Stave 1

• "Hard and sharp as flint"


  * Description of Scrooge

  * Simile describing Scrooge- Comparing him to flint could suggest either that he has the features of a rock with no warmth or happiness.

  * It could alternatively suggest that a warm fire has the potential to be lit, only if someone causes the spark.
• "He was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled"


  * Description of Fred

  * Fred is a FOIL to Scrooge- just as Scrooges inner coldness and lack of feelings is presented to us by his coldness physically on the outside, Fred's physical warmness presents his inner warmth, generosity and kindness that contrasts Scrooge

  * The word 'glow' suggests that he radiates heat - showing that his goodness touches/affects those around him
• "If they would rather die .. they had do it, and decrease the surplus population."


  * Scrooge's response to the gentlemen when told that the poor would rather die than go to a workhouse

  * References to the idea that the population must go down in order to have enough resources for everyone

  * Dickens was opposed to this idea and believed that there was enough for everyone but the rich were selfishly keeping it

  * Shows Dickens ideas that the rich are selfish and would rather see people die than give up their money to help others less fortunate
• "Secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster."


  * Description of Scrooge

  * Simile emphasises how Scrooge locks himself away from society + others, presenting him as lonely + unwelcoming.

  * Sibilance gives sinister tone

  * Adjective 'solitary' later in the text when Scrooge revisits his childhood

  as a lonely boy could have been used by Dickens to show that money cant buy happiness and using it to award Scrooge sympathy- it was not his choice to be lonely as a child

  * This simile could also represent Scrooge having a softer inside + a pearl foreshadowing Scrooges transformation
• Mention 4 quotes in stave 1


  * "Hard and sharp as flint"

  * "He was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled"

  * "If they would rather die .. they had do it, and decrease the surplus population."

  * "Secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster."