Key quotes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. A description of the ghost of Christmas past, who symbolises memory and who shows scrooge events from the past. however, her reference to their father suggests that he had not been kind in the past, thus reinforcing our sympathy. 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 idea that they shake hands with each person 'individually' shows the humanity with which they treat everyone - they do not see the poor as 'creatures' On this page, readers can explore the quotes, they are broadly separated into a few sub-categories. the strength of Scrooge's dismay about hearing his own words repeated back to him is reinforced through the use of the nouns, penitence and grief. The conditional subordinate clause represents Scrooge's future actions. He stopped at the outer door to bestow the greetings of the season on the clerk, who, cold as he was, was warmer than Scrooge. Stave 5 - Scrooge walks the streets enjoying the company of others. The verb 'shrouded' makes explicit reference to death which is reinforced by the 'deep black' of its clothes. He must have slept through a whole day and half a night. His narrator describes events as they happened and doesnt spend a great deal of time on extraneous details. Stave 2 - The first of the three spirits Instant PDF downloads. This symbolises his generosity and air of festivity. This is clearly not possible. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse! The Total Abstinence Principle was a phrase used for teetotallers (people who refrained from drinking). Scrooge has undergone a metamorphoses - he has literally been reborn as a new man. The two children Ignorance and Want represents the attitudes of the rich to the poor in Victorian society. Christmas is now a time for family, friends and feeling good. Tail has connotations of the devil- reinforcing evil image. The boy is ignorace - the lack of education and the girl is want - the lack of money. Stave 4 - Tiny Tim's burial place is eden like - as, despite his poverty and place in life, he was good and will be welcomed by god. The most clearly religious image though is how it wears a tunic of purest white, as though it is a pure, innocent Angel sent to guide him. Themes= time/Christmas, "A solitary child, neglected by his friends.". Dickens uses these characters to challenge popular preconceptions that the wealthy had about the poor - preconceptions which led to support for the poor law and the workhouses. Imagery of warmth has symbolism of generosity, compassion and forgiveness- Fred always makes a effort with scrooge. A Christmas Carol is rarely classified as a gothic novel. "He hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple and it might be pleasant for them to remember on Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.". In the first stave of A Christmas Carol, the following quote is really important in characterizing Scrooge:. () At the time, Camden town would have been a crowded suburb. So, therefore, we should take responsibility for being a positive influence. 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. Fred, as Scrooge's foil, is a kind, forgiving character who is determined to give Scrooge the same chance every year. At this point, Scrooges character has become fairly well established but the reason that this particular meeting is of such importance is that it highlights Scrooges outlook towards the poor as well as provides his comments about how the poor should be treated. 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. This is fitting because it is traditionally colder at Christmas but also because the cold is an apt metaphor for Scrooges personality. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. 6. Below one can explore the themes, symbols, and more that appear throughout the novel. The clerks sprinting home juxtaposes Scrooge's dinner in a melancholy tavern. The style of A Christmas Carol is conversational and direct. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. This may be a way of showing what Dickens thinks should be happening. Underline the verb phrase in each sentence. If you watch any of the adaptations of A Christmas Carol Tiny Tim is almost always one of the loveable characters and with good reason. My life tends that way, now., Bob Cratchit about Tiny Tims grave: I wish you could have gone. As it is used in line 32 , the word reticent means the opposite of. forgiving- "to Mr Scrooge, the founder of the feast.". The list of adjectives show his wealth but also his warmth and generosity towards others. ffects the change, pulling the curtains aside with his own hand. By this stage, Scrooge has already begun to see the error of his ways and has realised that he will benefit from the messages he is receiving and so he begins to take agency over the situation. All rights reserved. Themes= poverty/family/greed and generosity. 'He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father. Stave 3 - ignorance and want "If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die.". Fan is portrayed with affection - and her term of endearment shows that Scrooge has known affection. Dickens believed in collective responsibility - that the wealthy should take responsibility for helping the poor, specifically through the provision of education and support for children. Past: "The curtains of his bed were drawn aside, I tell you, When the Ghost of Christmas Past arrives, the curtains of his bed were drawn aside by a hand. Here, it is clear that it is the ghost who makes the move the ghost actively. - 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. He spreads joy over all like a force of nature. Stave 1 - description of Scrooge's relationship with Marley. "Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only?". He teaches scrooge to learn from his mistakes of his past. It acts as a mirror for Scrooges wealth and position but also as a stark contrast in approach. He doesn't believe it, but when he goes to the window, the street is deserted and dark as nighttime. 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. The reader does not know that Tim has died, so Dickens foreshadows his death through the use of the simile. This again leads back to Dickens' idea of collective responsibility - that everything that we do influences others. cried Bob. Shows Bob's place of work, and shows scrooges harsh treatment on him. I defy himif he finds me going there, in good temper, year after year, and saying, Uncle Scrooge, how are you? If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds, thats something. Here in this quote, one can see Dickens playing with literal and figurative meanings to great effect. 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. Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents. How does the speaker begin and end "Incident"? 