a christmas carol Flashcards
(22 cards)
scrooge opener
In the didactic novella “A Christmas Carol”, Dickens uses the character of Scrooge as a vehicle to chastise the ignorance of the rich to the plight of the poor, whilst also placing focus on an individual’s capacity to change, should they wish to take responsibility for their actions. Initially, Scrooge is presented as a misanthropic miser with a strong aversion to Christmas and the society around him, but he undergoes an impressive character development, after which he is presented as an idealised, altruistic man in the final stave who seeks to re-integrate himself into society, by accepting social reponsibility, which Dickens had a strong affinity to.
scrooge points + quotes
- parsimonious and unsympathetic (“squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner” - asyndetic list, biblical allusions - archetypal villain // “are there no prisons? … if they would rather die … they had better do it and decrease the surplus population” - rhetorical question, malthusian energy)
- builds pathos for scrooge, with gradual development to increase tension (“there was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. i should like to have given him something that’s all.” - first incremental change and regret // “there is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty” // “let me behold what i shall be in days to come!” - respect, eager, no longer dismissive)
- transformed from avarice to benevolence (“i am as light as a feather, i am as happy as an angel, i am as merry as a school-boy” - similes [contrast to solitary as an oyster], exclamation, angel - heaven imagery // “make up the fires and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!” - repeated motif of fire [scrooge is getting warmer and sensitive], prioritise warmth over profit) - PURPOSE + CONTEXT
bob cratchit opener
In the dicactic novella “A Christmas Carol”. Dickens uses the character of Bob Cratchit as a vehicle to bring attention to the plight of the poor, and the suffering of the working class people. He is an immediate source of sympathy in the novella, but despite this, we still see indication of Cratchit’s grateful and compassionate nature as he remains consistently dedicated to his family, which is illustrated in stave 3. There was a great amount of stigma directed towards the poor during the Victorian era, so Bob Cratchit serves as a means to prompt reflection on this treatment, and holistically present the lower class in a different light - as positive and multi-faceted characters.
bob cratchit points + quotes
- unnamed, maltreated clerk (“my clerk, with 15 shillings a-week, and a wife and family talking about a merry Christmas” - tone [nonchalant attitude], cruel treatment // “bob had but fifteen ‘bob’ a week himself” - constant reminder, and shows importance and power of money)
- view in an intimate setting, exposing his loving side (“mr scrooge…i’ll give you mr scrooge! the founder of the feast” - respect and gratitude // “and his father loved him so, that it was no problem; no problem at all”)
- idealised representation of the lower class (“it shall not be repeated. i was making rather merry yesterday sir” // make up the fires and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, bob cratchit!”)
+ cratchit family
- bob - plight of the lower class // ability to endure hardship through family // the most vulnerable members of victorian society
- ‘“my little, little child!” cried bob. “my little child! he broke down all at once”’
- “and to tiny tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father”
fred opener
In the didactic novella, “A Christmas Carol”, Dickens uses the character of Fred as a vehicle to place focus on the importance of generosity and kindness towards others. Fred is a predictable character, being portrayed as a compassionate, positive and considerate individual who directly embodies the teachings of the Bible - a detail which would have reasonated with Dickens’ predominantly Christian readership. Throughout the novella, Dickens presents him as an exemplary character with the wider purpose of highlighting the need for every individual to show kindness and the Christmas spirit, regardless of their social status.
fred points + quotes
- fresh and youthful - FOIL TO SCROOGE (“ruddy and handsome” // “arriving all in a glow”)
- values christmas for what it is, and wealth as an opportunity to help others (“a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time” // “his wealth is of no use to him. he don’t do any good with it”)
- much-needed stability - remans optimistic and forgiving (“i am sorry for him;i couldn’t be angry with him if i tried” // “it is a mercy he didn’t shake his arm off”)
ghosts opener
In the didactic novella “A Christmas Carol”, Dickens uses the ghosts as a vehicle to catalyse Scrooge’s path to redemption. However, these entities are presented in distinct ways - Marley’s ghost as a prisoner of his actions, and similarly, the Ghost of Christmas Past as a means to prompt Scrooge to reflect on his past actions. The Ghost of Christmas Present is presented as the embodiment of the Christmas spirit, representative of kindness and goodwill, and lastly, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come as a deterrent as it warns of the repercussions Scrooge will face if he fails to change his ways.
