufficient means to bake or roast food so they prepared the food at home and took it to the baker’s shop to be cooked
I wonder you, of all the beings in the many worlds about us, should desire to cramp these people’s opportunities of innocent enjoyment.
Scrooge tries to justify his cruelty by blaming the spirit for the unjust conditions of the lower class, asking why he did not help
He could accommodate himself to any place with ease;
Shows how the Christmas Spirit is everywhere, blind to class
Dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons, which are cheap and make a goodly show for sixpence;
Dickens presents Mrs Cratchit as hard-working who makes the of the very little she has. The adjective brave shows her determination to give her family a day where they can forget about their struggles
Such a goose
In the Victorian times, a goose was often referred to as the ‘poor man’s turkey’ which further emphasises how poor they are
Tiny Tim upon his shoulder
He could represent an angel due to being lifted so high. His innocence, vulnerability and angelic nature makes his potential downfall at the hands of Scrooge all more heartwrenching
As good as gold,
Simile. Shows how highly the Cratchit’s value family and it contradicts Scrooge in Stave 2 who idolises material wealth in terms of gold
And cheapness
The emphasis on cheap shows how even though they are very poor they celebrate Christmas to the fullest
It was a sufficient dinner
Evokes the sense that it was only the bare minimum for the family and the reader can’t help but feel sympathy towards them as Christmas is meant to be a time of indulgence
Suppose it should not be done enough. Suppose it should break in turning out
It shows how much of a treat a pudding is in their household and how something so small can be so special
Nobody said or thought it was at all
Dickens may be referencing Thomas Malthus, who was an economist who believed the world was so overpopulated that there wasn’t enough food to serve everyone. He was famously in support of the Poor law and workhouses. Dickens was anti-Malthusian
Bob held his withered little hand in his, as if he loved the child, and wished to keep him by his side, and dreaded that he might be taken from him.
Bob loves Tiny Tim with all his heart which is the opposite of Scrooge’s childhood and he is confronting his lack of parental affection
Oh, no, kind Spirit. say he will be spared.
For the 1st time in the novella, Scrooge is feeling sympathy for the poor which represents the beginning of his journey to redemption
If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.
The Ghost is repeating back to Scrooge what he said in Stave 1 and it shows how far Scrooge’s views have changed from his prior judgemental, biased ones
Scrooge was the Ogre of the family
Metaphor. He is seen as a monster however still recognised as part of the family as he provides for them. However ‘was’ indicates a change of heart. The ga that ogres are green could link to Scrooge’s jealousy of their familial relationship
