ACC quotes

• "Hard and sharp as flint" --> Scrooge's character is cold and unfeeling.
• "If they would rather die.. they had better do it and decrease the surplus population." - Scrooge --> Links to Malthusian theorem.
• "Are there no prisons?" - Scrooge --> link to workhouses
• "I wear the chain I forged in life" - Jacob Marley --> foreshadows Scrooges fate
• "Solitary as an oyster" --> Scrooge builds a metaphorical wall to protect himself like an oyster protecting its pearl inside.
• "Meanwhile the fog and darkness thickened." --> Pathetic fallacy, foreshadowing the terrifying fate if Scrooge hadn't changed.
• "Another idol has displaced me" - Belle --> Reference to Scrooge caring more about money than her.
• "A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still."


  This quote could suggest why Scrooge is the way he is now. He was neglected by society as a child so feels he can't join society now, as he's afraid of rejection. He cries when seeing this showing the feelings are still very raw to him.
• "There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something: that's all."


  This is another quote that shows a change in Scrooge. By seeing himself as a young boy, he starts to feel empathy towards others.
• "During this whole time Scrooge had acted like a man out of his wits."


  This quote is showing how Scrooge is really changing, he's forgotten about the views he used to have on society.
• "The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it cost a fortune."


  This shows Scrooge realises not everything's about money, or how much things are worth but more about the thought and the spirit in which its done.
• "Quite alone in the world, I do believe."


  In this quote Scrooge realises that he doesn't want to be alone, and is upset that other people see him all alone.
• "Who suffers by his ill whims? Himself always." - Fred


  AO1 - This relates to the theme of Scrooge's suffering and his ongoing change throughout the novella. Scrooge is the only person who is suffering by his misanthropic ways.

  AO2 - The rhetorical question suggests to the reader that they are all aware that Scrooge is the only person who suffers by his ways. The adjective 'ill' can also be seen to link misanthropy with an illness of men and so could be suggesting that it is curable and there is hope.

  AO3 - Dickens is suggesting here that those capitalist businessmen who display misanthropy will be the only people that are affected by their selfishness, because it will ultimately leave them alone.
• "Tonight at midnight. Hark! The time is drawing near" - The Ghost of Christmas Present


  AO1 - The period of the Ghost of Christmas Present's presence is drawing to a close, which is used to show that Scrooge is one step closer to achieving his redemption.

  AO2 - Dickens uses exclamatories in this statement in order to place emphasis on the significance of the midnight and the end of the stage of Scrooge acknowledging charity and family. Dickens also uses the semantic field of time with nouns such as 'tonight', 'midnight' and 'time' to show the importance of the commodity of time.

  AO3 - Dickens places emphasis on his message in this statement which suggests that there has to be a period of revolution in order to destroy the class boundaries and that time is of the essence.
• "Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish but prostate too" / "They are Man's"


  AO1 - The Ghost of Christmas Past is revealing Ignorance and Want to Scrooge and the description of these creatures that Man has created through its own faults.

  AO2 - The listing of negative adjectives is matched with animalistic imagery to suggest the extent of the savagery that Man seems to ignore. It reveals that Man is not as perfected as it would believe.

  AO3 - There is a strong link here to Malthusian Theory and the fact that businessmen actually considered starving a large portion of the lower classes so that the population did not overgrow. Dickens places emphasis on how Humanity has bred such creatures of Ignorance and Want in order to relay his message to the reader.
• "he softened more and more"


  AO1 - Dickens is revealing how the character of Scrooge is beginning to mellow out and his facade of stubbornness is melting away as he changes.

  AO2 - The verb 'softened' suggests that Scrooge is changing from the misanthropic character that is presented in Stave One and is losing his cold personality. This is backed up by the repetition of the adverb 'more' to show the extent by which the character is changing.

  AO3 - Dickens' message through this novella is to get the selfish businessmen of Victorian England to follow the path of Scrooge, because it is not impossible to change.
• "Scrooge hung his head to hear his own words quoted by the spirit"


  AO1 - Scrooge begins to experience the emotion of guilt and remorse for the actions he has performed and the things he has said to other people.

