christmas carol key quotes and analysis

said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. The list of adjectives show his wealth but also his warmth and generosity towards others. These morally repugnant, ugly people are simply treating Scrooge the way he treated others and he is horrified. In Victorian times, most of the readers would have been christian and would therefore heap additional judgement on Scrooge who needs to repent. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop ', Where the portly gentlemen explain to Scrooge about the plight of the poor and the responsibility of the rich to deal with it, In Stave 5, Scrooge begins to redeem himself for all the terrible things he did in the past, Victorian society was still extremely religious at this point and they believed strongly in the impact of sin upon the treatment of one in the afterlife, The way that Scrooge worships money would have been considered as sinful at the time as it is in a way idolising something that is not the holy lord, Stave 5: 'that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge', Stave 1: 'A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping clutching, covetous old sinner! The synonyms 'alone' and 'by himself' emphasise again the loneliness of the life he has chosen. ', 'I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it! Home Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Best Quotes. When you analyse poverty in A Christmas Carol, you may want to reference the setting as well as using direct quotes from characters. - Scrooge, Is scrooges staple opinion to christmas at the start of stave one, showing off his negative opinions to begin with, this is used to emphasise the change in scrooges character from the beginning to the end. However, it could also be argued that ignorance reflects the lack of education of the poor. In the first stave of A Christmas Carol, the following quote is really important in characterizing Scrooge:. The ghost is dressed in green reminiscent both of the Green Man from Pagan mythology, and also the traditional character of St Nicholas or Father Christmas, who has more recently come to symbolise the holiday period. Though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it! Of course, the suggestion that people might be talking about him is beastly to Scrooge. Fred represents the spirit of Christmas and carries Dickens' message about collective responsibility and how we should treat one another. Note the use of the adjective poor to describe Bob Cratchit. A foil is a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character. The metaphor shows that the school didn't help any student achieve their dreams, instead it destroyed their lives as they could not fulfil their potential. Stave 5 - Scrooge's reaction to discovering it is not too late The 10 Most Important Quotes in A Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/8wpegV4ueYY'The Ghosts' in A Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/15HiKFCMEyk'Scrooge' in A Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/c2x9wiRRFQYQuick, relaxed, and informative, Dr Aidan's Guide to Literature aims to make literature accessible to everyone. Watching Scrooge forge his own invisible chain served as part of Marley's punishment for his deeds in life. His most famous saying is bah humbug. He used it as an exclamation when he wanted to express his displeasure about something. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse! However, some of the scenes are to help develop Scrooges character and add backstory. "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. Money 5. Stave 3 - ignorance and want Marley haunts scrooge- a description of his chains. Example: The scientist, along with her two assistants, (is, are) working on a computer simulation of earthquake activity. Dickens, therefore, is attacking the Malthusian capitalist theories. Bob Crachit and the Cratchit Family Quotes, A Christmas Carol- The Ghost of Christmas Pre, 'An Inspector Calls' Key Quotations Analysis, myPerspectives: English Language Arts, Grade 7, myPerspectives: Grade 10, Volume 2 California Edition, myPerspectives, English Language Arts, Grade 8, California My Perspectives English Language Arts, Grade 9, Volume Two. This compares directly with the explicit description of Scrooge at the start of the novel where even beggars will not speak to him. So while he did not invent these particular traditions many people credit him with popularizing them. I am as giddy as a drunken man., Scrooge was better than his word. Stave 3 - Tiny Tim The key theme for Dickens is that money does not lead to happiness, Greed is the single factor that is responsible for the breakup of Scrooge's marriage, 'Another idol has displaced me a golden one', Stave 2: 'The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune', The Cratchit family are used as a depiction of a family in poverty, More than any other time in history there was a huge divide between classes, the lower classes lived in deperate poverty and were in want while the upper classes enjoyed a life of luxury, Stave 1: 'Many thousands are in want of common necessities, sir and many hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts', Scrooge's staff selling off his old goods, Victorian aristocracy were very keen to remain ignorant about the sufferings of the poor. The words of the charwoman, who disgusts Scrooge, in the rag 'n' bone man's shop reflect the views to which Scrooge subscribed at the start of the novella when he declared that the poor were not his 'business' implying that his only business was himself. