A Christmas Carol Key Quotes

• Description of Scrooge in Stave 1. A simile.

  
  

  Greed

  'As solitary as an oyster'

  
  

  He is always alone - reclusive, secretive, clammed tight shut, cold, shunning human contact.

  
  

  Although now seen as luxury items, Oysters were once the food of the poor. The meaning links with ideas of social responsibility.
• Description of Scrooge in Stave 1. A metaphor.

  
  

  Greed


  'heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge'

  'No warmth could warm, nor wintry weather chill him'

  '..and didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas'

  
  

  He never shows any emotion or reaction to events.
• Quote that reveals Scrooge's cold-heart; he would rather see the poor people die instead of helping them, and by dying, they would be doing a service to the world.

  
  

  Social injustice

  '"If they would rather die", said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population"
• Indication of Scrooge's mean nature, as he would rather live in darkness than spend a single coin.

  
  

  Greed


  "Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it."
• A simile to describe Scrooge. Scrooge has harsh features to the point where he is almost inhuman.

  
  

  Greed

  'Hard and Sharp as flint
• Quote about being weighed down by sins/transgressions.

  
  

  Supernatural; greed


  'I wear the chain I forged in life
• Unearthly visitor'


  To show that the ghosts are so abnormal/supernatural.

  
  

  Supernatural
• Surprising character exposition, making the reader sympathetic for Scrooge. Neglected children were common in Victoria era, readers at the time would relate to this.


  'A solitary child, neglected by his friends
• Scrooge feels emotion being taken back to his past. Shows change.

  
  

  Redemption

  "Your lip is trembling"
• Scrooge takes pity on himself

  
  

  Redemption

  "poor boy"
• Shows Scrooge is starting to change for the better as a care for others has began to develop.

  
  

  Theme of Redemption.

  'There was a boy singing a Christmas Carol at my door last night. I should have liked to have given him something: that's all
• Fezziwig was a good boss to Scrooge, even Scrooge adored him.

  
  

  Importance of family/friends

  "Why it's old Fezziwig! Bless his heart!"
• Fezziwig encourages the young apprentices to close early for Christmas. He has a larger than life attitude and is the complete opposite to Scrooge as an employer- he embraces the joys of Christmas.

  
  

  Christmas, family.


  "No more work tonight, Christmas Eve"
• Belle is upset that Scrooge's greed has come between her engagement to Scrooge. She believes he values money more than her due to his avaricious nature.

  
  

  Greed

  'Another idol has displaced me...A golden one.
• Description of Ghost of Christmas Present, Stave 3. Could show how Christmas is a time for joy.

  
  

  Christmas, supernatural.

  'Jolly Giant
• Shows Scrooge's path to redemption starting to form as he is willing to learn how to be a better person. GOCPresent.

  
  

  Redemption.

  'To-night, if you aught to teach me, let me profit by it
• The Cratchetts are pleased with what they have, and do not complain about not having as much as some people.

  'There never was such a goose
• Scrooge feels terribly that the ghost has used his own words against him "decrease the surplus population". He starts to realise just how cruel he has been.

  
  

  Redemption

  'Scrooge hung his head...and was overcome with penitence and grief
• Mr Cratchitt still thanks his boss, Scrooge for what he has, despite the fact that he treats him so awfully.


  'Scrooge, The founder of the feast
• The two children symbolise Victorian society's greatest problems.

  
  

  Victorian society

  'This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both
• Scrooge says to the GOCYTC that he's happy to go with it, showing how much he has changed from when Marley's ghost came to him.

  
  

  Theme - Redemption.


  'I am prepared to bear you company, and do it with a thankful heart
• Scrooge Stave 4: By this stage the final nail in the literal coffin hammered in, with the overall showing of Scrooge as a more open, caring, nice man. He is now able to understand that he must change from the "man I was."

  
  

  Redemption

  'I am not the man I was
• Scrooge makes the promise to the ghost after seeing his own grave.

  
  

  Redemption, Christmas

  'I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year
• Weight of Scrooge's past actions/transgressions have now been removed. Lots of positive similes to emphasise this change.

  
  

  Redemption

  ' I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy
• Shows his new found compassion. He now cares for others.

  
  

  Redemption, family.

  'and to Tiny Tim...he was a second father
• Narrator, about Scrooge at the end. Scrooge learnt how to enjoy Christmas with those he loved.

  
  

  Christians, redemption


  'He knew how to keep Christmas well
• Final words spoken by Tiny Tim - salvation, inclusion, religion.


  "God bless Us, Every One!"
• Description of Ghost of CP - supernatural


  "like a child, yet...like an old man"

  
  

  "strong hand" "mildly" "gentle",
• Description of Ghost of CPresent - personification of Christmas

  "a jolly Giant"

  
  

  sparkling", "cheery"
• Description of Ghost of CYTC - supernatural - personification of death


  "it seemed to scatter gloom and mystery"

  
  

  silent", "ghostly", "spectral"