A Christmas Carol Flashcards
(14 cards)
1
Q
Scrooge
“Solitary, as an oyster” (1) - Isolation
A
- verb “solitary” = loneliness - hostile
- noun “oyster” = left on its own in the sea - emotional detachment = Scrooge’s stoic behaviour - no socialising
- noun “oyster” = hard shell but pearl inside - hope = foreshadows later events
2
Q
Scrooge
“Decrease the surplus population” (1) - Poverty
A
- phrase “surplus population” = group poor together - Scrooge is a caricature of the bourgeoisie - lack of care for others
- grouping the poor together = boundary between rich and the poor = disassociation
- adjective “surplus” = rich is in a distinct group - more power asserted on poor - Malthusian Theory
- adjective “surplus” = connotes excess or waste - poor have no value if they cannot contribute economically - expendable
- phrase “surplus population” = reduced to mere statistics - stripping them of individuality - cold, detached tone - Scrooge is inhumane
3
Q
Scrooge
“I’m as light as a feather, I’m as happy as an angel” (5) - Redemption
A
- simile “as light as a feather” = Scrooge is unburdened and liberated
- reinforced in the noun “feather” = light-weight - free from the emotional pain of childhood = Dickens used writing to be free from childhood trauma
- religious terminology “angel” = state of bliss and divine - spirts had a miraculous intervention to transform his life
- semantic field of positivity = links to the uplifting and exclamatory tone
4
Q
Scrooge
“I’m quite a baby” (5) - Redemption
A
- noun “baby” = rebirth + renewal - freed from material possessions - willing to breakaway from greed and bitterness
- Dickens freed himself from emotional trauma through writing
- noun “baby” = purity and innocence - open to learning and ready to embrace relationships
- adjective “quite” = humility - transformation feels genuine + unforced
- personal pronoun “I” = changes comes within himself - personal and authentic - Ghost’s intervention was a stepping stone to his transformation
5
Q
Scrooge
“And to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father” (5) - Family
A
- phrase “second father” = Scrooge’s compassion after redemption - stepped into a nurturing role
- noun “father” = implications of being a role model or guider to safety - Scrooge was a nuisance but now is a person with values to adopt
- phrase “who did not die” = his change has had real, life-saving consequences - directly impacts others
- he is now a part of the Cratchit family = not isolated - familial relationships can be blood but also through love
- Dickens freed himself from the absence of a fatherly figure through writing
6
Q
Marley
“No rest, no peace. Incessant torture of remorse.” (1) - Regret
A
- repetition of definitive “no rest, no peace” = relentless - no moment of relief - actions before death were so severe, consequences extended beyond life - warning to audience
- denotation of adjective “incessant” = never ending or eternal - reference to how Marley is forever “torture[d]” by selfish pursuits - not a consequence for Marley but a warning for Scrooge
- personification of “remorse” as a form of “torture” = feelings of regret are a palpable force - inflicts suffering on him
- paints a good image of Marley whilst in purgatory
7
Q
Marley
“I wear the chain I forged in life, I made it link by link, and yard by yard.” (1) - Regret
A
- metaphor of chain = consequences of greed and lack of compassion - moral actions lead to eternal suffering
- each “link” = act of selfishness and ignorance or a missed opportunity of kindness - chose money over the well-being of others
- verb “made” + “forged” = uncompassionate demeanour - downfall - accountable for his own actions
- could mean lived life by not helping others = burden made chain longer and heavier - weight of the chain is physically straining but emotionally as well - carry remorse and is irreversible
8
Q
Mrs Cratchit
“Dressed out but poorly in a twice-turned gown, but brave in ribbons” (3) - Poverty
A
- phrase “twice turned gown” = exposes harsh reality of poverty - cannot afford to buy new attire despite special occasion
- phrase “brave in ribbons” despite poverty = embraces financial position - creates innovate and beautiful ideas - resilience - she finds happiness in the subtle things
- irony in “bravery” = in norm it means to face danger with courage but Mrs Cratchit views it as facing poverty with pride and dignity
- metaphor of the “gown” = physical poverty - juxtaposes the emotional richness - “brave in ribbons” - suggests that material gain is not the only measure of wealth, but pride, love and familial bonds equate to opulence
9
Q
Bob Cratchit
“I am very happy,” said little Bob, “I am very happy!” (5) - Family
A
- repetition of “I am very happy” = gratitude and relief - can provide for family - disbelief
- short sentence + lack of complex vocabulary = genuine + pure happiness - overwhelmed by small acts - humility - big extravagant events are futile to him
- reaction disregards Scrooge bitterness before = embraces a positive change from his employer
- reaction teaches audience that Christmas spirit can transform lives = should be adopted by everyone
10
Q
Bob Cratchit
“Bob held his withered little hand in his, as if he loved the child” (3) - Family
A
- familial connection between the Cratchits despite hardships
- phrase “as if he loved the child” = reverence is strong - doesn’t need to be stated - seen through his actions
- adjective “withered” = Tiny Tim’s fragility is supported by Bob’s love
- Bob’s compassion is aroused to help family forget hardships = uses his upbeat demeanour to convey how he might be financially poor but is rich in abundance in love
- interaction may highlight theme of inequality - Victorians worshipped materialism rather than relationships
11
Q
Tiny Tim
“God bless us, everyone” (5) - Religion
A
- indefinite pronoun “everyone” = blessings to everyone - disregards social class
- compassion still evoked despite being ill = Christmas spirit
- phrase “God bless us” = biblical prayer - invoking God’s blessings at such an important time - there is a layer beyond material wealth - divine grace
- didn’t ask for a specific blessing = family is desperate for any form of help
- intentional = lack of assistance for Proletarians, critiquing government
12
Q
Tiny Tim
A
13
Q
The Ghost Of Christmas Future
“This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want” (3)
A
- metaphor of “Ignorance” + “Want” = depicted as “yellow, wolfish, scowling” children - visceral imagery reader evokes sympathy - list of three allows Dickens to question why children are in a state of destitute - semantic field of suffering + vulnerability
- adjective “wolfish” = poverty and lack of awareness to their situation has turned them primal - fighting to survive - current ownership has regressed society into an act of violence and greed
- metaphor of children as “Ignorance” + “Want” = warning to Scrooge and audience - cease the growth of poverty
14
Q
The Ghost Of Christmas Future
“The Spirit neither spoke nor moved.”
A
- verbs “spoked” + “moved” + negative adjective “neither” = unwilling to express sentiment - reluctant to guide and interact with Scrooge - juxtaposes other two ghosts who offered an abundance of spirit and hope
- lack of speech = mirrors Scrooge’s past - silenced those who tried to make a change in life - ghost gives similar treatment - foreshadows future of lonely death
- lack of speech = Ghost forces Scrooge into self-reflection - must confront his own fate using his own nobility
- ghost personified as death = lack of humanly characteristics - ominous force entering Scrooge’s life
