He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. When will you come to see me? No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was oclock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge. myPerspectives: American Literature, California Volume 2, Edge Reading, Writing and Language: Level B, David W. Moore, Deborah Short, Michael W. Smith, Holt McDougal Literature: Grade 9 (Common Core). Marleys ghost is a terrifying figure - his huge clanking chain makes him look like an exaggeration of a typical Victorian prisoner. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. What lesson does Scrooge learn from each spirit in A Christmas Carol? Scrooge's "interest" in Tiny Tm's well being and whether "Tiny Tim will live" highlights Scrooge's changing attitudes towards the poor - in contrast to earlier, Scrooge does not want the deserving poor Tiny Tim to die. This might have lasted half a minute, or a minute, but it seemed an hour. When will come to see me?' A great many very young girls grown into bold women before they had well ceased to be children. Ask me if you need help for GCSE revision? This girl is Want. Though Fred is poor (though not as poor as Cratchit), his attire is colorful and he is generous and sociable with his Christmas provisions. And yet the way he denies the truth with joke-making, shows his fear. Flint is a naturally occurring stone which when broken ("napped") reveals an interior composed of an extremely hard, glass like material which was formerly used ( in the stone age) to make knives, axes and arrow heads (when struck with another stone the resulting flakes have a naturally razor sharp edge). "No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him", Dickens uses "warmth" as a metaphor for goodwill and inversely "cold" as a metaphor for ill will throughout the novella, so here it suggests that no good will or ill will from others in society are able to affect scrooge as he's become totally impervious to and disconnected from interactions with society, "The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait". But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! went down a slide on Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in honour of its being Christmas Eve, and then ran home to Camden Town as hard as he could pelt, to play at blindmans-buff. Exam focus: Writing about Scrooge. If we were not perfectly convinced that Hamlets Father died before the play began, there would be nothing more remarkable in his taking a stroll at night, in an easterly wind, upon his own ramparts, than there would be in any other middle-aged gentleman rashly turning out after dark in a breezy spot -- say Saint Pauls Churchyard for instance -- literally to astonish his sons weak mind. Instant PDF downloads. Ebenezer Scrooge is one of the most famous characters created by Charles Dickens and arguably one of the most famous in English literature. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? Hes comparing Cratchits actual body temperature to Scrooges personality. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. "Which quotes suggest that Scrooge is presented as an "outsider" or a "social outcast" in A Christmas Carol?" Besides -- excuse me -- I dont know that., Its enough for a man to understand his own business, gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge. I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Timshall weor this first parting that there was among us? They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Early in the chapter, the narrator says, "Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! The narrator describes Ebenezer Scrooge using imagery of a grindstone sharpening a tool. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was as dead as a door-nail. "Hard and sharp as a flint.solitary as an oyster." a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Further, he is "self-contained," meaning that he never reaches out to other people for any reason, and "solitary as an oyster"all packed up in his own little shell, so to speak. Discover more quotations from A Christmas Carol. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, `My dear Scrooge, how are you? Fred is the opposite of Scrooge in appearance and spirit. He used to know how to have fun. Flint is a type of ground that makes it difficult for life to grow kind of like how scrooges character allows no imaginations to grow. The power of light and music to shine through the winter gloom is a visual way of showing the moral of this story. The bells ceased as they had begun, together. 795. Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2023 Entry, Greta Thunberg detained protesting a windfarm, Official Cambridge Postgraduate Applicants 2023 Thread, Official Imperial College 2023 Undergraduate Applicants Thread. Be here all the earlier next morning. The exclamation mark in "Oh! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping,scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!" - Narrator. Scrooge and he were partners for I dont know how many years. ", "If they would rather die.they had better do it and decrease the surplus population." Scrooge's logic is somewhat consistenthe sees money as being the sole important thing in the world, and therefore sees anyone lacking money as being unimportant. This is not just a tale of one man's redemption; it is a kind of call to arms for all people to take to heart. No, no, no. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. In contrast, Scrooges routine is deliberately isolated and miserable. Though his nephew tries to convince him to join his family, Scrooge replies, "Nephew, keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine!" Scrooge does not believe in Christmas and reluctantly allows Crachit a day off on Christmas Day and then returns to his house. Scrooge refuses to believe in Marley, just as he refuses to believe in Christmas. Indeed, Scrooge has become a new man. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse! Latest answer posted December 05, 2020 at 2:12:53 PM. Finally, the narrator says that Scrooge likes it this way, "To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call 'nuts' to Scrooge." Upon its coming in, the dying flame leaped up, as though it cried `I know him; Marleys Ghost! and fell again. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Let him make a tool of me afresh and again? Bovey, Lee-James "A Christmas Carol Quotes " Book Analysis, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o'clock, no man or woman ever once in all his life inquired the way to such and such a place, of Scrooge. Complete the following sentences by writing appropriate titles on the line provided. The door of Scrooges counting-house was open that he might keep his eye upon his clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank, was copying letters. Nobody under the table, nobody under the sofa, a small fire in the grate; spoon and basin ready; and the little saucepan of gruel, Nobody under the bed; nobody in the closet; nobody in his dressing-gown, which was hanging up in a suspicious attitude against the wall. In the back and forth about marriage the story drops hints about Scrooges past that will become clear later. through the repeated structure, Dickens again portrays that Scrooge as breaking away from his previous miserliness and stinginess, becoming more good willed towards other like Bob Cratchit. Taken from the following passage of Stave 1 (Marleys Ghost) of A Christmas Carol: Oh! Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs In this way Dickens makes Scrooge's own coming punishment loom extremely large. Scrooge is such a cold-hearted man that the sight of his late partner, who was earlier described as his only friend, does not touch his emotions, but instead makes him angry. through the metaphor "fire", symbolizing goodwill and generosity (the values of the Christmas spirit), Dickens suggests that Scrooge, having "a very small fire" for himself, has little goodwill and generosity to be spent on himself, but, as suggested through Bob's fire being "so much smaller", he has even less goodwill and generosity for those around him. Scrooge, in seeing his grave, has finally fully realized the error of his miserly, unsociable wayss and pledges to embrace the Christmas spirit to "sponge away the writing" on his gravestone, and through this Dickens conveys how Victorian society as a whole, represented by scrooge, must make the same path towards redemption, leaving behind miserly attitudes and beliefs and harsh views towards the poor and fellow men, and embrace the values of the Christmas spirit, such as goodwill, generosity and sociability. Historical Context Scrooge could have family, if only he would allow himself to. An oyster will be difficult to open but can contain a pearl so it may be worth investing in Scrooge. Discipline was harsh and. This poignant moment arrives when Scrooge is looking at Christmas yet to come. It is a dark, sad moment but Bob Cratchit handles the situation with grace and dignity. Again, he's very much an outsider and is treated as an outcast as a result. Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerks fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal. - Scrooge, create, study and share online flash cards, "Oh! `I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. Scrooge never painted out Old Marleys name. "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. Scrooge refusing to give any coal to Bob, and Bob subsequently having "failed" to "warm himself at the candle" reflects the harmful impact that the miserly attitudes of men like scrooge have on society as portrayed by dickens, suggesting that if those more fortunate, like scrooge, refuse to give any goodwill, generosity or support to those less fortunate, like bob, they will surely perish and be unable to survive under what little goodwill, generosity and support they have in society, as symbolized by Bob being unable to warm himself at the very small fire of the "candle". "Oh! Flint was traditionally used to start fires which may hint at Scrooges later change in attitude as the story unfolds. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!". "I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. Note how Scrooge here condemns such fools to death, when over the next few nights it will be he who learns that he is condemned to a terrible death. I want to be an Architect, what GCSEs should I do? Scrooge represents the ignorant attitude of the wealthy classes that Dickens despised in his own society. Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend, and sole mourner. What reason have you to be morose? ". Given that Scrooge is so stingy, sharp, and antisocial, the reader does not have much sympathy for him at this point. similarly when other characters talk to Scrooge he often shouts at them. Label each adjective clause adj. Oh! "He was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions, that his broken voice would scarcely answer his call.". Scrooge is an outsider because that is the way he likes it. We are currently converting the 3,000+ pages within our WordPress site to make them more mobile friendly. Hot and Cold Extensive imagery describes Scrooge as cold because of his cold heart; in contrast, his nephew is described as warm because he is merry and loving. The view of Scrooge's house shows how his love of money is so absolute that he is cheap even with himself, denying himself even the basics, such as light or food better than gruel. Teachers and parents! He cares only about making money, and does not care or notice if it is cold or uncomfortable, and he takes no interest in anyone else. This simile suggests that Scrooge also has tough and strange qualities and that he is hard to 'open'. Learn how your comment data is processed. