Quotes+Analysis/Themes Flashcards
(48 cards)
Complete the quote: “ ____ and ____ as flint […] and ____ as an oyster. […] External ____ and ____ had little ____ on him. “
“Hard and sharp as flint […] and as solitary as an oyster. […] External heat and cold had little influence on him. “ Analysis: Similes show Scrooge’s isolation, cruelty, and emotional coldness.
Complete the quote: “I wear the ____ I ____ in life.”
“I wear the chain I forged in life.” Analysis: “Forged” = Marley’s guilt is self-made from greed.
Complete the quote: “Are there no ____? […] And the ____ workhouses?”
“Are there no prisons? And the Union workhouses?” Analysis: Scrooge’s indifference to the poor.
What is the significance of Marley’s quote: “Mankind was my business”?
Analysis: Marley critiques Scrooge’s neglect of social responsibility. The “business” metaphor highlights duty to others.
Complete the quote (Cratchits): “They were ____, ____, ____ with one another.”
“happy, grateful, pleased” Analysis: Poverty doesn’t prevent joy (contrasts Scrooge’s misery).
Complete Tiny Tim’s quote: “God bless ____, ____!”
“us, every one” Analysis: Tim’s inclusivity vs. Scrooge’s selfishness.
Complete the quote: “This boy is ____. This girl is ____.”
“Ignorance, Want” Analysis: Capitalized = societal problems, not individual flaws.
Complete Scrooge’s cruel quote: “If they would rather ____, they had better do it, and ____ the ____ population.”
“die, decrease, surplus” Analysis: Reflects Malthusian economics and Scrooge’s inhumanity.
Analyze Scrooge’s redemption quote: “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”
Analysis: “Honour” = deep commitment; “all the year” = permanent change (not seasonal).
Complete the quote: “____ held his ____ little hand in his […] and dreaded that he might be taken from him.” (Tiny Tim)
“Bob, withered” Analysis: “Withered” = fragility, but love binds the Cratchits. Scrooge’s realisation to bond between father and son due to the lack of parental affection in Scrooge’s childhood.
What theme does Marley’s chain represent?
Guilt/redemption. The chain symbolizes the weight of greed and missed opportunities.
How does Fred contrast with Scrooge?
Fred embodies joy (“Christmas is a kind, forgiving time”); Scrooge is miserly (“Bah! Humbug!”).
What does Tiny Tim symbolize?
The poor’s suffering + Christian goodness. His crutch = societal neglect; his blessings = hope.
How does Dickens show social injustice?
Through the Cratchits’ poverty vs. Scrooge’s wealth. Tiny Tim’s fate hinges on Scrooge’s choices.
What does the Ghost of Christmas Past reveal?
Scrooge’s loneliness (“a solitary child, neglected”) and lost love (Belle).
What does the Ghost of Christmas Present’s feast symbolize?
Abundance vs. the Cratchits’ small goose. Ironic: Scrooge sees joy without wealth.
How does the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come create fear?
Silence + pointing to Scrooge’s grave (“outstretched finger”). No words = irreversible fate.
What does light symbolize in the novella?
Hope/memory. Past’s candle = fading joy; Present’s torch = shared warmth.
How does weather reflect Scrooge’s character in Stave 1?
“Foul weather, piercing cold” mirrors his cruelty and isolation.
Why does Dickens use “staves” instead of chapters?
Links to carols (musical structure) and emphasizes the festive theme.
How does time pressure Scrooge?
Clocks chime (“The hour went by like a cloud”). Urgency to change before death.
Who is Fezziwig?
Scrooge’s old boss. Symbolizes generosity (“He had the power to make us happy”).
Complete Belle’s quote: “Another ____ has displaced me.”
“idol” Analysis: Scrooge chose money (“gold”) over love.
Analyze the quote: “He was conscious of a thousand odors…”
Analysis: Present’s feast = sensory joy vs. Scrooge’s emotional emptiness.
