Christmas Carol

• solitary as an oyster'

  -simile

  -loneliness

  -oyster reffered to having hard outside which represents the idea of capitalism and the fact that he had to take care of himself.

  -the soft pearl could represent the fact that deep down, Scrooge had a soft side which could have foreshadow hope for scrooge to change.
• Squeezing,wrenching,grasping,scraping,clutching,covetous sinner'


  -asyndetic listing

  -shows how he was obsessed with money!

  - exclamative shows how the narrator is overwhelmed by how outrageously unpleasing Scrooge his.

  - the list of verbs are to do with hand to show how what a miser Scrooge was
• I wear the chain I forged in life'


  - 'chain' symbolises greed and sin.

  -distressed tone which implies that Marley was a restless ghost

  - chain immaged use to suggest that actions in life may have inescapable consequences even in death
• If they would rather die... they had better do it'


  -'they' refers to the poor and is impersonal

  -shows that Scrooge sees a strong divide between himself and the poor.

  -he doesn't see the poor as individual which reflects his lack of sympathy

  -shows selfishness and greediness of the middle class
• Decrease the surplus population'

  - Links with Thomas Malthus. He thaught that they would never have a utopian society because the moment society came close to that the population grew.
• A solitary child neglected by his friends'

  -attributive adjective

  'solitary' implies that Scrooge was alone which suggests sadness in his childhood.

  -transitive verb neglected' suggest that he was forgotten by his friends.

  -This makes the reader sympathise with Scrooge
• Another idol has displaced me. A golden one'.


  - concrete noun idol has connotation of worshipping and admiring as if it were a God.

  -Scrooge worships the money with a sort of religious devotion.

  -The greed for money has overtaken his love for Belle.

  -Scrooge shows his regret and it humanises him. He described it as 'torture
• I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one'


  - comparative adjective, 'nobler' has connotations of morality and honesty. This suggests that Scrooge once had a moral state of mind and had honest ghost which further indicates that he was once a good person.

  
  

  - The fact that they have fallen 'one by one' emphasises his slow, avaricious descent into the greed and selfishness.
• Would you put out... the light I give?"

  -metaphor illustrates that the first ghost was there to illuminate Scrooge and show him where things have gone wrong, but scrooge needs to except the help.

  -light is symbolic of redemption and hope which hints that Scrooge has potential to redeem himself.
• He has the power to render us happy or unhappy... as if it cost a fortune'


  -Scrooge has had a epiphany and realises that happiness doesn't have to coast a fortune and that Fezziwig was a benevolent humanises him.

  -Fezziwig just like Scrooge has power over his employees but uses that for good intentions.
• Founder of the Feast'

  - fricative which conveys how grateful Bob Cratchit and is family was to Scrooge.

  - they are thankful regardless of their poverty and display love and affection for each other.

  -This conveys the importance of family.
• I see a vacant seat. The child will die'


  - The simple sentences emphasise the hole that will be left in the Cratchit family when Tiny Tim dies in the future.

  - 'Will' highlights the certainty of this if Scrooge doesn't change his ways.

  -This makes the reader worried for Tiny Tim and makes them hope the Scrooge is capable of changing.
• Are there no workhouses? Are there no prisons?

  -rhetorical device and repetition

  -links with the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834. The workhouses were place where poor or homeless people could go to and be given food in return.

  - ironic because the ghost is repeating Scrooges response to the charity collectors. This forces threader to consider how unhelpful his previous opinions were.
• The boy is Ignorance. The girl is Want...Most of all beware this boy'


  - Dickens uses two malnourished and impoverished children to symbolise ignorance (unawareness) and want (need for more) as they emanate greater sympathy from readers

  -'Ignorance' is more dangerous for society
• His offences carry their own punishment'


  - Scrooge is judged by his only living relation and Fred is frustrated at his fixed mindset

  -Scrooge is only damaging himself and will continue to do more damage if he doesn't change.
• My little, little child'

  -repetition of 'little' emphasise how small and weak Tiny Tim was and just how desperately he was in need of help

  -this makes the reader feel sympathy for Bob Cratchit.
• I will not shut out the lessons they teach'


  - illustrates that Scrooge will not forget what he has learnt.

  -personal pronoun emphasises that Scrooge is taking responsibility for is own action

  - pivotal point in the story as is signals as the resolution to Scrooges internal conflict.

  -reader gets a sense of hope
• Sponge away the writing on this stone'

  Scrooge finally realises the terrible consequences of his behaviour and shows remorse.

  - 'sponge away the writing' is a metaphor which conveys Scrooge desire to erase his past actions. A sense of urgency.

  -imperative verb 'smonge' implies a sense of urgency and convesy how desperate Scrooge is for a second chance.

  -tension
• I fear you more than any spectre I have seen"


  - This establishes the idea that Scrooge is changing.

  - 'fear' is abstract noun as well as use of emotional language

  -conveys that Scrooge is frightened of what is to be come of of him and is raking notice
• I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school boy.'


  -asyndetic listing.

  -similes that convey the fact that he is no longer burdened and is filled with joy.

  -juxtaposes the similes used in the exposition of the novella when Scrooge was described as 'solitary as an oyster
• Scrooge regarded everyone with a delighted smile'

  - adjective 'delighted' conveys the fact that Scrooge is genuinely happy with company around him.

  - concrete noun 'smile' has connotations of warmness and friendliness which suggests that Scrooge demeanour has soften.
• I don't know anything. I'm quite the baby'


  - short sentences convey the sincerity in the realisation.

  - 'baby' suggest that he was reborn. It could also suggest determination to undergo the transformation of character.

  -new found awareness
• God bless us, Every one!'

  - Tiny Tim embodies the spirit of Christmas.

  -exclamative conveys a sense of excitement and hope for the future.

  -Direct address emphasises the sincerity of Tiny Tim's wish.

  -Inclusive
• I have come to dinner. Will you let me in Fred'


  -Scrooge feels uncertain about his position with his nephew due to the way he has behaved in the past

  -He is asking to be let into the family again.

  -This shows that he has now fully understood the importance of family
• Turkey'


  -The purchase is symbolic of his transformation from miserly to generous.