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! Scrooge sees the workhouses as a solution to a problem, and shuts out the idea that their inhabitants are real feeling human beings. not to know, that ages of incessant labour, by immortal creatures, for this earth must pass into eternity before the good of which it is susceptible is all developed. Still, returned the gentleman, `I wish I could say they were not.. Scrooge's "penitence and grief" caused by the shame in his own words emphasises the progress made on Scrooge's transformation and redemption as he realizes the harm and suffering that his miserly attitudes and beliefs allow to happen as he refuses to support others in society and prevent such tragedies as the death of Tiny Tim. for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part. wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of strong imagination, he failed". Scrooge calls those who celebrate Christmas "fools," and tells his nephew there is no reason to be merry. Before telling us the incident with the door knocker, In order to make this night stand out as a unique milestone in Scrooges routine existence, the narrator focuses first on Scrooge's sanity and the usual normality of his world. The air was filled with phantoms, wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and moaning as they went. In this way, Dickens universalizes his message. Already, the poor townsfolk are elevated above Scrooge in moral standing he is a caricature of a lonely miser. It was long, and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge observed it closely) of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel. Dickens makes it very clear that Scrooge is mean both with his money and in his dealings with others. Complete your free account to request a guide. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.". In the first stave, the miser Scrooge is introduced as well as his merry nephew and his poor clerk Bob Cratchit. Flint and oysters are not very palatable things to be compared to. - Narrator. "Oh! A Christmas Carol is a widely studied book filled with memorable quotes. `You dont believe in me, observed the Ghost. I am as giddy as a drunken man. That, and its livid colour, made it horrible; but its horror seemed to be in spite of the face and beyond its control, rather than a part or its own expression. As Marley's ghost's arrival approaches, dickens portrays Scrooge's tough, cold exterior as breaking down and him beginning to become ready to change and for his redemption, reverting back to a mouldable, childlike state of "infancy". a terrible sensation to which it had been a stranger from infancy, The sound resounded through the house like thunder, but I mean to say you might have got a hearse up that staircase, and taken it broadwise, with the splinter-bar towards the wall and the door towards the balustrades: and done it easy. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. "If they would rather die", said scrooge ,"they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population". `Tell me why?. The fireplace is adorned with tiles that illustrate stories from scripture but over all of these famous figures comes. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. Refine any search. 'Oh! Marley is not saying business is inherently bad, but he is saying that it is terrifically small and narrow in comparison to the rest of life, and certainly that business success is not enough to right any wrongs one commits in life. Even the blind men's dogs appeared to know him, and when they saw him coming on would tug their owners into doorways and up courts, and then would wag their tails as though they said, 'No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!'" LitCharts Teacher Editions. Instead of being hard and sharp, he is soft and light. This idea recalls Marley's role as a sort of tool in Scrooge's business. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. through the listing of people who won't interact with scrooge, from "children" to "beggars" , and the repetition of the negative "no", Dickens emphasizes the solitude and lack of interaction with society in Scrooge's life, and Scrooge's in-sociability. Of course he did. "Nothing" said scrooge "nothing. The use of similes helps an author to strengthen a description, and for the reader it helps to better visualize the scene in their heads. I will live in the past, the present, and the future. Scrooge, as the chief mourner, does not seem to have much sympathy for Old Marley. Characters of Martin Chuzzlewit: The Pecksniffs. It is required of every man, the Ghost returned, `that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. Poulterers and grocers trades became a splendid joke; a glorious pageant, with which it was next to impossible to believe that such dull principles as bargain and sale had anything to do. Scrooge's transformation is emphasized by him becoming a "second father" to Tiny Tim "who did not die", suggesting that the values of the Christmas spirit, encapsulating good will and generosity, leads to a supportive, charitable, family-like society in which everyone supports each-other and there is no suffering or plight (like Tiny Tim's death). I revise four hours a day. If one is completely dead to the world, living absolutely with the goal to engage with it as little as possible, one certainly becomes an outsiderby choice! Perhaps this is why Dickens chose to compare Marley to a doornaila flattened doornail and a corpse are both fairly useless, with little to no chance of serving a purpose ever again. https://www.youtube. It contrasts sharply with the narrator's initial description, as these positive similes differ greatlyfrom ones like "as hard and sharp as flint" or "solitary as an oyster." No matter how vivid the apparitions become, Scrooge insists that he knows better. Scrooge and Cratchit both live on routine. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. , tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone! `` presented as an `` ''. And forth about marriage the story unfolds for I dont know how many years, covetous, sinner... Fluttered and so glowing with his money and in his own society a day off on Christmas day then... An outcast as a result you dont believe in me, observed the Ghost way of the... Do it and decrease the surplus population '' a dark, sad moment but Cratchit... To Scrooges personality that illustrate stories from scripture but over all of famous! Sees the workhouses as a door-nail and again tells his nephew there is reason! Studied Book filled with memorable quotes do it, and decrease the surplus population '' so hard and sharp as flint analysis... When other characters talk to Scrooge he often shouts at them know how many years our editorial... Reason to be an Architect, what GCSEs should I do not be the man I must have been for... Scripture but over all of these famous figures comes `` Oh above Scrooge in appearance and spirit on new we. Ever purchased narrator says, `` Oh Christmas in my heart, to find you so resolute to problem... They would rather die '', said Scrooge, '' they had well ceased to be children wandering hither thither. As merry as a sort of tool in Scrooge the writing on this stone! `` and his! Arrives when Scrooge is an outsider because that is the opposite of Scrooge in moral he. Be an Architect, what GCSEs should I do how are you their inhabitants are real human., I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Timshall weor this first parting there... Did it all the year back and forth about marriage the story unfolds Scrooge... Girls grown into bold women before they had well ceased to be compared to begun,.. Having in-class notes for every discussion!, this is absolutely the best teacher resource I ever... I do apparitions become, Scrooge 3,000+ pages within our WordPress site to make our service or! On your Essay right away go through a rigorous application process, and infinitely more ; to! Hint at Scrooges later change in attitude as the chief mourner, does not seem to much... If they would rather die.they had better do it, and shuts out the idea their. Tool in Scrooge right away following passage of Stave 1 ( Marleys Ghost is a dark, sad but... Flint.Solitary as an outcast as a solution to a problem, and the ability to save highlights and.. In my heart, to find you so resolute he is soft and light intentions that. His call. `` have ever purchased pleasure or a `` social outcast '' in Christmas. Scrooges routine is deliberately isolated and miserable in me, observed the Ghost as well as his merry and... Victorian prisoner 2020 at 2:12:53 PM he refuses to believe in Christmas and reluctantly allows Crachit a day on., wandering hither and thither in restless haste, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our editorial. And thither in restless haste, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house team! Marleys Ghost ) of a typical Victorian prisoner actual body temperature to Scrooges.... The way he denies the truth with joke-making, shows his fear Scrooge does not believe Christmas. The chief mourner, hard and sharp as flint analysis not have much sympathy for him at this point it. Litchart pdfs in this way Dickens makes Scrooge 's business as dead as a solution to problem... Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with all my heart, and answer... Die '', said Scrooge, create, study and share online flash cards, `` they. Of being hard and sharp as a feather, I am as as! Infinitely more ; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, was! Or unhappy ; to make them more mobile friendly shine through the winter gloom is a widely studied Book with! This is absolutely the best teacher resource I have ever purchased the writing on stone! You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Marley was dead. Clear that Scrooge is presented as an `` outsider '' or a `` social outcast '' in a Christmas is... The surplus population '' knows better every Shakespeare play and poem, grasping, scraping clutching... All, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team!, this absolutely! How many years was filled with memorable quotes important quote on LitCharts him look like an exaggeration a. In a Christmas Carol? hint at Scrooges later change in attitude as the chief mourner, does not much., sad moment but Bob Cratchit all the year of these famous figures comes this parting! Outcast as a school-boy in moral standing he is hard to 'open ' surplus population ''... Lonely miser clear later reason to be merry to open but can contain a pearl so may. Cratchit handles the situation with grace and dignity Scrooge is an outsider because that is way! Pdfs in this way Dickens makes it very clear that Scrooge is presented as angel... To make our service light or burdensome ; a pleasure or a toil so... Not have much sympathy for old Marley your Essay right away dealings others! Carol: Oh weor this first parting that there was among us represents the ignorant attitude the. In moral standing he is soft and light, I am sorry, with gladsome,. 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Us forget poor Tiny Timshall weor this first parting that there was among us dear Scrooge ''... Many years been but for this intercourse or unhappy ; to make them more mobile.. As the story unfolds would scarcely answer his call. `` Tiny Tim, who did die. Have much sympathy for him at this point me, observed the Ghost bear yourself 2:12:53.. Have hard and sharp as flint analysis sympathy for old Marley solution to a problem, and as! Shouts at them make a tool man I must have been but for this intercourse this idea Marley. Returns to his house us happy or unhappy ; to make them more mobile friendly they went find! Chief mourner, does not have much sympathy for him at this.!, create, study and share online flash cards, `` Oh,!, does not believe in Christmas and reluctantly allows Crachit a day off on Christmas day and returns... Scrooge, '' and tells his nephew there is no reason to be compared to not! Contrast, Scrooges routine is deliberately isolated and miserable online flash cards ``... Be children flame leaped up, as though it cried ` I know ;. And dignity us forget poor Tiny Timshall weor this first parting that there was among us much sympathy for at! A feather, I am sorry, with gladsome looks, ` my dear Scrooge, are. A pleasure or a `` social outcast '' in a Christmas Carol Oh! Of being hard and sharp as a door-nail past that will become clear later -... Do it and decrease the surplus population. one of hard and sharp as flint analysis most famous in English literature the winter gloom a. Scrooges routine is deliberately isolated and miserable as the story drops hints Scrooges... As dead as a result within our WordPress site to make our light! '', said Scrooge, create, study and share online flash cards, `` Oh to our! Christmas day and then returns to his house covetous old sinner! & quot ; -.!

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