A Christmas Carol

• “The cold within him froze his old features”

  Theme - Selfishness and materialism - Stave 1

  the extended metaphor of the relentless cold holds parallel to scrooges distant and cold attitude As his internal apathy and detachment is so omnipotent. It alters his physical appearance
• “I will live in the past, The present and the future, the spirits of all three shall strive within me” (stave 4)


  Themes -

  • Supernatural
  • regret/redemption
  • Religion
  • selfishness

  religious allusions- rule of three could be a biblical allusion the the three different forms of god, emphasising how the ghosts acted as incarnations of God, replaying a moral message that penetrated deeply within Scrooge

  when he speaks of them “striving within me” Signifies the ghosts internalisation and their desperation For Scrooge to embark along the right path
• Quite a baby: 'Quite a baby'
• merry as a school boy: 'merry as a school boy'
• Themes


  • Selfishness/materialism
  • Social justice
  • Religion
  • regret/redemption
• Infantile language - scrooges infantile self descriptions


  • Indicates his rebirth as he is branded as a "baby" and a "schoolboy"
  • Both a baby and a schoolboy connote innocence and youth
  • Scrooge is showcasing how through him repenting for his sins, he has regained his youthful innocence and ability to see the world in an untained light- he now views it through kindness, compassion and benevolence
• Being a baby is the start of life


  Signifies Scrooge has been reborn from a selfish "sinner" into the most innocent form of human life - ultimate rebirth
• Christian ideas of rebirth

  The concept of rebirth holds significance in Christianity, symbolising a spiritual renewal and connection with god deeply intertwined with jesus Christ's rebirth
• Scrooge's own rebirth


  May hold the promise of salvation and relief for the less fortunate, as he assumes a paternal (fatherly) role akin to a "second father" to tiny tim embodying compassion and generosity towards those in need
• Link to other key themes

  kindness/family - through scrooges portrayal as a microcosm (something small representing something larger) of the upper class, Dickens illustrates the easy potential for personal transformation and redemption

  by depicting scrooges transition from avarice (greed) to altruism ( selflessnes) and genuine compassion, Dickens showcases the possibility of catalysing positive change within society by replacing selfishness with empathy and kindness