Christmas Carol KEY QUOTATIONS

• Sole' (stave 1)

  repetition - Isolated, lonely. His selfish ways have left him this way.
• No wind that blew was bitterer than he.' (stave 1)

  Pathetic fallacy - cold, cruel, harsh.
• squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, covetous old sinner!' (stave 1)

  Exclamatory - asyndetic listing creates a fast pace - suggests he doesn't reflect. Shows his faults. End focus links to religion - Scrooge is evil and unchristian.
• solitary as an oyster' (stave 1)

  Simile - lonely and isolated. Oyster suggests hope as it contains a pearl - he can change?
• hard and sharp as flint' (stave 1)

  Simile - cruel, harsh, hurts people (including himself) with his selfish ways
• with an undoubted bargain' (stave 1)

  Selfish. Tight with money. Money is Scrooge's fatal flaw.
• What should I put you down for?' 'Nothing!' (stave 1)

  Exclamatory - unwilling to give to charity. He is selfish and unchristian.
• in the expectation of finding himself surrounded' (stave 1)

  Thought he would have chains like Marley's ghost - realising his wrongs and feeling regret as he knows his selfish ways will weigh on him him even in death. Emphasises he is selfish and unchristian.
• (stave 2) "Remove me!" Scrooge exclaimed, "I cannot bare it."

  Exclamatory - imperative 'remove' - he is emotional and vulnerable. First signs of change.
• (stave 2) 'but it's too late now'

  Declarative - Guilt, regret. Realises all the unchristian things he has done.
• (stave 2) 'Why do you delight to torture me?'

  Rhetorical question - feels emotional and guilty. Doesn't like seeing all of the bad things that his fatal flaw has caused. Changing.
• Leave me! Take me back. Haunt me no longer.' (stave 2)

  Tripling - exclamatory - becoming compassionate and starting to change
• I wish' (stave 2)

  Verb - desire to do something differently. WANTS to change.
• Your past.' 'Your welfare!' (stave 2)

  Short, simple sentences used by the ghost of christmas past - time is running out for Scrooge and he must change.
• I am mortal' (stave 2)

  declarative - realises life is short and fragile - cares about living - he must change.
• (stave 3) The Cratchitt Family

  They represent Christianity and also the struggles of the poor. Dickens thinks that people should help the poor.
• (stave 3) 'God bless us, every one!'

  Exclamatory - Tiny Tim is kind and happy despite his illness - this juxtaposes with Scrooge who is rich but cruel and unhappy.
• (stave 3) 'with an interest he had never felt before, "Tell me if Tiny Tim will live." '

  Imperative 'tell' - Scrooge cares. He is becoming compassionate and is changing and he genuinely wants to know about the welfare of Tiny Tim.
• The Founder of the Feast, indeed!' (stave 3)

  Exclamatory - alliteration - Mrs Cratchitt dislikes Scrooge - gives an insight into how other people see him - despite the fact that Bob works for Scrooge, she doesn't think that Scrooge is the one who has helped them get their meal. 'Feast' - grateful for what they have despite having to have a goose instead of a turkey.
• ogre' 'cast a dark shadow' (stave 3)

  Met. - he is a monster to them and is the reason for their struggles and suffering.
• the steeples called good people all to church...flocking through the streets...best clothes and with their gayest faces.' (stave 3)


  Lexical field of happiness/positivity - Christianity is important. Being good and Christian makes people happy despite what they have or don't have.
• Is it a bear?' 'ought to have been "yes"' (stave 3)

  Fred's wife and friends see Scrooge as a bear - emphasises his negative and cruel attitude is pushing people away and making him into a joke to them.
• Lead on, Spirit!' (stave 4)

  Exclamatory + imperative verb - drive and desire. He wants to change and he wants to do good.
• I am prepared to bear your company and do it with a thankful heart.' (stave 4)

  Declarative - he wants to do this and he is grateful for it.
• Scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled' (stave 4)


  Verbs - he is weak and afraid. He is scared of what is going to happen if he doesn't change.
• Show that person to me spirit! I beseech you.' (stave 4)

  Exclamatory - desperation - he wants to see somebody who cares about his death and the spirit shows him a couple who are happy because they no longer have to pay debt - he realises that his selfish and greedy ways are making people dislike him and not care. This will happen if he doesn't change.
• Holding his hands up in a last prayer' (stave 4)

  Reference to religion - links to the importance of Christianity. He is desperate for this not to happen and wants to change.
• I hope to be another man.' 'I am not the man I was.' (stave 4)


  Declarative - verb 'hope' - he has changed. Wants to be a better, more Christian person.
• Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!' (stave 4)

  Exclamatory - desperate to change and change his future. Doesn't want this to happen to him.
• (Stave 5) 'I will live in the past, the present and the future!'

  Tripling + exclamatory - he has taken the visits into account and he has changed. He is a better person now.
• (Stave 5) 'I am as happy as an angel'

  Simile - his selfishness and greed is no longer holding him back or making him unhappy. Reference to Christianity.
• (Stave 5) 'I'm quite a baby'

  Met. - he feels reborn. He has another chance now.
• (Stave 5) 'No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial'

  Pathetic fallacy - juxt. with the start - things are better now. He is happier.
• (Stave 5) 'a delighted smile. He looked so irresistibly pleasant.'

  Adjectives - juxt. with the start where people avoided him - suggests people are now drawn to him.
• (Stave 5) 'Not a farthing less. A great many back-payments are included'

  Declarative - he is now selfless and giving to charity. Juxt. with the start. He is righting his wrongs.
• (Stave 5) 'I'll raise your salary,'

  Declarative - selfless. Helping the Cratchitts. He cares. He has changed.