analysis

• "as hard and sharp as a flint" - about scrooge s1

  he is cold and unemotional

  resistance to change

  stubborn and set in his ways

  sharpness show in his interactions with other

  prioritise himself
• "as solitary as an oyster"

  forced type of loneliness

  closed off the the world

  symbolism - pearl inside oyster is a metaphor for scrooge

  he has become enclosed

  believes money is most important thing

  ghost crack shell

  foreshadows redepmtion
• "if they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population" - scrooge, s1

  reflects scrooges lack of emphathy and compassion for other

  sees the poor as a burden on society

  indifference to suffering of others

  critique of capitalism

  prioritises his own wealth over others

  dickens uses this to comment on social attitudes towards the poor
• "I wear the chains I forged in life" "the chain was made up of cash boxes... ledges....heavy purses" - Marley's ghost, stave 1


  chain represents moral and spiritual weight of his sins

  he created the chains through his own choices and actions - individual are responsible for their own fate

  materialistic and selfish

  obsession with wealth and money
• "a solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still - scrooge sobbed" - scrooge seeing his younger self stave 2

  isolation and loneliness

  emotional impact this memory has, deep impact

  prompt him to reflect on his past actions and attitudes
• "I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now" -scrooge at Fezziwig's party, stave 2

  contrasts scrooges normal behaviour with his employees

  indicates longing for connection

  recognition of human interaction and warmth typically overlooks in pursuit of wealth

  learns importance of compassion and human relationships over material items
• "the smooth white sheet of snow upon the roof..... dirtier snow upon the ground"

  smooth

  • no damage, no hardship, life is good
  • represents upper class looking down on lower classes

  dirtier

  • represents lower class
  • rich watch the poor

  juxtaposition - smooth vs dirty, rich vs poor
• "a jolly giant who bore a glowing torch" - the ghost of Christmas present, stave 3

  embodies spirit Christmas joy

  contrast to previous spirit

  sense of warmth and larger than life presence

  enlighten and guidance

  torch represents light of Christmas spirit

  beacon of hope

  scrooges journey
• "scrooge was the ogre of the family and the mention of his name cast a shadow" - the Cratchits reaction to scrooges name stave 3

  scrooge is seen as a cruel miserly figure

  by everyone

  individual who brings fear and misery

  indicates impact scrooges presence has on people

  name brings darkness and gloom
• "boy is ignorance. Girl is want"

  children represent most vulnerable group in society

  short sentence - more emphasis sound like facts

  rich people blame the poor for their circumstances

  cant ignore suffering

  result of everyone

  to get out of poverty they need something, stop the cycle
• "it was shrouded in a deep black garment" - the ghost of Christmas yet to come, stave 4

  chilling and ominous atmosphere

  foreboding nature of spirit

  adding to mystery and unease of figure

  black - death/darkness
• "I will not shut out the lessons that they teach"

  pronoun - takes accountability

  show effect of supernatural - show him how to change

  imperative - holding himself accountable

  no longer shut inside shell
• "upon the stone of the neglected grave his won name" - scrooges own grave, stave 4

  scrooges future is lonely of devoid of love

  he will die alone

  no one to mourn him
• "the cold within him froze his old features"

  emotional coldness and lack of compassion

  emotionally frigid

  face in a permanent state of coldness

  need for redemption
• "I am light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy, I am giddy as a drunken man" - transformed scrooge, stave 5

  feather

  • scrooge feels unburdened and free
  • was once weighed down by greed and bitterness

  angel

  • deep sense of happiness and contentment
  • inner peace

  schoolboy

  • carefree and energetic
  • renewed sense of youthfulness

  drunken man

  • euphoria similar to a drunk person
  • exhilaration about the world