A Christmas carol

Question 1

“solitary as an oyster’- Stave 1, about scrooge

Answer 1

The simile highlights Scrooge’s isolation, Dickens is criticising those who shut themselves off from others. The sibilance creates the atmosphere of solitude and seclusion; the sound mirrors his own life lacking vibrancy.
The noun ‘oyster’ have hard, protective shells which could reflect Scrooge’s ice-cold demeanour to society. Oysters are often found at the bottom of the ocean which links to Scrooge’s desire to isolate himself from society.
This foreshadows Scrooge’s transformation; just like oysters contain pearls, Scrooge has inner goodness that can be released.

Question 2

‘Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire.’- Stave 1, Scrooge

Answer 2

This simile emphasises Scrooge’s destructive nature and his impact on society.
The adjective ‘hard’ is used to reflect his lack of emotion. The adjective ‘sharp’ suggests Scrooge is prickly with the ability to harm others.
The noun ‘flint’, a common stone used to create fire, foreshadows Scrooge’s own potential.
The symbol of the ‘generous fire’ represents a metaphorical warmth and compassion that Scrooge lacks- Dickens criticises the upper class who refuse to share their wealth in Victorian society.

Question 3

‘a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!’- Stave 1

Answer 3

Asyndetic list of aggressive and dynamic adjectives to illuminate Scrooge’s seemingly endless traits. The adjective ‘scraping’ has connotations of injury which implies Scrooge’s adverse and afflictive nature in society.
The adjective ‘covetous’ has biblical connotations of selfishness and greediness, it is a sin.
The noun ‘sinner’ which has clear religious connotations is a subtle warning to the Victorian reader’s moral ideals.

Question 4

‘Darkness is cheap and Scrooge liked it’- Stave 1

Answer 4

The adjective ‘cheap’ with its link to monetary value highlights his miserly character. The noun ‘Darkness’- Scrooge is associated with negativity, evil and ignorance.
The verb ‘liked’ highlights how Scrooge embraces and find delight in the dark, presenting his character.

Question 5

‘Bah humbug’- Stave 1

Answer 5

This phrase is used to mirror Scrooge’s mocking of Christmas values and all that it stands for. The plosive ‘b’ sounds reflect Scrooge’s venom and hatred for Christmas.

Question 6

‘Are there no prisons? … The treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour then?’- Stave 1, portly gentlemen

Answer 6

The rhetorical questions highlights Scrooge’s lack of consideration and empathy. The noun ‘vigour’ connotes energy and strength suggests the power of this system, as far as Scrooge is concerned, the poor are getting taken care of.
The treadmill can also be viewed metaphorically as it links to the idea of moving but getting nowhere and this can reflect the lack of social mobility for the poor.
Dickens opposed the 1834 Poor Law and he ultimately uses the character of Scrooge to embody the ignorant and ruthless attitudes of much of the upper class in the Victorian era and that these reasons are the causes of extreme poverty

Question 7

At Christmas ‘Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices’- Stave 1, portly gentlemen

Answer 7

The personification of Want and Abundance through the capitalisation of them as proper nouns and this figuratively brings to life these qualities.
The juxtaposition of abstract noun ‘Want’ (which connotes insufficiency and deprivation) and the noun ‘Abundance’ which has connotations of richness and a spread of great quantity which reflects the divisions in society between the classes.
The irony presented by Dickens between Abundance and Want offers a solution to poverty evoked through the links to charity and sharing.
Dickens wanted to instil Christmas spirit of generosity and community into society.

Question 8

‘decrease surplus population’- Stave 1, portly gentlemen

Answer 8

This highlights his ignorance to the struggles of the poor, these words are repeated back to Scrooge in Stave 3, which emphasises his transformation.
The Semantic field of economics through the verb ‘decrease’ and the adjective ‘surplus’ emphasises how the poor were viewed through statistics as there is no sense of emotion or compassion.
The adjective ‘surplus’ suggests something unnecessary, which dehumanises the poor as an unwanted part of society.
Scrooge is seen as a mouthpiece of Malthus theory, which is the view that poverty is thought to be inevitable due to the insufficient amount of food to feed everyone. Dickens had an issue with this theory.