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and, If that spirit goes not forth in life, it is, them both, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is, squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner." Scrooges changing attitude is never better highlighted than in his initial responses to the three ghosts. "Are there no prisons?" Dickens' use of the word 'good' repetitively to demonstrate the juxtaposition between Scrooge at the beginning of the novel, where Dickens describes Scrooge as a 'covetous old sinner'. ", 'A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. Scrooge is particularly affected by the death, and this is a death he is able to reverse in the future when he amends his behaviour. In many ways, it is the child who can most tug on Scrooges heartstrings. Given an unexpected opportunity to communicateperhaps as a Christmas miracleMarley feels determined to help Scrooge and he warns him here. This reminds us of Freds line during the beginning of the book a phrase that Dickens later called The Carol Philosophy: It is only during Christmas that we open our shut up hearts and think of each other as being fellow passengers to the grave and not other beings on some other journey. During this section, Scrooge is reminded that we all die in the end, it is the only sure thing in life, and that all we have to work with is the short time that we have down here. Flint is a type of ground that makes it difficult for life to grow kind of like how scrooges character allows no imaginations to grow. Studying Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'? It is this love that consoles him in stave 4 when Tiny Tim is shown to be dead, a long with the memories of Tiny Tim as a patient and loving boy. It is too much linked to his miserly ways thus suggesting that the learning is not finished yet. Themes= greed and generosity/ time. Stave 2 - the Fezziwig's party Dickens is very clever in his use of dialogue in this section of the story as the Ghost of Future Yet To Come shows Scrooge the people that are talking about his death. He begins with no compassion for others but eventually learns a better way to live. "', The ghost of Christmas present focuses greatly on the Crachit family and how, despite their poor financial situation, In the Victorian era, family and family time were extremely important, particularly around Christmas, ' A Merry Christmas to us all, my dears. A Christmas Carol is rarely classified as a gothic novel. My life tends that way, now., Bob Cratchit about Tiny Tims grave: I wish you could have gone. "the phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached", A description of the ghost of Christmas future; he is the darkest of the spirits, a reminder to scrooge of his terrible fate if he fails to learn his lesson. I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Timshall weor this first parting that there was among us? The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it costs a fortune. Mrs Cratchit, although poor, represents the family's will to make the best of things - to celebrate in spite of their poverty. This brightly\underline{\text{brightly}}brightly lit room will be perfect for my art studio. Then write the form of that verb He doesn't believe it, but when he goes to the window, the street is deserted and dark as nighttime. A description of how the Cratchit family mourned the death of Tiny Tim. One interesting feature of this stave relates to the fact that two people die in it: Scrooge and Tiny Tim: the richest and the poorest people in the book. The adjectives: genial show his joy/ cheer, sparkling presents tense- has connotations of light and magic and open emphasises his generosity.Themes= greed and generosity/Christmas. You must cook those fresh eggs for that kind of special salad. Whatever the book. Hallo there! 4 major themes of this novel are forgiveness, the influence of the past, greed, and poverty. This quote shows Ebenezer Scrooge's miserly, miserable attitude toward Christmas at the opening of the story; he is obsessed with his money and has no time for festivities, family, or joy. As readers, Dickens is allowing us to reflect on how far Scrooge has come in learning the lesson - and perhaps asking us to reflect on our own learning. Stave 1 - Scrooge's view of the plight of the poor All rights reserved. Shows Bob's place of work, and shows scrooges harsh treatment on him. Below one can explore the themes, symbols, and more that appear throughout the novel. The repetition of the adjective 'good' reinforces this idea. He is cheerful and oily where scrooge is cold and sharp. I am not the man I was. Studying Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'? He listens for the church bell but when it comes, it strikes twelve. Fred is unrelenting in his attempts to change his uncles way of thinking. Dickens wished to educate people about the personal consequences of maintaining such an attitude, Scrooge's former staff can be seen selling of his old things as they were not paid sufficiently when he was alive, Stave 1/3: 'If he be like to die, he better do it and decrease the surplus population', Stave 3: 'wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable', Stave 3: 'The girl is ignorance, the boy is want', 'it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the Poor and destitute, who suffer greatly at the present time. For characters like Fred and Bob Cratchit, Christmas represents the Christian ideal of goodness and moral prosperity, but Scrooge is at his most miserly when Christmas is mentioned. The use of light throughout the novel suggests the truth/ the right path which Scrooge at first does not want to see. "Every person has a right to take care of themselves. Hes comparing Cratchits actual body temperature to Scrooges personality. