The ghost of Christmas past Flashcards
what kind of character is the ghost
the first of the three spirits. it takes scrooge to see his past
what is its role in the story
vehicle for delivering scrooges backstory which shows us how and why he becomes the man he is
what is the symbol of the ghost
- symbolic value of light
- a metaphor for human potential?
- similarities with Jesus
what is the appearance of this ghost or how would you describe it
ephemeral - always changing
e.g. young and old, summer and winter
its quite oxymoronic
“like a child, yet not like a child as like an old man”
both young and old
“the arms were very long and muscular…. its legs and feet most delicately formed”
one body part suggests great strength and one suggests feebleness
“it held a branch of fresh green holly….its dress trimmed with summer flowers”
coldness, sadness and death but contrasts with flowers which suggest happiness and new life
how is this oxymoronic appearance a metaphor for human potential
it is capable of being absolutely anything especially at the beginning of our lives when we could be anything
what is the importance for the spirit taking scrooge to places of his past
it shows scrooge that he was not always this person, and he could have been different person
“the ghost stopped at a certain warehouse door and asked scrooge if he knew it”
shows the ghost to be omniscient
the ghost new exactly what warehouse means so much to scrooge
the spirit knows scrooges past better then himself
“a small matter.. to make these silly ghosts full of gratitiude”
moralistic - trying to teach scrooge a moral lesson
a little money can bring a great deal of language
what does didactic mean
intended to teach, having moral instruction
“but the relentless ghost pinioned him”
pinioned - restrain them showing the spirit is using physical force to ensure that scrooge learns his lesson
where does the ghost take scrooge
to visit his school - links to fan
to see his old business partner fezziwig
and to see his ex fiancé - belle
overall summary of this ghost
by constantly changing, the ghosts ephemeral and oxymoronic appearance is representative of human potential. apparently being omniscient, the ghosts didactic purposes become clear as the second stave progresses