ghosts points + quotes
- marley introduces idea of regret and responsibility (“i wear the chain i forg’d in life”)
- ghost of cpa allows the reader to empathise with scrooge, and give hope because he has not always been the way he is (“gave a freer passage to his tears” // “would you soon put out with worldly hands, the light i give?” - tunic of purest white)
- ghost of cpres is a personififcation of Christmas spirit, highlighting its importance (“free as its genial face” // “and they cling to me appealing from their fathers”- societal problems vs his unconditional kindness)
- ghost of cytc is used to visibly exemplify the idea of accountability and consequences (prolepsis “and that its mysteriiys presence filled with a solemn dread” // “i will honour christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. i will live in the past, the present and the future.”)
greed opener
Dickens uses the didactic novella, “A Christmas Carol” as a vehicle to condemn the excessive greed shown by those belonging to a higher social status and the great need to be more generous to the lower class, those who require the most consideration. The character of Ebenezer Scrooge is emblematic of such attitudes in the Victorian era, however, his approach changes through the help of the ghosts who remind him that money is not as important as connections and relationships. Dickens had a firsthand experience of the clear divide between social classes and felt compelled to address this matter by discouraging acts of greed.
greed points + quotes
- extent and cruelty of greed (“squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner” - asyndetic list, biblical allusions // “are there no prisons? … if they would rather die … they had better do it and decrease the surplus population” - rhetorical question, malthusian energy)
- greed just makes you an unlikeable person (“scrooge was the ogre of the family. the mention of his name cast a dark shadow on the party.” // “what has he done with his money?” - not just scrooge, but affects him either way”)
- transformed from avarice to benevolence, lack of greed (“i am as light as a feather, i am as happy as an angel, i am as merry as a school-boy” - similes [contrast to solitary as an oyster], exclamation, angel - heaven imagery // “make up the fires and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!” - repeated motif of fire [scrooge is getting warmer and sensitive], prioritise warmth over profit) - PURPOSE + CONTEXT
+ignorance
- dangerous, dehumanising force / igwant upper class neglect / consequences of societal ignorance and encourage responsibility
- scrooge embodies ignorance ( “are there no prisons? … if they would rather die … they had better do it and decrease the surplus population” - rhetorical question, malthusian energy) //”darkness was cheap and scrooge liked it” )
- cratchit family suffering caused by ignorance ( “bob had but fifteen ‘bob’ a week himself” // “my little, little child!” cried bob. “my little child! he broke down all at once”)
- ignorance can be overcome, and the reward of that repentance is peace and renewed relationships (“i am as light as a feather, i am as happy as an angel, i am as merry as a school-boy” - similes [contrast to solitary as an oyster], exclamation, angel - heaven imagery // “and to tiny tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father”)
redemption opener
In the didactic novella “A Christmas Carol”, Dickens presents the concept of redemption as a strong undertone that fueled the transformation of the protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge. Dickens places focus on the importance of repentance and change as part of his wider social message to inspire his readers to work for a more equitable and fair society.
redemption points + quotes
- scrooge is spiritually lost (“darkness was cheap and scrooge liked it” / “are there no prisons? … if they would rather die … they had better do it and decrease the surplus population” - rhetorical question, malthusian energy)
- builds pathos for scrooge, with gradual development to increase tension, will he redeem himself? (“there was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. i should like to have given him something that’s all.” - first incremental change and regret // “there is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty” // “let me behold what i shall be in days to come!” - respect, eager, no longer dismissive)
- scrooge’s repentance is rewarded with peace and renewed relationships (“i am as light as a feather, i am as happy as an angel, i am as merry as a school-boy” - similes [contrast to solitary as an oyster], exclamation, angel - heaven imagery // “and to tiny tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father”)
family opener
Dickens uses the didactic novella “A Christmas Carol” as a vehicle to popularise an emotional element to Christmas, especially for the misers of the upper class in the Victorian era. He presents the theme of family as one which embodies joy, strength and affection, in ties with the significance of the idealised royal family at the time. Dickens highlights the positive effects that family can have, while also explaining the negative consequences which could arise due to the absence of family.
