quotes w/ analysis

• "Hard and sharp as flint"


  A simile to describe Scrooge. His "sharp" tongue when it comes to others and his "hard" exterior.

  Scrooge has harsh features to the point where he is almost inhuman.

  The adjective "hard" may be a reference Scrooge's tough exterior and how he has no sign of kindness in his face and appearance.

  The reader is positioned to feel negatively towards Scrooge as Dickens portrays him to be a highly cold character that we should interpret with caution.
• a grasping clutching scrapping old sinner!

  sinner- against religion

  desperation

  greedy

  barley holding onto life
• Decrease the surplus population

  Based on Malthus's theories, which angered Dickens.

  dehumanises the poor and separates them from the rich

  cold, economical language

  the poor don't add wealth therefore are of no use
• "I wear the chains I forged in life."


  Dickens is using Marley to scare the Victorian's into changing their ways.

  forged- bought upon himself

  symbolises his behaviour in life

  chained- stuck in old ways
• Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?

  Rhetorical Questions- suggesting the poor are at fault for having no money and that they have a place in society

  dehumanises poor

  scrooge is oblivious to conditions

  dickens- wanting to raise awareness about the prisons

  denies the poor any self respect
• founder of the feast

  Bob is incredibly kind-hearted towards his employer and manages to look past all the ways in which he mistreats him due to his gratefulness that Scrooge at least pays his wages. This emphasises the gratitude of the poor with any act of generosity given to them
• tried himself at the candle

  Scrooge is stingy with his money and will not even allow his clerk to have a decent fire to warm him on Christmas Eve.

  Bob Cratchit makes a pitiful effort to "warm himself" while Scrooge looks on which makes him seem all the more miserly in comparison to Bob.

  bob doesn't argue against scrooge- excepts him
• I mean to give him the same chance every year whether he likes it or not, for I pity him


  Fred is incredibly forgiving

  will do anything for family despite how they act

  He shows his care for his uncle by pledging to continue visiting Scrooge regardless. His concern is revealed by his persistence and pity.
• "brave in ribbons"


  "brave" conveys this idea that although her and her family are affected by poverty, she continues to hold this "brave" persona to keep her family strong and their spirits high.

  "ribbons" we know are quite cheap, so this would be something the poor would probably have a tiny bit of access to. this also shows us that even though they are poor, Mrs Cratchit tries to take as much pride in her appearance as she can, implying that she is so desperate to lead a normal life and have access to the things that the wealthy do too.
• Another idol has displaced me... a golden one'


  scrooge believes money is worth ruining a relationship for and believes it will make him happier

  metaphor
• shaking hands with every person individually

  Fezziwig is not dismissive and acknowledges his guests even those who are from lower classes and personally sends them off. He is kind-hearted and is a character that Dickens want the upper class to embody

  individually- equality
• solitary as an oyster


  describes scrooges loneliness

  This simile suggests he is shut up, tightly closed and will not be prised open except by force. However, an oyster might contain a pearl, so it also suggests there might be good buried deep inside him, underneath the hard, brittle shell.
• Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before this spirit.


  The verb 'timidly' contrasts with his confident rejection of the visitors at his office and the narrator clearly indicates that the change has started.

  finally is begin to start excepting change
• i hope to live like another man from what i was

  wants to change

  understands what has been done is wrong

  expects actions- taking social responsibility

  He wants to change through his own actions- very different from beginning where he was a nasty person
• "I am light as a feather I am as merry as a schoolboy


  feeling like a child what dickens feel Christmas is all about

  feeling free from previous actions