Scrooge Stave 1 Key Quotes

• ‘sole mourner’

  Repetition

  ‘Sole’ means only – he was the only mourner at Marley’s funeral. This emphasises Scrooge’s solitary nature and shows the reader that he is utterly alone.    
• ‘tight-fisted hand at the grindstone’


  Metaphor

  Shows that Scrooge is a hard taskmaster. He exploits Bob because he pays him a meagre wage. A grindstone is a round stone used for grinding or sharpening tools – emphasises that actions grind people down.
• ‘Squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching’ 


  Asyndeton

  Reveals his avaricious nature. The use of the asyndetic list illustrates the extent of his greed. ‘squeezing’ reveals that he ‘squeezes’ every last penny from those who can least afford it. ‘wrenching’ means to pull violently, suggesting the power and destructive nature of his greed. ‘clutching’ – holds on tightly to his wealth - refuses to part with even the smallest amount.  
• What literary device is used in the phrase ‘secret and self-contained and solitary as an oyster’?


  Simile
• What does the simile comparing Scrooge to an oyster suggest about his character?


  It suggests that Scrooge is complex and finds it difficult to open up to others.
• How does the imagery of an oyster's shell relate to Scrooge's personality?


  The hard and ugly shell reflects Scrooge's hard and ugly personality.
• What does the difficulty of opening an oyster symbolize in relation to Scrooge?


  It symbolizes Scrooge's emotional barriers and difficulty in opening up to others.
• What could the pearl inside the oyster represent in Scrooge's character?


  The pearl could represent Scrooge's hidden wealth or foreshadow his later transformation.
• How does the comparison of Scrooge to an oyster reflect his emotional state?


  It reflects that he closes himself off emotionally, similar to how an oyster is closed off by its shell.
• In what way does the metaphor of the oyster suggest a potential for change in Scrooge?


  It suggests that just as a pearl is hidden within the oyster, Scrooge has a good heart that could be revealed through transformation.