ACC scrooge

• key words to describe scrooge in stave 1 & 2

  - parsimonious (stingy)

  - frugal (stingy)

  - avaricious (greedy)

  - ostracised (isolated)

  - misanthropic (antisocial)

  - malthusian views

  - covetousness (desire for wealth)

  - apathetic (unemotional)
• key words to describe scrooge in stave 3 & 4

  - remorseful

  - receptive (open to new ideas)

  - penitent (feels regret)

  - develops a collective social conscience (right from wrong in society)

  - submissive (accepting)
• key words to describe scrooge in stave 5

  - virtuous (moral)

  - benevolent

  - enlightened

  - undergone a rebirth

  - philanthropic (charitable)
• Dickens intentions


  - dickens crafts an allegorical (story with a moral message) novella with a didactic (to teach) purpose, aiming to convey a message about the virulent (harmful) consequences of avariciousness (greed) and frugality in society. He criticises the upper classes for their apathy (lack of concern) towards the poor and their complicity in perpetuating dehumanising laws and social structures through ignorance
• What does dickens communicate to his upper-class reader?

  Dickens communicates to his upper-class reader the importance of repentance (remorse) and compassion increasing both personal and societal moral redemption. By upholding a mirror to his readership -> the upperclass, he prompts them to introspect (look in at themselves) and assess whether their attitudes perpetuate social injustice or contribute to social reform.
• How does dickens portray Scrooge in stave 1?

  In stave 1, dickens deliberately portrays Scrooge as deeply entrenched in his misanthropic (antisocial) attitudes, highlighting his transformative journey by stave 5. By depicting Scrooge as a microcosm of the upper class, dickens demonstrates the potential for change and personal growth, even in individuals with the most entrenched immorality. Ultimately dickens emphasis social reform can be achieved when society is guided by principles of generosity and empathy
• What is the Scrooge quote that links to the themes:

  - selfishness and materialism

  - social justice

  - religious

  
  

  Hint: "s,w,g,s,c,c o s"

  "Squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner" (stave 1)

  
  

  - asyndetic list highlights his selfish and avaricious (greed) character. It portrays scrooges immoral characteristics as ongoing, casting him as unrepentant "sinner"

  - use of the 7 negative adjectives mirrors how there are 7 deadly sins, which were seen in the bible as the root of all evil. As the foundations of Victorian morality was religion , the parallels between Scrooge and the sins are used by dickens to highlight how the rich, symbolised by Scrooge, are more inclined towards moral transgression (going against moral) than the poor.

  - dickens implicitly critiques societal structures, such as the 1834 poor law, was were ironically designed to address the perceived sin and laziness of the poor

  - verbs "squeezing" and "wrenching" connote a struggle, this illustrates how Scrooge struggles to see the detrimental consequences of his frugality and thus, his role in perpetuating social inequality
• Alternative analysis on the quote "squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner" (stave 1)


  Alternatively the undertone of a struggle is used by dickens to Illustrate how the avariciousness (greed) of the upper-classes directly cause for the impoverished (the poor)
• What is the Scrooge quote that link to the themes:

  - supernatural

  - redemption

  
  

  Hint: " h s t e-c, a b a s a p I d u I h"

  "he seized the extinguisher-cap, and by a sudden action pressed it down upon its head"