family points + quotes
- scrooge is isolated from family - emotional poverty (“solitary as an oyster” / ““squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner” - asyndetic list, biblical allusions - archetypal villain)
- the cratchit family embodies unity and love (“and his father loved him so, that it was no problem; no problem at all”/”to a poor one most. because it needs it most”)
- chosen family can heal (“and to Tiny Tim, who did NOT die, he was a second father” / “make up the fires and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!” - repeated motif of fire [scrooge is getting warmer and sensitive])
generosity / charity / goodwill opener
Dickens uses the didactic novella “A Christmas Carol”, as a vehicle to promote acts of goodwill and charity, particularly from those of a higher social class, placing focus on the fact that everyone has the capacity to be generous regardless of their social status. Dickens had a firsthand experience of poverty in the Victorian era, and could therefore relate to the plight of the poor, understanding the importance of generosity in one’s life.
generosity / charity / goodwill points + quotes
- christmas is an opportunity to be kind and generous-through fred (“a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time” //”his wealth is of no use to him. he don’t do any good with it”)
- lack of goodwill and its regret ( “are there no prisons? … if they would rather die … they had better do it and decrease the surplus population” - rhetorical question, malthusian energy // “there was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. i should like to have given him something that’s all.” - first incremental regret)
- importance of generosity (“come back with the man, and i’ll give you a shilling. come back with him in less than five minutes, and i’ll give you half-a-crown” - urgency, he has wasted time not being generous // “make up the fires and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!” - repeated motif of fire [goodwill is scrooge getting warmer and sensitive], prioritise warmth over profit)
poverty opener
Dickens uses the didactic novella “A Christmas Carol”, as a vehicle to bring attention to the plight of the poor, and criticise the stigmas surrounding the lower classes, through the Cratchit family, who are regarded as the face of the poor throughout the staves. Dickens had a firsthand experience of poverty, so empathised with the victims of social and economic injustice; he felt compelled to address this matter by discouraging acts of ignorance and selfishness, which the protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, is emblematic of.
poverty points + quotes
- mistreatment and disregarded (as criminals) (“are there no prisons? … if they would rather die … they had better do it and decrease the surplus population” - rhetorical question, malthusian energy // “my clerk, with 15 shillings a-week, and a wife and family talking about a merry Christmas” - tone [nonchalant attitude], cruel treatment )
- regarded as normal and obvious, reflects the issues in the stark divide of social class (“why to a poor one most? asked scrooge” // “there is nothing on which it is so hard as poverty” - if scrooge can realise, so can everyone else”)
- though vulnerable members of society, ability to endure hardship through family - idealised representation of the lower class (“mr scrooge…i’ll give you mr scrooge! the founder of the feast” - respect and gratitude // “and his father loved him so, that it was no problem; no problem at all”)
+social injustice
- stark divide / through scrooge, lack of compassion and social responsibility / moral warning
- scrooge as a symbol of social injustice ( “are there no prisons? … if they would rather die … they had better do it and decrease the surplus population” - rhetorical question, malthusian energy / “it’s not my business”)
- contrast with cratchit poverty (“and his father loved him so, that it was no problem; no problem at all” / “this boy is ignorance. this girl is want”)
- social injustice can be addressed through individual and collective change (“make up the fires and buy another coal-scuttle before you dot another i, Bob Cratchit!” / “a great many back-payments are included in it”)
+christmas
- joyful, positive time // importance and warmth // a time to celebrate in harmony + can bring change
- fred
- fezziwig ( “laughed all over himself, from his shoes to his organ of benevolence” / “fuel was heaped upon the fire”)
- ghostocpre (+ “reflected back the light…mighty blaze went rearing up the chimney”)
