A Christmas Carol Stave 4

    Cards (16)

    • “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