  AO2 - The alliteration in the phrase 'hung his head' emphasises the extent of Scrooge's guilt and is reflected in the shameful imagery.

  AO3 - Dickens is attempting to communicate to the reader that they will experience this guilt if they do not change their ways, even if they do not believe it due to their superior capitalist ways.
• " "Here is a new game," said Scrooge. "One half-hour, Spirit, only one!" "


  AO1 - Scrooge is pleading with the Spirit to let him remain in the vision for a quarter of an hour longer.

  AO2 - The exclamatory reveals that Scrooge's transformation is under way as he is displaying more philanthropic attitudes towards what he is being shown by the Spirit, contrasting his misanthropic attitudes of Stave One.

  AO3 - In this quote, some would argue that Dickens is emphasising the true nature of Christmas which exploits the kindhearted nature in people as they wish to be surrounded by the ones they love and joyous games, not exploiting the wealth of a capitalist society.
• "But they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time"


  AO1 - Scrooge is looking into the family home of the Cratchits who reveal a united family on Christmas Day.

  AO2 - The triple 'happy, grateful, pleased' emphatically reveals how the Cratchits are a united family with love rather than money. It proves that even though they are of the Working Class, they are still apparently happier than Scrooge.

  AO3 - Dickens grew up in a Working Class background and so he understands how the Cratchit family may have experienced Christmas. Due to his personal anecdotal presentation of the Cratchits, Dickens makes the message of his novella clearer: you can be happy without money.
• "every man...good or bad had a kinder word for one another on that day that day of the year"


  AO1 - Scrooge witnesses the true nature of Christmas and its quality of unity among all men.

  AO2 - Dickens uses the comparative adjective 'kinder' to reveal to the reader how Christmas is a time of unity and understanding among all men. It reveals how the time of year is significant in evoking a kinder nature from all men; rich or poor, old or young.

  AO3 - Dickens reminds the reader of the true sense of Christmas that is almost used to combat the domination of capitalism over such festive holidays.
• "...he regarded it as the greatest success since their marriage"


  AO1 - Bob Cratchit is here revealing his sentimental character here in that he values his family as his greatest success and his appreciation for things other than money or wealth.

  AO2 - The superlative 'greatest' reveals how much Bob values his family and especially at a period such as Christmas, when family and togetherness is a key part of celebration.

  AO3 - Contextually, this reveals how the difference in class decided what people enjoyed because in contrast to Scrooge in the first stage, Bob reveals how his experience of poverty has led him to appreciating the less materialistic elements of life.
• " "I am the Ghost of Christmas Present" said the spirit, "Look upon me!" "


  AO1 - The Ghost of Christmas Present represents the Christmas spirit and holds a jolly manner, which is what Dickens believes should be the attitude towards others at Christmas time, and what it is about.

  AO2 - The concrete noun 'ghost' creates a dramatic atmosphere and immediately re-installs the theme of the supernatural. The imperative statement "Look upon me" is a strong and commanding tone, overpowering Scrooge and controlling the action, as opposed to the protagonist.

  AO3 - The Ghost in this stave is contextually representative of the true spirit of Christmas and especially the theme of charity, which Dickens tries to instil in his novel in order to explain to the reader, the necessity of charity in order to bridge the gap in the class divide.
• "God bless us, every one!"


  AO1 - Tiny Tim as a character is representative of two main themes which are religion and poverty and how they are connected by the link of charity because even though he has been raised in the working class, he is still charitable in soul.

  AO2 - The noun 'God' comes from the semantic field of religion and the exclamatory emphasises Tiny Tim's charitable nature and how he wishes good-fortune on all.

  AO3 - Linking to Marxist theory, religion was seen as a form of social control over the poor.
• "Oh no, kind Spirit! Say he will be spared" - Scrooge


  AO1 - This quote reveals a pivotal change in Scrooge's character in that his tone here appears loving and caring and rather emotive as this is one of the first moments in the novella that Scrooge expresses sympathy or care for another character.