Question 9

‘He was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled’- Stave 1, Fred

Answer 9

This metaphor is used to illuminate Fred’s embodiment of the Christmas spirit and all its benevolence. He is used as a foil character for Scrooge which helps to amplify Scrooge’s melancholic and miserly nature.
The verb ‘sparkled’ connotes a sense of radiance and light, linked to his goodness. The abstract noun ‘glow’ has positive connotation which reflects his warm character. Fred is presented as a beacon of goodness and morality to follow, which would appeal to the readers.

Question 10

‘when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely’- Stave 1, Fred

Answer 10

The metaphor conveys Fred’s viewpoint that Christmas is linked to love, compassion and charity. The verb ‘open’ connotes sharing, charity and accessibility. By pairing this with the adjective phase ‘shut up hearts’ Dickens highlights that Christmas represents an opportunity for all of society to embrace the goodness that lies within them.
Fred acts as a mouthpiece for Dickens’ view of Christmas. Dickens transports himself into the novella through Fred to encourage compassion and charity from a selfish, Victorian society.
The pattern of openness contrasts the closed off nature of Scrooge.

Question 11

‘A Merry Christmas uncle! May God save you!’- Stave1, Fred

Answer 11

This exclamatory greeting immediately establishes Fred as the foil to Scrooge’s negativity. The repetition of the exclamation mark heightens Fred’s enthusiasm which reflects Fred’s energy and his spirit of generosity. The reference to God is establishes Fred as a moral, holy symbol. Scrooge’s response with the harsh plosive ‘Bah! Humbug!’ conveys his contrasting cold view of Christmas- the mirroring of exclamatives connects the two characters, where Fred’s energy lies in his generosity, Scrooge’s lie in his misery

Question 12

‘The chain he drew was clasped about his middle’- Stave 1, Marley

Answer 12

There is an overriding sense of enclosure and entrapment. The metaphor of the ‘chain’ symbolises lack of freedom and control, in this case, the ‘chain’ represents the control that greed has over one’s ability to grow and blossom. The noun ‘chain’ has connotations of restriction and limitations, ultimately it is the greed that has prevented Marley’s metaphorical growth and freedom. The verb ‘clasped’ can have a double meaning. During life ‘clasped’ has links with obsession which reflects Marley’s obsession with money, however in death, these objects now clasp and control him.

Question 13

‘it was made (for Scrooge observed it closely) of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks’ ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel’- Stave 1, Marley

Answer 13

The makings of the chain all derive from the semantic field of business which is metaphorical of Marley’s selfishness and greed. The asyndetic list is powerful in emphasising the extent and seeming endlessness to the greed and lust for power illuminated from the makeup of the chain. The objects within the list seem self-contained and isolated through ‘padlocks’ ‘boxes and ‘keys’.
The noun ‘steel’ has connotations of resilience and great strength emphasising the power of Marley’s greed and its inability to be broken.
Dickens is pointing at the dangers of reaching a stage of selfishness and greed where redemption is no longer possible.

Question 14

‘His body was transparent… Marley had no bowels’- Stave 1, Marley

Answer 14

Metaphorically, this could imply Marley’s greed and selfishness has emphasised his lack of substance or element. The adjective ‘transparent’ has connotations of emptiness.

Question 15

‘I wear the chain I forged in life, I made it link by link, and yard by yard’- Stave 1, Marley

Answer 15

The metaphor of the ‘chain’ reflects the burdens of punishment and restriction. The repetition of the noun ‘link’ and ‘yard’ shows the progressive nature of his sins, emphasising the huge weight of his transgressions.
Marley represents the selfishness of the upper class in society and he is used by Dickens as a warning to society of the consequences if they don’t change.

Question 16

‘Mankind was my business’- Stave 1, Marley

Answer 16

The declarative sentence is presented as an unquestionable fact, directly to the readers.
This is a response to Scrooge’s praise of Marley’s success in business highlighting Dickens view that we should care more about people than business.

