Scrooge

• "Hard and sharp as flint"

  • Simile: The phrase compares Scrooge to flint, a stone known for being unyielding and capable of producing sparks
  • Dickens uses this to convey Scrooge’s emotional coldness and resistance to change
  • Adjectives “hard” and “sharp”: These words suggest not only a lack of warmth or empathy, but also danger and pain — Scrooge is not just unfeeling, but potentially harmful in his harshness
  • Connotations of “flint”: Although flint is cold and tough, it also has the ability to spark fire — suggesting that within Scrooge lies the potential for warmth and transformation, even if deeply buried
• "Solitary as an oyster"

  • Simile: This unusual comparison deepens Scrooge’s emotional isolation
  • An oyster is closed tightly, hard to open, and resistant to contact — just like Scrooge
  • Noun “oyster”: It evokes something unappealing and unresponsive on the outside, but potentially valuable within (a pearl), hinting again at buried goodness or humanity
  • Tone: Slightly comic but also sad — Dickens blends humour and pathos, making the image memorable and layered
• "If they would rather die... they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."

  • Dehumanising language: “Surplus population” turns people into numbers — this reflects the cold logic of utilitarianism and industrial capitalism
  • Verb phrase “had better do it”: Carries a brutal tone of command. It’s not just callous, but dismissive of death itself, making Scrooge seem shockingly cruel
  • Ellipsis: The pause allows the reader to absorb the bluntness that follows, creating dramatic emphasis on his lack of empathy
• "He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man..."

  • Anaphora (repetition of “as good”): Reinforces consistency and completeness across all areas of Scrooge’s life
  • Superlative implication: “As the good old city knew” makes his transformation legendary — his goodness is not just personal but public
  • Rhythmic flow: The sentence has a satisfying cadence, giving the story a hopeful, rounded conclusion
• "I will honour Christmas in my heart..."

  • Verb “honour”: Suggests reverence, loyalty, and moral duty — it’s more than celebration; it’s a promise to live by the values of generosity and compassion
  • Metaphor “in my heart”: Makes Christmas a living presence inside him — emotional, not superficial
  • Future tense “I will”: Strong, active commitment. It’s a declaration of change and resolution