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. However, this in itself would probably not have been enough to alter his ways. No Way- he tells them that the poor should go and die then there would be less people in the world. This is a great quote for highlighting the sort of character that Scrooge was in A Christmas Carol. The childhood innocence has been 'shrivelled' and 'twisted' showing the ill effects of their treatment. The innocence of the 'angel' and the 'schoolboy' contrast with the hellish image of Marley's ghost, showing the reader that he will be saved. 2003-2023 Chegg Inc. All rights reserved. The case of this unhappy man might be my own. 5. 'No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial, stirring, cold; Golden sunlight; Heavenly sky; sweet fresh air; merry bells. 'Dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons'. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. A merry Christmas to everybody! This girl is Want. Copyright2007 - 2023 Revision World Networks Ltd. 'It was a strange figurelike a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man'. Stave 2 - Scrooge's response to the ghost saying that it was only a small thing that Fezziwig did. 'A Christmas Carol' is a widely studied book filled with memorable quotes. He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. She looked at me as if I had insulted her. "If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.". 'Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend and sole mourner'. A Christmas Carol is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a stingy, cruel, wealthy, old bachelor.The book opens with a funeral. The hellish atmosphere is emphasised by the fact that the ghost's clothing and hair appears to move as though in an updraft of heat, suggesting that the ghost is in hell. Scrooge's sympathy for himself leads to sympathy for the carol singer from the night before. "Business!" Losing a business partner around Christmas time could not have been easy. Accessed 4 March 2023. The noun 'father' shows the idea that one laugh leads to another - happiness breeds happiness. 'He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. Her gown is poor but she is 'brave in ribbons'. '', Stave 3 - the ghost uses Scrooge's words against him when he asks where there is refuge for the children, ignorance and want. The ghost of Christmas future symbolizes death and the mistakes that are sure to haunt him after his death. I think this is why the character of Fezziwig exists to show that Scrooge is not representative of all the upper classes. Dickens creates sympathy for the poor, through the Crachit's and their tight knit family. ", cynical- "what's Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money", Isolated- "secret and self-contained, and solitary like an oyster. Of Mice and Men Section Overview . Oh! The adjectives squeezing and wrenching, etc., relate to how one should imagine him with money, refusing to let go of his wealth. But it does share a lot of gothic conventions. ". He greets Scrooge with a drink that makes him feel good: the milk of human kindness though one could be forgiven for seeing an alcoholic connection and then takes him on a tour of Christmases around the country. The Ghost of Christmas Present greets Scrooge from on top of a pile of luxurious Christmas fare. Bob said he didnt believe there ever was such a goose cooked., About Tiny Tim: If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die., Bob Cratchit: Ill give you Mr Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast., About Ignorance and Want: This boy is Ignorance. A Christmas Carol (Key Quotes) 'Mankind is my business' - Marley (Should be Scrooges and everyone elses too) 'I will honour Christmas in my heart and, and try to keepit all the year' - Scrooge (Willing to change, become better person) . Stave 3 - Christmas at Fred's Inclusive now of society - not isolated and solitary. Their terrible behaviour is a consequence of the ignorance and want that Dickens personified in stave 3. It is through your support of visiting Book Analysis that we can support charities, such as Teenage Cancer Trust. Bovey, Lee-James "A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis " Book Analysis, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/themes-and-analysis/. But as I know your purpose is to do me good, and as I hope to live to be another man from what I was, I am prepared to bear your company and do it with a thankful heart', Stave 1: 'He tried to say 'Humbug!' Dickens uses Scrooge to show the extent of change that is possible in a small amount of time. Click the card to flip Flashcards Learn Test Match Created by AIC-CREATOR-TD Terms in this set (36) The silent. This again leads back to Dickens' idea of collective responsibility - that everything that we do influences others. Being such a short story there is very little that is extraneous. These include Scrooge's cold nature, the power of wealth, and loss. Who suffers by his ill whims? "The noisy little Cratchit's were as still as status". Part of the reason that A Christmas Carol is so widely studied is the abundance of different themes that it touches upon. If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population. Scrooge's grave, by comparison to Tiny Tim's is 'overrun by weeds'. Christmas is now a time for family, friends and feeling good. A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens On this page, readers can explore the quotes, they are broadly separated into a few sub-categories. 