Question 17

‘Like a child; yet not so like a child as like an old man.’- Stave 2, Ghost of Christmas Past

Answer 17

This simile juxtaposes images of young and old in the ghost, this presents a sense of hope, by comparing ageing to the excitement of youth, suggesting that the ageing of the body does not mean the loss of youth.
The noun ‘child’ has connotations of youth and hope, creating an innocent image and healing within the ghost.
The noun phrase ‘old man’ has connotations with maturity, which links youth to the foundation of maturity and experience.

Question 18

‘It wore a tunic of the purest white’- stave 2, Ghost of Christmas Past

Answer 18

The colour imagery of ‘white’ resonates with the idea of purity and innocence, reflecting an almost angelic image, this is further backed up by the noun ‘tunic’ which is typically associated with the attire of angels.
The superlative ‘purest’ symbolises the beauty and innocence of youth, and its nature not to be tainted.

Question 19

‘It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand; and, in singular contradiction of that wintery emblem, had its dress trimmed with summer flowers’- Stave 2, Ghost of Christmas Past

Answer 19

The seasonal imagery proposes a sense of balance. The winter imagery in ‘fresh green holly’ and ‘winter emblem’ is associated with age, experience and coldness. The summer imagery with ‘summer flowers’ which indicates a blossoming beauty and growth which is possibly reflective of Scrooge’s youth.
The juxtaposition adds to the spirits symbolic message that youth and old age coexists through memory.
Dickens conveys how the warmth of summer heals the coldness of winter, just how the memories of youth heals the coldness and pains of age.

Question 20

‘from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light’- Stave 2, Ghost of Christmas Past

Answer 20

The motif of light connotes goodness and godliness which exposes the reality that Scrooge rejects. Nothing is hidden and Scrooge must confront his selfishness.
The noun ‘jet’ highlights unstoppable nature of the light.
The verb ‘sprung’ indicates how the light is energetic, bursting out and spreading.
This is a direct contrast to ‘Darkness was cheap and Scrooge liked it.’

Question 21

‘Scrooge pressed it down with all his force, he could not hide the light… in an unbroken flood’- Stave 2, Ghost of Christmas Past

Answer 21

Reflects Scrooge’s desire to hide from the truth and remain in the darkness. The verb ‘pressed’ and noun ‘force’ emphasises his desperation to hide the light that exposes his sins.
The metaphor ‘unbroken flood’ of light reflects how it i inescapable and continuous. Dickens warns society that their flaws will inevitably be exposed.

Question 23

‘Comfortable, oily, rich, fat, jovial voice.’- Stave 2, Fezziwig

Answer 23

The asyndetic list of positive adjectives emphasis the endlessness to his warmth and joy. The adjectives are typically associated with food to create flavour and wholesomeness to his voice, showcasing his generosity. The adjective ‘jovial’ depicts deep enthusiasm and passion. The adjective ‘rich’ has connotations with money but here it illustrates his abundance of kindness.
Dickens uses Fezziwig as a role model for rich people in Victorian society, showing how they can be rich in wealth and rich in generosity.

Question 24

‘Laughed all over himself, from his shoes to his organ of benevolence’- Stave 2, Fezziwig

Answer 24

The metaphor ‘organ of benevolence’ refers to his good heart. Alternatively, Dickens may be portraying Scrooge as a character lacking an ‘organ of benevolence’ and will result in doom.
The abstract noun ‘benevolence’ evokes an image of charity, generosity and love.
The noun ‘organ’ depicts the heart in a biological manner to emphasise that the essence of love is natural within us all.

Question 25

‘Another idol has displaced me… a golden one ‘- Stave 2, The Broken Engagement

Answer 25

This metaphor reflects how greed has the ability to replace love. The verb ‘displaced’ suggests how Scrooge’s greed has dominated his relationship. The semantic field of the ‘golden idol’ highlights Scrooge’s endless pursuit to wealth.
The noun ‘idol’ has religious connotations- ‘thou shall not worship fake idols’ highlighting that money is something that should not be worshipped.
Dickens describes Belle with the verbs ‘sparkled’ and ‘light’, reiterating the idea that the noble characters are connected to light and the Victorian society should look up to them.