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. He always did!". Stave 1 - description of Scrooge's house People can change, but Scrooge has thus far been content with his situation. Themes= greed and generosity/time. He has learned his lesson and been transformed from darkness into light - which is reflected in the world around him. The final ghost appears as a phantom a spectre dressed in black: clearly an image of The Grim Reaper himself. Stave 4 - the final ghost "The cold within him froze his old features", Early description of scrooge. The girl is want. The Christmas Spirit By Section Stave One: Marley's Ghost Stave Two: The First of the Three Spirits Stave Three: The Second of the Three Spirits Stave Four: The Last of the Spirits Stave Five: The End of It By Character Ebenezer Scrooge Bob Cratchit Fred Jacob Marley The Ghost of Christmas Past The Ghost of Christmas Present In what ways does the text indicate lbn Batutta's social status? International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, 2023 Book Analysis. ". With in-depth analysis, this video aims to help you gain a greater understanding of the novella in a matter of minutes. () A famous geographer Thomas Malthus came up with the theory that the poor were just surplus population and thus should be left to their own devices - even if this meant letting them die. He begins with no compassion for others but eventually learns a better way to live. "The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it costs a fortune.". Walled in by houses; overrun by grass and weeds. What I think is really clever is that the story is framed so that when we see the ghost of Christmas past, seeing the things that shaped Scrooge into the man he is at the beginning of the play starts to let us feel sympathy for him so that when he is offered a second chance as a reader, we are glad he gets to redeem himself. sungiemarie. He also argues that Time is precious to me. This is most telling of all: whereas the old Scrooge saw little of value beyond his money hole, now he sees the truth that Time itself is precious; and it is, in fact, the most precious thing we. A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens On this page, readers can explore the quotes, they are broadly separated into a few sub-categories. Seven Years 3. Inclusive now of society - not isolated and solitary. Scrooge awakes and finds his room as dark as when he fell asleep at two o'clock. Did the Anglo-Saxon period last between 449 and 1066? Leading up to this moment it appears as if Scrooge already fears that this is the case, but that does not detract from the tension that Charles Dickens can create here. Invite Scrooge to come for Christmas dinner 4. Whoop! Themes= family/time/poverty. ". In this case, Ebeneezer and Fezziwig are both business owners with employees, but where they diverge is in their treatment of others and in their outlook on life. Dickens considers ignorance the worst, because it leads to want. Stave 5 - The response of the portly gentleman to the money Scrooge wants to give him: Scrooge was better than his word. Marley 2. They often came down handsomely, and Scrooge never did. This brightly\underline{\text{brightly}}brightly lit room will be perfect for my art studio. "Every person has a right to take care of themselves. Dickens clearly uses them to represent what employment should be like. These cover themes like wealth, poverty, Christmas, and kindness. In many ways the vision works like memory can do: it changes depending on perspectives or moods. So we have tried where possible to focus on the most vital sections of the novella. A Christmas Carol Quotes 50 of the best book quotes from A Christmas Carol 01 Share "God bless us every one!" Charles Dickens author God person A Christmas Carol book Tiny Tim character christmas blessings concepts 02 Share "Every traveler has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering." Charles Dickens author A description of the school house that Scrooge was left in as a child, by his family. The Spirit pointed from the grave to him, and back again. "It was a large house but one of broken fortunes.". 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 silent. Whatever the book. These words are then used against him by the ghost of the Christmas present. Check ()(\checkmark)() the blank before each sentence that contains a subordinate clause. Without the ghost of Christmas future, Scrooge wouldve been unlikely to change. A merry Christmas to everybody! Their terrible behaviour is a consequence of the ignorance and want that Dickens personified in stave 3. But it does share a lot of gothic conventions. In Victorian times, most of the readers would have been christian and would therefore heap additional judgement on Scrooge who needs to repent. But I have made the trial in homage to Christmas, and. He always did.". If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population. Scrooge's assertion that 'it is not my business' is challenged quickly by Marley's ghost whose view is that 'mankind' should have been his 'business. They now drag him down in death, and hes forced to wander the earth, unable to undo what he did before. This shows scrooges selfishness and his addiction to money with belle feeling replace with money she feels like she doesnt matter to him and that all he cares about is money. The image of the oyster is almost perfect for Scrooge at this stage in the book. Studying A Christmas Carol? Ignorance could represent the wealthy upper classes who are ignorant of what they must do to help. Stave 2 - Belle's husband tells Belle about seeing Scrooge. The onomatopoetic verb 'gasping' makes the reader explicitly imagine the death, suggesting struggle and pain. So while he did not invent these particular traditions many people credit him with popularizing them. Who suffers by his ill whims? The verb forged shows skill and effort- Marley spent his whole life's time and effort in his greed so is suffering the consequences. The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it costs a fortune. Instead, once you know and understand the plot, a great idea is to pick three or four major themes, and three or four major characters, and revise them in great detail. It is too much linked to his miserly ways thus suggesting that the learning is not finished yet. 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. Scrooge's sympathy for himself leads to sympathy for the carol singer from the night before. The opening line says, ''Marley was dead: to begin with. This phrase is repeated to describe both Mrs Crarchit and her daughter. Stave 4 - in the rag 'n' bone man's shop Scrooges offences carry their own punishments. jovial voice.". Studying Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol'? Stave 4 - About Scrooge's grave: Scrooge, showing that through the visits of the different ghosts he began to change more and more, as in stave two his "lip was trembling", but now he is having "a violent fit of trembling". Hes comparing Cratchits actual body temperature to Scrooges personality. Stave 4 - Bob's reaction to Tiny Tim's death A Christmas Carol - Quotes and Analysis Stave 1 Stave 2 Stave 3 Stave 4 Stave 5 ( ) The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker and the chief mourner. Oh, no, no! The finger was still there. Accessed 4 March 2023. The adjective dismal connotes a lack of light and hopeless atmosphere. Hallo!" Click the card to flip Definition 1 / 5 This almost prompts a realization in Scrooge as he catches on to the fact that his wealth provides him (and indeed Fezziwig) with the power to make people happy. 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. scientist; is. He is described as been so dislike that even the weather is better in that at least it 'comes down' gracefully. Total Abstinence Principle more hilarious punning from Dickens. It has harsh imagery and the symbolism of cold, shows he is lacking Christmas spirit. We have never had any quarrel, to which I have been a party. Watching Scrooge forge his own invisible chain served as part of Marley's punishment for his deeds in life. The simile 'like a tail' is suggestive of a snake, which is symbolic of the devil.