  AO2 - The exclamatory reveals the sheer extent of Scrooge's care for Tiny Tim and the use of imperatives shows his desperation and will for Tiny Tim's safety.

  AO3 - Malthusian Theory argued that it would strategic of the class system to allow the poor to die off so that food and resources would not become overly scarce and also the child mortality rate of the Victorian period was low due to illness and diseases such as Rickets that caused children to become common victims and die earlier.
• "such a bustle ensued that you might have thought a goose the rarest of all birds"


  AO1 - This quote relates to the theme of family and poverty because the class system is proven to be represented by the difference in birds this quote. Also this quote relates to the unity of the family in the working class.

  AO2 - The atmosphere in this extract is busy yet cosy one, making the goose seem a more superior choice than it was as if at Christmas, as long as there is family and spirit, class is irrelevant.

  AO3 - This quote is revealing of Dickens' attitude towards Christmas and that he feels that family should be united in the festive period. Also, a goose was a bird of low ranking in the Victorian period and was often associated with the poor as this was the extent of what they could afford, but this quote reveals that class becomes irrelevant as the Cratchits are appreciative of what they already have.
• "A tremendous family to provide for" muttered Scrooge


  AO1 - Scrooge is showing his morality towards the Cratchits and desire for a family like theirs. This shows his transition from a misanthropist to a philanthropist, and from a cold person to a sympathetic one. This quote also links to the themes of morality and change and transformation.

  AO2 - The adjective tremendous emphasises the size of the family that Bob Cratchit has to provide for but also reflects how united they are as a family, communicating a sense of respect towards this struggling, working class family.

  AO3 - This quote can be used to reveal the struggles of the working class as the population seemed to grow extensively from their class and also underpins Dickens' social message that the Middle Class should be more respectful and sympathetic with the plights of the poor.
• "with an interest he had never felt before, "tell me if Tiny Tim will live" "


  AO1 - This quote is used to reflect the idea that Scrooge's transformation is truly underway from the misanthropist in stave one to the philanthropist that he inevitably becomes in the final stave.

  AO2 - The imperative 'tell me if Tiny Tim will live' reveals Scrooge's desperation to discover the fate of Tiny Tim as he has formed an emotional connection with the boy who he now can sympathise with as Scrooge begins to see the terrible consequences of his mistreatment of Bob Cratchit.

  AO3 - Dickens here is revealing to the reader that it is never too late to change and make a difference because the phrase 'never felt before' shows that just as Scrooge can make a turn around, it is possible for the reader to do so also.
• "Who bore a glowing torch in shape not unlike plenty's horn and held it up, high up"


  AO1 - The Ghost of Christmas present is proven to be symbolic of charity and benevolence as he bears a glowing torch that sheds his light of charitableness on the people of London at Christmas time.

  AO2 - The use of light imagery can be seen to be offering of hope to both the characters of the novella as well as the reader, suggesting that there is room to change but also symbolising the relevance of Christmas and the benevolent nature it evokes from the people.

  AO3 - Dickens' message is again reminded to the reader here as he repeats the idea that Christmas should be a time of good will to all men and that despite the capitalist nature and commercialised state of society, the true meaning of Christmas must be returned.
• "He was taken with a violent fit of trembling"


  AO1 - Scrooge is finally being overpowered by fear, something that he has not experienced yet. This is a key moment in his redemption plot throughout the novel.

  AO2 - The adjective 'violent' proves how impactful this moment is in the redemption of Scrooge. It reflects the power of the supernatural and the effect it has on Scrooge - relates to how the Ghosts become intense as the staves progress.

  AO3 - Dickens embeds his message into the reader once more, portraying the effect that he wishes to have on the reader - he wants the reader to realise their errors of judgement and correct the wrongs in society.
• "Four roomed house"


  AO1 - Scrooge and the Ghost are observing the living standards of the Cratchit household.

  AO2 - In Scrooge's view it is only a "house", the concrete noun suggesting that it is only a place of residence, whereas the Cratchits view it differently as for them it is a home and a place for family and good-will.

  AO3 - Dickens is illuminating the reader to the poor living conditions of the working class as they struggle in the class divide that rules Victorian society.