Stave 5

Question 1

Best and happiest of all, the Time before him was his own, to make amends in!

Answer 1

Indicates Scrooge has the rest for his life to make up for his past mistakes

Question 2

I will live in the Past, the Present and the Future

Answer 2

Scrooge recognise all 3 spirits and knows he needs to amend everything he has done wrong in his past whilst still working towards a better future. It’s a testimony to his transformation

Question 3

Making a perfect Laocoön of himself with his stockings

Answer 3

Laocoön was a figure in Ancient Greek mythology who was strangled with serpents. Scrooge has strangled himself with his stockings in excitement

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Instead of using complicated, negative symbolism like in the 1st Stave, Dickens uses positive connotations to represent Scrooge’s joy

Question 5

I don’t know anything. I’m quite a baby.

Answer 5

Babies comes into the world pure and with a clean slate. Scrooge insists that through these experiences he has been reborn and offered a clean slate

Question 6

‘It’s Christmas Day.’ said Scrooge to himself. ‘I haven’t missed it’

Answer 6

Each ghost emphasises their lack of time with Scrooge and this limited timing may have been intentional as to give Scrooge the best opportunity to redeem himself. As an old man, he’s running out of time so this one Christmas could go a long way towards making things right

Question 7

‘It’s a pleasure to talk to him. Yes, my buck.’

Answer 7

Scrooge talks in the 3rd person suggesting how he’s forgotten to talk to others highlighting his isolation from society

Question 8

Come back with him in less than five minutes and I’ll give you half-a-crown.

Answer 8

This statement contrasts with Scrooge’s miserly attitude in the 1st Stave

Question 9

I shall love it, as long as I live

Answer 9

Scrooge saw Marley’s face on it in the 1st stave. It symbolises the start of his journey to redemption

Question 10

He dressed himself all in his best, and at last got out into the streets

Answer 10

Reminiscent of the hoards of people in stave 3. He is now embracing Christmas like everyone else

Question 11

Good morning, sir. A merry Christmas to you.

Answer 11

Complete contrast to how he was at the beginning of the novel. He no longer carries that negative aura and is now embracing Christmas

Question 12

Munificence

Answer 12

Means generosity

Question 13

Everything could yield him pleasure.

Answer 13

The simplest experiences are now bringing him the most joy

Question 14

Will you let me in, Fred

Answer 14

This quote could hold a deeper meaning as it could be Scrooge asking Fred for forgiveness for the pain he caused

Question 15

I am about to raise your salary

Answer 15

This is far from expected by Bob or the reader and it shows just how much Scrooge has changed. Before Scrooge would have been angry and docked pay, now he is joking and giving a pay rise

Question 16

Strait-waistcoat

Answer 16

Straitjacket

Question 17

Make up the fires

Answer 17

Contrast from stave 1 when Bob had a very small fire with only 1 coal and was not permitted any more

Question 18

But lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle

Answer 18

It is a pun as the principle refers to an abstinence from wine and spirits. However, Dickens obviously refers to the ghosts not the alcohol meaning he had no further encounters with ghostly presences

Question 19

God bless Us, Every One!

Answer 19

Ends like a lot of the carols of the time