Christmas Carol Quotes + analysis

Cards (36)

  • "Hard and sharp as flint".

    Scrooge portrayed as miserly, isolated, cold and unfeeling. Fire making capabilities of flint foreshadow redemption. Shows the effect of greed. Themes: Avarice, isolation, redemption.
  • "As solitary as an oyster"

    Scrooge portrayed as isolated, hoarding a precious pearl for himself, which represents attitudes of upper class Victorian towards helping the poor and sharing wealth. 2nd interpretation, it could foreshadow change as Scrooge seems closed off, but is hiding a beautiful pearl. Themes: redemption, isolation, social responsibility.
  • "No wind blew that was bitterer than he".

    Scrooge is portrayed as cold, unfeeling, emphasised by the use of personification and hyperbole. Themes: isolation, greed.
  • The "Cold within him" which "froze his old features".

    Scrooge described with recurring theme of cold, contrasts Fred's description. His cruel, cold-hearted nature is deep rooted. Dickens puts emphasis on bad nature of Scrooge to show that anyone can change to a Victorian reader. Themes: Redemption, avarice, isolation.
  • "Nobody stopped him in the street to say.. 'My dear Scrooge, how are you?' "

    Scrooge is isolated, directly contrasts his behaviour after his transformation where he greets people in the street. Themes: isolation, transformation.
  • "...every idiot who goes about with "Merry Christmas" on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart"

    Dickens use of humorous, over the top language here causes the reader to become attached to Scrooge and therefore be able to relate his change with theirs, if he was cruel and miserable all the time, the reader will not be interested in his character. Themes: transformation.
  • "If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population."

    Direct reference to Malthusian economic theory, Dickens hated this. He uses the greedy and isolated character of scrooge to discourage this view and encourage charitable, Christian behaviour. Themes: social responsibility, Christianity.
  • "Its not my business."

    Scrooge represents the Upper class Victorians who were wilfully ignorant to the plight of the poor. This subtly could reference Marley's phrase "mankind was my business". Themes; transformation, social responsibility.
  • "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."

    Scrooge sees the values of Christmas as charitable, kind, giving. Dickens urges the reader to be like this all year not just at Christmas time. Themes: Christmas spirit, redemption.
  • "I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school boy, I am giddy as a drunken man".

    Figurative language shows scrooges indescribable joy and happiness, at being given a second chance at life. Nouns like "feather" or "angel" could be referencing the ghost of Christmas past, "schoolboy" could refer to his experiences of the night with him as a pupil. Themes: redemption.
  • "I don't know anything, I'm quite a baby."

    The noun 'baby' implies he has been reborn, that new attitudes can be imprinted, he has been given a fresh start. Acting childish, happy with relief. Context- Dickens as a social commentator believed people could change. Themes: redemption.
  • "Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all and became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew."

    Dickens shows the reader that scrooge's change was genuine, separate from the ghosts to imply that the reader can also change their ways. Repetition of "good" emphasises his genuine change, it is good through and through. Theme: redemption.
  • "I wear the chain I forged in life...", "The chain was made up of cash boxes..ledgers..heavy purses"

    Dickens discourages greedy behaviour and only caring about wealth by illustrating the dire consequences of it. Repetition of "I" shows Marley accepts his 'responsibility' but it is too late. Themes: social responsibility, supernatural.
  • "Mankind was my business"

    Marley regrets not helping others when he was alive. References Scrooge's comment "Its not my business". Themes: supernatural ,social responsibility.
  • "The clerk's fire was so very much smaller that it looked like only one coal". He "tried to warm himself at the candle".

    Scrooge is ungenerous and cruel, use of humour here highlights the cruelty of Scrooge, idea of lack of light could reference the Ghost of Christmas past with the light on their head. Themes: supernatural, greed.
  • "God bless us every one"

    Dickens uses Tim to show that poverty leads to suffering and death. Tim cares about others and God despite his disability, this has a large impact on Scrooge, Tim is the pathos for Scrooges change. When Scrooge becomes "a second father" to Tim, this highlights Scrooges change as child costs a lot but do not make any money, shows scrooge has changed. Themes: redemption.
  • They were not a handsome family; they were not well dressed. But, they were happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time."