'The Ghosts' in A Christmas Carol (Key Quotes & Analysis) Dr Aidan 22.1K subscribers Subscribe 47K views 3 years ago Studying A Christmas Carol? The book also explores what you might call the true meaning of Christmas and while this might not be true from a Christian standpoint, from a morality/spiritual view, you could claim that it really does help to make that point. The description of the children is designed to shock the reader. Family Theme Analysis. The image of the 'lonely boy near a feeble fire' reflects very closely the older Scrooge we have seen, alone eating gruel. Gone are the puritanical values that banned Christmas, and, also, to a large degree, gone as well are the memories of Christmas as a serious and religious celebration of the birth of Christ. "[He called out in a] comfortable,oily, rich. Himself, always. The relative clause describing Tiny Tim reinforces the idea that it is Scrooge's actions that caused him to live. Describes Fred, who is a symbol of Christmas spirit. As a result of this he was damned to walk as a ghost chained with money boxes surrounding him. Dr Aidan, PhD, provides you with key quotes and analysis relating to the theme of 'Christmas'. Hallo there! cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. Here are some of the best 'A Christmas Carol' Scrooge quotes for this holiday season that will melt your heart. Contrasting similes emphasise his god like figure- he is at once innocent and knowledgeable. "Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?". This has a double meaning both as a sympathetic term of endearment and also the fact that thanks to Scrooge the man is literally poor. Stave 1 - description of Scrooge's house The Ghost of Christmas yet to come is symbolic. Stave 5 - Scrooge's reaction to discovering it is not too late However, these are two children that he has no control over. Th onomatopoeia here makes the bells sound particularly noise -and yet Scrooge sees them as 'glorious' which is suggestive of noises from heaven. cried Bob. Stave 2 - The first of the three spirits The noun phantom has negatives connotations in contrast to the more positive spirits - once again, warning scrooge of his fate if he doesn't change his ways. Scrooge learns how little generosity creates a lot of happiness. The noun cell has connotations of Bob being imprisoned by scrooge. The girl is want. The adjective monstrous, creates a negative impression of the man, almost evil, and reinforces Dickens message that it was the ignorance of the rich that created many society's problems. And I know I know my dears, that when we recollect how patient and how mild he was; although he was a little, little child, we shall not quarrel easily among ourselves and forget poor Tiny Tim in doing it. This is fitting because it is traditionally colder at Christmas but also because the cold is an apt metaphor for Scrooges personality. Repetition of 'chuckle' emphasises Scrooge's newfound delight in giving. This poignant moment arrives when Scrooge is looking at Christmas yet to come. It is a dark, sad moment but Bob Cratchit handles the situation with grace and dignity. ``Are there no workhouses? The gothic was a popular genre in the Victorian age and would have seemed fitting for a ghost story to Victorian readers. It is through your support of visiting Book Analysis that we can support charities, such as Teenage Cancer Trust. How to revise from this guide You should be spending at least 30-60 minutes a week revising for English Literature from this point onwards, aiming to learn 5-7 key quotes for each character. Stave 2 - Belle's husband tells Belle about seeing Scrooge. God bless us!, At the time people rid themselves of any guilt by blaming the poor for the fact they were poor. Themes= greed and generosity/time. This compounds our sympathy for the Cratchit's as Tim was a symbol of innocence. Of course, there is still a massive equality gap between the rich and the poor. Scrooges words to the charity collectors as he refuses to give charity. Setting includes not only the physical surroundings, but also the ideas, customs, values, and beliefs of a particular time and place. Gives the impression of a festive being, full of Christmas spirit. The tone is impatient as he does so. It would have done you good to see how green a place it is., Bob Cratchit about Freds kindness: It really seemed as if he had known our Tiny Tim, and felt with us., About Scrooges grave: overrun by grass and weeds., Scrooge on what he has learnt: I will not shut out the lessons that they teach., Scrooge: The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me., Scrooge: I am as light as a feather, I am a happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. The use of nature with a type of plant typically seen around christmas time makes scrooges comment even more menacing saying that they should kill him with the very thing that is giving him happiness in that certain period.