A Christmas Carol Stave 4

• “slowly, gravely, silently”

  Embedded and contextualised example: When the Ghost of Christmas Future first enters in Stave 4, he is said to do so “slowly, gravely, silently.”

  Reasons for learning it:

  • Easy to learn
  • Triad of adverbs which are each symbolic of the future itself, which the ghost is a symbol of - the future approaches us slowly, it is scary - evocative of death - and we don’t see (or hear) it coming - it is stealthy and unknowable
• What phrase describes the state of the dead man in Scrooge's vision?

  “plundered and bereft, unwatched, unwept, uncared for”
• What does the adjective “plundered” suggest about greedy people in death?

  They are treated in death as they lived
• What does “bereft” imply about death?

  We lose everything when we die
• What does “unwatched” indicate about the dead man's situation?

  Nobody is there to mourn him
• What does “unwept” reveal about the feelings of others towards the dead man?

  Nobody is sad about his death
• What does “uncared for” suggest about the dead man's body?

  Nobody looks after his body or belongings
• What is the significance of the triad of compound adjectives with the prefix un-?

  • Emphasizes loss and inadequacy
  • Highlights what the body lacks
  • Reflects the absence of care and mourning
• How do the adjectives used in the description contribute to the theme of loss?

  They illustrate the emptiness of death
• What phrase describes the atmosphere in the Cratchit house after Tiny Tim's death?

  “Quiet. Very quiet.”
• What does the phrase “quiet. Very quiet.” signify in the context of the Cratchit household?

  It emphasizes the impact of Tiny Tim's death.
• How does the repetition of the adjective “quiet” affect the reader's perception of the Cratchit household?

  It emphasizes the loss of life in the household.
• What structural element is echoed in the phrase “quiet. Very quiet.” during Scrooge's visits to the Cratchits?

  • Structural echo of the first visit
  • Highlights the difference after Tiny Tim's death
• What effect do the two short sentences “quiet. Very quiet.” create in the context of the Cratchit household?

  They create a sense of certainty and emptiness.
• What does the lack of words in the sentences “quiet. Very quiet.” suggest about the atmosphere in the Cratchit house?

  It suggests a mournful atmosphere and emptiness.
• “I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future”

  Embedded and contextualised example: Before the Ghost of Christmas Future leaves, Scrooge vows to change, claiming he will “live in the Past, the Present, and the Future” from now on.

  Reasons for learning it:

  • It’s one of the key messages of the entire novel
  • You can analyse the symbolism of the three proper nouns in the triad: the Past, the Present and the Future as represented by the lessons of the three spirits
  • You can analyse the modal verb “will” in terms of its certainty