Question 26

‘The master- passion, Gain, engrosses you’- Stave 2, The broken engagement

Answer 26

This personification suggests that Scrooge has a lack of control, he is controlled by ‘Gain’. The capitalisation ‘Gain’ reflects how this materialistic obsession has become the forefront of his mind and it has made itself important. The phrase ‘master- passion’ shows a sense of power and authority, Scrooge can or control his obsession, he is corrupted and rife with greed.

Question 27

‘Our contract is an old one’…’I release you’- Stave 2, The broken engagement

Answer 27

This metaphor is comparing Scrooge and Belle’s relationship to a contract which implies there is no longer any emotion or feeling in their relationship.
The semantic field of business is the language that Scrooge understands and that is the language that Belle uses.

Question 28

‘Heaped up on the floor, to form a kind of throne, were turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking- pigs’- Stave 3, Ghost of Christmas Present

Answer 28

The asyndetic list on nouns associated with food creates an overwhelming effect to the ghosts generosity. But it could also be symbolic of the upper classes greed.
The m metaphor ‘form a kind of throne’ creates an image of wealth and status.
The amount of food could be criticising the Malthusian theory.

Question 29

‘It’s sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice’- Stave 3, Ghost of Christmas Past

Answer 29

The adjectives ‘sparkling’, ‘open’ and ‘cheery’ creates a sense of giving.
The recurring motif of light shows that the noble characters are role models to Victorian society.

Question 30

‘The roaring fires’ … ‘flickering of the blaze’ … ‘deep red curtains’ … ‘shut out cold and darkness’- Stave 3, the Cratchits

Answer 30

The recurring motif of ‘fire’ and ‘red’ that is seen through the setting reflects an overriding sense of warmth. The personification of the ‘roaring fire’ conveys a strength of unity, with the verb ‘roaring’ has connotations with power and effervescence. The pathetic fallacy ‘cold and darkness’ creates an atmosphere of depression and isolation. Dickens believes that Victorian Society needs to be more in touch with their families.

Question 31

‘Married sisters, brothers, cousins, uncles, aunts’- Stave 3, the Cratchits

Answer 31

The semantic field of family is a direct contrast to Scrooge who is ‘as solitary as an oyster’. It includes members of extended family highlighting how Christmas can bring lots of people together and despite being poor, the working classes are happier

Question 32

‘A custard- cup without a handle’- Stave 3, the Cratchits

Answer 32

‘Without a handle’ symbolises how difficult even the simplest activities were for the poor and they were unable to function to their full potential, just how a custard cup without a handle cannot function to its full potential. The preposition ‘without’ emphasises the absence and loss that the poor suffered.

Question 33

‘As golden goblets’- Stave 3, the Cratchits

Answer 33

Simile highlights their gratitude and happiness despite living through poverty. The adjective ‘golden’ and noun ‘goblets’ has connotations with wealth, suggesting that contentment is found through family.

Question 34

‘Quiet. Very quiet… as still as statues’

Answer 34

The repetition of quiet shows the intensity of their grief which is a direct contrast of the family’s energy in Stave 3. The similes reflects the fact that the family is unable to move on from their grief. The sibilant sounds mirror the atmosphere (one of depression) through the hushed tones. Dickens uses Tiny Tim as a literary device to draw attention to the weak and vulnerable members of society and how we can rely on family due to their importance.

Question 35

‘Two children… knelt… clung’ - Stave 3, Ignorance and want

Answer 35

The personification of poverty through two children, gives poverty an identity of the poor which personalises the poor, making Scrooge feel more emotion toward the poor. The plural noun ‘children’ reflects innocence and can evoke emotion from the readers, helping them to identify the issue. The verbs ‘knelt’ and ‘clung’ have connotations of pleading and submission, the children are clinging to the generosity of the Ghost of Christmas Present. Dickens used the characters of ignorance and want to criticise the cold and unforgiving views of the Malthusian theory.

