scrooge

• "as solitary as an oyster"

  • simile
  • oyster has a hard shell, hard to open
  • he is choosing to isolate himself
  • symbolises ignorance
  • misanthropic nature
  • blinded by greed
  • narrow-minded
  • shell protects, will not be prised open except by force
  • foreshadows potential of redeemability
  • pearl inside is precious
• "darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it"

  • literal meaning
  • preference to being unemotional and unwillingness to be a better person
  • eerie atmosphere setting the scene for Marleys ghost
  • mental darkness
• "hard and sharp as flint"

  • lack of emotion
  • lack of vulnerability
  • ability to cause harm
  • simile
  • lack of connection
  • detached
  • stubborn and rigid
  • exploiting his power and social class
  • exaggerated disconnection, caricature
  • "hard" lacks warmth and empathy contrasts
  • "fire" potential for warmth inside scrooge
• "its not my business"

  • short statement
  • power of the rich has indoctrinated him with the belief his opinions are fact
  • inner voice is confident and assured
  • patriarchal society may have contributed to his sense of privilege and entitlement
  • ignorance is easiest
  • dismissive
  • rejecting his social responsibility
  • shows his disconnection from others
  • teaches the importance of responsibility and compassion
• "are there no prisons"

  • selfish
  • would rather allow people to suffer
  • first instinct was to put poor in prisons rather than give money
  • cruel
  • callous
  • greedy
• "if they would rather die they had better do it and decrease the surplus situation"

  • semantic field of economics
  • lacks empathy
  • references malthusian theory
  • cold-hearted and miserly nature
  • reflects societies beliefs
  • sets up the essential need for scrooges transformation
  • powerful
  • shocks the reader
  • shows scrooges isolation
  • doesnt view poor as humans (dehumanises)
  • views them as statistics, not people
  • "they" impersonal pronoun, creates a divide between classes
  • socialist
• "squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping... old sinner!"

  • syndetic list
  • he is money driven
  • repetition of harsh words shows not just mental attitude but physical greed
  • calling scrooge out for wrongdoings
  • theme of greed
  • lack of compassion
  • so tight fisted it seems like a physical effort to hold onto it
  • highlights his obsession with wealth
  • sets up central message of the story- greed and selfishness
• what does scrooge's change signify for readers?

  readers can change too
• how does repetition affect the portrayal of Scrooge?

  it emphasizes his loneliness
• what role does humor play in Scrooge's character?

  it makes him more relatable and engaging
• what pun does Scrooge use when speaking to Marley’s ghost?

  gravy and grave
• how does Scrooge's character evolve by the end of the novella?

  he becomes more empathetic and caring
• what does Scrooge's reaction to Tiny Tim signify?

  his growing concern for others' welfare
• what does Scrooge vow to do after seeing his gravestone?

  "i will honour christmas in my heart"
• how do the final similes about Scrooge contrast with earlier descriptions?

  they show his transformation to happiness
• what does Dickens suggest about society through Scrooge's transformation?

  society improves when we care for each other
• how does Dickens use literary devices to portray Scrooge's transformation?

  • repetition emphasizes loneliness
  • similes illustrate character traits
  • humor adds depth to Scrooge
  • imagery foreshadows change
• what emotional responses does Scrooge evoke in the reader throughout the novella?

  • initial disdain for his character
  • growing empathy as his past is revealed
  • celebration of his transformation at the end
• what does dickens use scrooge to criticize?

  social divide
• dickens initially presents scrooge as a "cold" misanthropic character, and he reverts to a "warm" philanthropist. he does this to highlight how we all have the capacity to change.
• "there's more of gravy then grave about you"

  • humor
  • makes scrooge a relatable character
  • pun
  • sarcastic and dismissive tone
  • shows scrooge is skeptical
  • irony
  • reflects scrooges denial