    Cratchit family presented as perfect and kind. Dickens wanted to show the middle and upper class Victorians that the poor are people too. Could also be a message to the poor that despite your situation you can be happy no matter what. Recurring idea that Cratchits are not pretty externally (faces, clothes) but are still. happy. Message that it is not what is on the inside that matters.
  • "Another idol has displaced me... a golden one".

    Hyperbole and metaphor to show Scrooge only cares about money. "Idol" could reference ten commandments, Dickens show the Christian Victorian audience that being greedy is unchristian like.
  • "What reason have you to be merry? You're poor enough."

    Scrooge feels money is linked to happiness, Dickens believes family and charity makes you happy. Themes: family,
  • "I have always thought of Christmas as a good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time"

    Fred illustrates true Christmas spirit to the reader, he is generous cheerful and optimistic, stark contrast to scrooge. Themes: Christmas, family
  • "His breath smoked and his eyes sparkled."
    Metaphor of warmth to describe Fred, foil to Scrooge. Emphasises scrooges miserly characteristics and shows the reader what you can be. Themes: redemption.
  • "Would you so soon put out, with worldly hands, the light I give?"

    The light could symbolise truth, revelation, reflecting how upper class Victorians chose not to acknowledge the poor, but ignore them. Could be a reference to Christ, bringing light into the world. Themes: redemption, social responsibility.
  • "A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still - Scrooge sobbed."

    Scrooge was a result of his lonely childhood. Dickens is trying to show that qualities only produce more of the same quality. Poverty breeds poverty, criminality breeds criminality. Scrooge is affected greatly by the image. Themes: redemption.
  • "I should like to be able to say a word to my clerk just now. That's all" "I should like to have given him (carol singer) something: that's all"

    Scrooge feels regret for his actions, when he is reminded of his life. His separation from the rest of humanity due to his love for money has caused him to forget the feelings of others. Themes: redemption.
  • "It wore a tunic of the purest white."

    Superlative "purest" links to being sent from heaven. Colour symbolism of white shows he is perfect.
  • It was a strange figure—like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man'
    The spirit represents times from Scrooge's past life. He is an oxymoron, mysterious and strange to the reader, more likely to affect the reader.
  • "A jolly giant who bore a glowing torch with a cheery voice and a joyful air."

    The ghost represents the qualities of Christmas spirit, Dickens wants the reader to be like this all year round. Themes: Christmas, supernatural.
  • "It wore no other covering than a holly wreath/ round its middle was an antique scabbard; but no sword was in it."

    Ghost is portrayed as honest (without coverings), crown of holly reminiscent of Jesus, the spirit is there to save scrooge from his sins. Scabbard without a sword shows peace.
  • "They are Man's and they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance and this girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased."

    Two interpretations, ignorance of the poor who were uneducated (Dickens believed education for the solution) or ignorance of the rich who refused to acknowledge the plight of the poor. Want of the poor in need or want and greed of the rich. Personified as children to shock the reader make them want to help them.
  • "I see a vacant seat. The child will die."

    He's telling scrooge that Tim is going to die unless he helps. Blunt language has a greater effect on scrooge. Themes: social responsibility.
  • "It was shrouded in a deep black garment which concealed its head, its face, its form and left nothing visible except one outstretched hand."

    Mysterious appearance shows that the future is unknown. The appearance is similar to the grim reaper, terrifying to a Victorian audience as a symbol of death. Themes: supernatural.
  • "A churchyard, overrun by weeds, the growth of vegetation's death not life- a worthy place".

    Dickens shows that it is people like scrooge who are the weeds of society not the poor. Metaphor.
  • "Read upon the stone of the neglected grave his own name, Ebenezer Scrooge".

    The prospect of his own death is the final thing that changes scrooge, highlighting to the reader the consequences of greed. Themes: supernatural, redemption.
  • "Old scratch has got his last hey?"

    Name for the devil, scrooge portrays unchristian qualities.
  • Joe's shop "reeked with crime, with filth and misery".
    Brutal shocking metaphor, sense of smell, it is everywhere inescapable. Contrasts Cratchits view of poverty.
  • "He had the power to render us happy or unhappy, to make our service light or burdensome. The happiness he gives is... as if it cost a fortune."

    Scrooge realises that money is not important, but being kind and charitable is more important. Themes: redemption.