- Scrooge If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population. The metaphor shows he is rigid in his unfeeling behaviour to others. The adjective 'common' shows the reader that the poor only want those things which should be normal and available for all - the 'common' things rather than luxuries. Of course, the fact that this is obvious does not detract from the big reveal due to the way that Dickens masterfully creates tension. The simile 'like a tail' is suggestive of a snake, which is symbolic of the devil. - Scrooge, Ever idiot who goes around with merry xmas on his lips should be buried with a stake of holly through his heart, The use of nature with a type of plant typically seen around christmas time makes scrooges comment even more menacing saying that they should kill him with the very thing that is giving him happiness in that certain period.- Scrooge. So we have tried where possible to focus on the most vital sections of the novella. You are changed. What is interesting is that a lot of the traditions that Dickens writes about werent quite so commonplace before his novella. Stave 3 - Scrooge asks if Tiny Tim will live, having been moved by his goodness. Ignorance could represent the wealthy upper classes who are ignorant of what they must do to help. This shows scrooges lack of empathy for the poor people around christmas time not regarding their life or family, this is used to show a change later on in the book with him not donating to the 2 gentleman at the start but him donating to them at the end of the play- Scrooge to the two gentleman, Marley during his life was a harsh businessman similar to scrooge and he was also very uptight not giving money to charity or other good causes. But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and. Stave 5 - the bells ring The boy is ignorance. the adjective idle reveals scrooge believes the poor are lazy and are to be blamed for their own situation. I am as giddy as a drunken man. This mirrors the Victorian rich's attitude to the poor. Clash, clang, hammer; ding, dong, bell! However, inside that shell - like Scrooge - the oyster is soft and vulnerable. This quote is trying to say that Marley should've cared more about the people rather than his business - Marley, This opposes to the way that he conveyed his feelings to everyone at the start of the novel this shows his change and how he improved by the end, Therefore I am about to raise your salary, This shows a strong change in scrooges character as at the start of the novel with the 2 gentleman he was not willing to donate any money to them and now he is raising Bob Cratchits salary, This shows Tiny Tim's appreciation of Scrooge even when his mother doesnt think that scrooge deserves the praise, Another idol has displaced me a golden one. The style of A Christmas Carol is conversational and direct. Of course, Dickens does use his trademark lengthy descriptions but nearly everything has a point. The simile has connotations of stillness and endings. They are likely to be of even higher class than Scrooge but are choosing to do good for the poor. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Stave 3 - ignorance and want Ideas about purgatory and hell would have been recognisable to the mainly Christian readership at the time - and would have made the allegory more frightening. Exhausted- "i cannot rest,i cannot stay, i cannot linger anywhere.". The adjective solitary and neglected highlight his feelings of loneliness and isolation, creating sympathy for him. Analysis. They were a boy and girl. Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. The verbs suggest age, disfiguration and pain suggesting how unnatural their conditions are that have led to this. He spreads joy over all like a force of nature. Key quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Belle "Our contract is an old one. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! I can't afford to make idle people merry.". 'Long and wound about him like a tail made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds and heavy purses.'. A Christmas Carol is a widely studied book filled with memorable quotes. It has harsh imagery and the symbolism of cold, shows he is lacking Christmas spirit. These compare with the bells at the start of the novel, signifying the hellish arrival of Marley's ghost. To Kill a Mockingbird -Analysis of Major Characters. A merry Christmas to everybody! The onomatopoetic verb 'gasping' makes the reader explicitly imagine the death, suggesting struggle and pain. Y. But, they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another and contented with the time. We are reminded of the contrast between the rendered status. The Spirit pointed from the grave to him, and back again. 'This boy is ignorance.most of all beware the boy"-Stave 3-Ghost of Christmas present Metaphor. About Scrooge: As solitary as an oyster., External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge., If they would rather die, said Scrooge, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population., Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it., Marleys Ghost: Mankind was my business., Marleys Ghost: I am here to-night to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate., There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. The verb forged shows skill and effort- Marley spent his whole life's time and effort in his greed so is suffering the consequences. Home Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Themes and Analysis. A description of the school house that Scrooge was left in as a child, by his family.