English lit

• “ solitary child neglected by his friends“ parallel to “solitary as an oyster“

  Selfishness and materialism

  Parallel language allows the reader to understand how scrooges selfish and solitary existence in his adulthood is synonymous with his defenceless ‘solitary existance‘ as a child.
• “Are there no prisons and the union workhouses?“

  social injustice and poverty. Malthusian views paired with his use of rhetorical questions highlight the sheer ignorance of the upper class towards poverty Scrooges unable to see the poor with any humanity instead sees as mere numbers contributing to the surplus population.
• “It was a strange-figure like a child: not so like a child as a like an old man.“


  ghost of Christmas past- supernatural

  Ghost presented as paradoxical and conflicting, not conforming to the physical ideas of the human world “like a child.” and simultaneously “like an old man.” metaphorical for Scrooge
• “His heart and soul in the scene and with his former self.”

  kindness and family

  warm and welcoming ambience surrounding him in stave two fezziwig was presented like to a family member hence Scrooges benevolent reaction when reminiscing direct juxtaposition to form self and representation where the “cold had a little influence.”
• “I will live in the past present and the future the spirits of all three shall strive within me.”


  Supernatural

  scrooges realisation marks the climax of the allegorical novella concept of three could be a biblical illusion to 3 different forms God emphasises how almost acted as incantations of God himself relaying a moral and religious message that penetrated deeply within Scrooge
• “Squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner.”


  religion use of seven negative adjectives mirror how there are seven deadly sins(cardinal sins)

  Seen as root of all evil parallels between Scrooge and the sins are used by Dickens to highlight how the rich symbolised by Scrooge are more sinful than the poor
• “Quite a baby“ and “ as merry as a schoolboy”

  regret and redemption

  both babies and schoolboy connote youth and innocence Scrooges showcasing through him and repenting his sins. He has regained youth and innocence as being a baby is the start of life signified. Scrooge has been reborn from an old sinner.
• “jolly giant“ who Wears a “green robe” which was ”bordered with fur“

  Ghost of Christmas present

  his likeness to Father Christmas who is a symbol of festivity and giving the ghost is purpose is to show Scrooge how There is enough of everything in abundance and giving is an important attribute to having society.
• Mrs Cratchit “dressed out but poorly in a twice turned gown but brave in ribbons.”


  make the best of what they have. the alliteration on “twice turned gown.” Emphasises their poverty; Mrs Cratchit can’t afford New clothes. Festivity of ribbons being all over her dress may be impoverished. symbol of ribbons to show grateful they are as they display gratitude and love.
• “outstretched Hand“ and “steady hand was painted to the head”

  Regret and redemption

  ghost of Christmas yet to come

  his lack of words and enigmatic depiction speeds up scrooges redemption. Use of “hand“ repeatedly could be an allusion to the hand of time. Ghost warning to Scrooge that he is loosing time And edging closer to his ironically “solitary” death Scrooge longed for solitary existence how the ghost is solemly showing him the repercussions of his selfish want.
• Shakespeare's tragic portrayal of Romeo and Juliet


  Reinforces that even the seemingly boundless power of love is ultimately constrained by forces beyond human control
• Elizabethan ideas of determinism


  • Everything is pre-set out
  • Celestial bodies (stars/moon/planets) were powerful forces on human life
• Shakespeare's construction of the young characters


  • Impulsive
  • Fervid (passionate)
• Their impulsiveness and recklessness


  Is their hamartia (fatal flaw) that led directly to their imminent demise
• Shakespeare highlights the dangers of unchecked (uncontrolled) passion and the importance of considering consequences before acting impulsively
• Shakespeare shows the consequences of violating societal, religious and familial constructs
• These foundational constructs in society are insurmountable (can't overcome), even in the face of true love
• Romeo's hamartia (fatal flaw)


  His potuousness (impulsiveness) - his inability to navigate social expectations
• Shakespeare reinforces folly (foolishness) in the youth
• Ideas about power
• Elizabethans


  • Believed in the power of celestial bodies (stars/ moon/ planets)
  • Queen Elizabeth had her own astrologist
• Prologue "star-cross'd"


  Introduces key theme from the beginning
• Juliet


  • Is a Leo - she embodies these typical character traits
• Ovid's Metamorphoses


  Contains the concept of lover's who are prevented from being together by fate, seen in Pyramus and Thisbe
• Ending of Ovid's Pyramus and Thisbe


  Similar to Romeo and Juliet, with the idea of fate separating lovers and ending in tragedy
• Both Ovid's Pyramus and Thisbe and Romeo and Juliet show the destructive nature of feuds
• Italy


  • Believed to be a romantic, wild country, in which women were sexually promiscuous and men were violent and prone to duels
  • Juliet's lustfulness and sexual promiscuity and Tybalt's fiery, easily provoked nature demonstrates these stereotypes of Italians
  • Male violence runs throughout the entirety of the play
• Great chain of being

  God created the world with a clear hierarchical structure, with the King at the top and men higher than women
• Romeo + Juliet


  Violated great chain of being by trying to unite despite the prohibitions
• Juliet's disobedience with her father


  Emphasises the great chain of being, as she was inferior to her father as a man
• Romeo: '"Then I defy you, stars!"'
• Apostrophe


  Romeo directly addresses the stars, personifies them as tangible (can touch) forces capable of replying to him, emphasising his deteriorating mental state and the immense power he gives to these celestial bodies
• Exclamative sentence


  Emphasises Romeo's descent into despair and his recognition of the tragic fate that awaits him
• Despite his youthful defiance


  His defiance proves futile (pointless) as the stars, once symbols of destiny, now feel like a malevolent (evil) force actively working against him
• Juliet: '"Deny thy father and refuse thy name"'
• Semantic field of "deny" and "refuse"


  Illustrates Juliet's rebellion and defiance against the constraints of her family feud and commitment to true love blindly
• Juliet


  • Impulsive and fervid (passionate) in the way that she loves, characteristic of the sign that she is born under, Leo
  • Reinforces Elizabethan belief in celestial bodies (stars, moon etc) to have an enormous influence over a person's disposition (nature)
• Juliet's statement to "deny thy father"


  Goes against the norms of a patriarchal society where daughters were considered their father's property, used to enhance his political and social standing through arranged marriages
• Juliet: '"Then I'll be brief. O happy dagger!"'
• Oxymoron


  The joyous connotation of "happy" starkly contrasts with the deadly imagery of "dagger," characterising her as a tragic heroine with a fall