Question 36

‘Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate’- Stave 3, Ignorance and Want

Answer 36

The semantic field of monstrosity is created through the asyndetic list of negative connotations which creates an overwhelming sense of pain and suffering which is a contrast to the childish joy and innocence. The adjective ‘yellow’ portrays the malnourishment of Victorian children linking with death. Their faces have lost the youthful, pure glow, stolen by poverty. Alternatively ‘yellow’ could have connotations with disease and that the upper classes saw them as a disease that needs to be removed. The metaphorical presentation of the children as ‘wolfish’ further conveys the dehumanisation of ignorance and want, they are viewed as rabid animals by the upper class and have lost all sense of humanity.

Question 37

‘Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked’- Stave 3, Ignorance and Want

Answer 37

The metaphor is harsh, a warning to the religious Victorian society about the consequences of ignoring poverty. The juxtaposition between the nouns ‘angel’ and ‘devil’ highlights the loss of potential of the poor and the consequences of ignoring them. Dickens was critical of the fact that poverty robbed children of their potentials so he supported the establishment of rugged schools

Question 38

‘Look, look down here… They are man’s’- Stave 3, Ignorance and want

Answer 38

Repetition of ‘look’ emphasises the urgency which society needs to address the issues of poverty. The verb ‘look’ has connotations of vision, the opposite of ignorance and blindness. The collective noun ‘man’s’ evokes an idea of togetherness highlighting the message of collective responsibility. The declarative sentence ‘they are man’s’ is stated as a fact, there is no moving from this message.

Question 39

‘The phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached’- Stave 4, Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come

Answer 39

The adverb ‘gravely’ highlights the impending danger, but also links to death through the clear phonetic sound ‘grave’. The adverb ‘silently’ creates suspense and tension, imbedding a sense of fear. Also, the silence of the ghost could reflect the way Scrooge is silent in supporting the vulnerable classes in society. Dickens uses the semantic field of gothic imagery as he wants to haunt society with his message.

Question 40

‘It seemed to scatter gloom and misery’- Stave 4, Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come

Answer 40

The abstract noun ‘gloom’ connotes depression emphasising the anguish of the future if society continues in its ways. The sibilance creates an eerie atmosphere. Perhaps the Ghost is an embodiment of Scrooge who spreads misery throughout society, which is a direct contrast to the Ghost of Christmas Present with his ‘sprinklings of the spirits torch’.

Question 41

‘It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed it’s head, its face, its form’- Stave 4, Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come

Answer 41

The metaphor and motif of darkness coneys a sense of death and loss that Scrooge’s yet to come is defined by. The verb ‘shrouded’ has clear connotations of isolation, linking to how Scrooge has shrouded himself in a cloak of isolation. The semantic field of death reminds the reader that life is short, and we need to find the light as soon as possible, which would appeal to the Christian Victorian audience.

Question 42

‘The spirit pointed from the grave to him, and back again.’- Stave 4, Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come

Answer 42

The verb ‘pointed’ depicts a precise direction, Scrooge’s fate and the rest of society if they continue in this way, conveying a sense that every action has a consequence. The Christian readers believe that our action can lead to heaven or hell, and Dickens is emphasising that we are all in control of our own destiny, warning his readers.

Question 43

‘I am as happy as an angel…merry as a schoolboy… giddy as a drunken man… Whoop!’- Stave 5, Scrooge

Answer 43

The three similes reiterates his excitement and transformation, the onomatopoeia ‘whoop’ is also an exclamatory sentence highlighting his enthusiasm. The progression of the positive adjectives suggest a permanent increase in his transformation. The noun ‘drunken man’ suggests that Scrooge is intoxicated by the Christmas spirit.

Question 44

‘He did it all, and infinitely more’- Stave 5, Scrooge

Answer 44

The collective pronoun reflects how Scrooge embraced everything. The adverb ‘infinitely’ emphasises his extent of generosity through hyperbolic language. Dickens is challenging society to be more generous and take responsibility for the whole of society.

Question 45

‘To Tiny Tim, he was a second father’ - Stave 5, Scrooge

Answer 45

This metaphor accentuates Scrooge’s role as a guardian to more vulnerable members of society. The noun ‘father’ proves that the protective instinct a parent has must be echoed in Victorian society towards the poor.

Question 46

‘I will honour Christmas in my heart’ - Stave 5, Scrooge

Answer 46

The future verb ‘I will’ reiterates his intention to change. This is a direct contrast to his charcter