Dickens philosophy on life "Whatever I have tried to do in
life, I have tried with all my heart to do it well; whatever I have
devoted myself to, I have devoted myself completely; in great aims
and in small I have always thoroughly been in earnest." It is clear
that Dickens put a huge amount of thought and effort into his
literary works, as he did in all aspects of life Do not ignore the
intricacies, complexities and subtleties that lie in the creation
of the text, as embedding a discussion of these in your own writing
will show a deeper level of knowledge of the text, and help you
stand out from the crowd in the end of year exam
Slide 3
Literary terms It is vital to have a working knowledge of the
literary devices the construction of the text is just as important
as the characters, themes and plot Be aware of them and annotate
them throughout the text The highest achieving students embed a
discussion of literary terms throughout their text response essays,
even when the topic doesnt explicitly direct them to do so Shows a
deep and complex knowledge of the text, as well as gives you
another type of evidence to draw on to support your ideas I expect
you to use these terms where appropriate in your class work and
practice essays
Slide 4
Homework (ongoing) Add the literary terms to your vocab book as
we go through the text and draw up/fill in the template for each
one Word: antithesisVisual representation: Topic: text response (A
Christmas Carol) Definition: the antithesis of something is its
opposite; used to show/emphasise contrast Sentence: The antithesis
between Scrooge and his nephew emphasises the coldness of Scrooges
temperament particularly in relation to Christmas.
Slide 5
Vocabulary There will be vocabulary in this PowerPoint that you
are unsure of already Disembodied, miser, virtue, margins, inertia,
affluent, misanthropic... Not to mention all the literary terms!
And, within the text itself there will be many new words due to the
use of Victorian English You should add to your vocab book both
when you are directed to but also when you come across these
words
Slide 6
Themes in A Christmas Carol The Christmas spirit Food
Redemption and free will Responsibility and community Critique of
Victorian society
Slide 7
The Christmas spirit What are some words we can use to describe
the Christmas spirit? Festivity, family, joy, giving, togetherness,
warmth, charity, celebration... Above all, A Christmas Carol is a
celebration of Christmas and the good it inspires. It is a holiday
novel, created with the intention of spreading good cheer. At
Christmas time, people forget their petty disputes, selfish
tendencies, and workaholic schedules in favour of friendship,
charity, and celebration. Several representatives of these virtues
stand out in Dickens's cast: Fred is a model of good cheer Fezziwig
adds to this the dimensions of being a tremendous friend and
generous employer. Tiny Tim's courage and selflessness in the face
of his ill health The loving nature of the entire Cratchit family;
For the Cratchits, their miniscule pudding was a source of great
excitement: Everyone had something to say about it... (p. 81) For
the Cratchits, this pudding is presented as a source of delight,
and the festivities surrounding it are one of the many ties that
bind this group together inadequate though the pudding itself might
be Scrooge learns the lessons of the Christmas spirit through his
visions of Christmases past, present, and future; in each he sees
either the ill effects his miserly nature has wrought or the good
tidings that others bring about through their love and
kindness.
Slide 8
Food A Christmas Carol was written in a time where many working
people suffered from malnutrition or illness due to poor diet. In a
world where food was scarce, this was more of an important part of
celebration than it is today. Brimming with descriptions of food,
the novellas virtuous characters share food with other and enjoy
it. These characters equate food with hospitality and
companionship. Throughout the novella, Dickens depictions of food
cut across class showing that all are making the effort to prepare
and serve the best food they can afford. Food for Scrooge is not so
much nourishment but a source of discomfort. His diet is functional
rather than a source of pleasure. When Scrooge first sees Marley he
blames his diet: You may be an undigested piece of beef, a blot of
mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of underdone potato. (p. 45)
Scrooge exhibits hostility towards celebratory fare: ...every idiot
who goes about with Merry Christmas on his lips should be boiled
with his own pudding... (p. 36) Food Unites all people, rich or
poor
Slide 9
Redemption and free will What does redemption mean? Atone,
save, make up, convert, liberate, rescue, recover, salvation The
greatest pleasure in A Christmas Carol is watching Scrooge's
transformation from money- pinching grouch to generous gentleman.
His redemption is made possible through free will. While Scrooge is
shown visions of the future, he states (and his statement is borne
out in Stave Four) that they are only visions of things that "May"
be, not what "Will" be. He has the power to change the future with
his present actions, and Dickens tries to impart this sense of free
will to the reader; if Scrooge can change, then so can anyone.
Slide 10
Responsibility and community Scrooge represents the many
wealthy manufacturers in industrial Britain who have cut themselves
off from their working class roots Scrooge begins as a man on the
margins of his society. Separated from family and friends, he lacks
the ties of humanity that join people together. By positioning
Scrooge a an observer in his own life, his isolation is emphasised.
Rehabilitation can occur when he abandons his obsession with money
and forms bonds with those around him making friends, and
importantly, taking care of those who depend upon him: He became as
good a friend, as good a master, as good a man, as the good old
city knew... (p. 116) By helping others, Scrooges life is
considerably happier than in his previous self-interested
existence. Edges alienated, isolated, marginalised
Slide 11
Critique of Victorian society What was life like back in the
Victorian era? For the rich? The poor? Children? Dickens blames the
huge class stratification of Victorian England on the selfishness
of the rich and, implicitly, on the Poor Laws that keep down the
underclass. Scrooge is the obvious symbol of the greedy Victorian
rich, while the Cratchits represent the working poor. In the 1840s,
London was rife with widespread poverty and suffering. Through his
writing, Dickens lashes out at the greed and selfishness that he
saw as one of the unfortunate characteristics of this period A
Christmas Carol is a damning indictment of the inertia of the both
British government and affluent public Division into layers
Slide 12
Why know the themes? Often a topic for text response will be
character or theme based Showing an understanding of how Dickens
develops these themes in his writing adds another dimension to your
analysis of the text Think about Dickens views and values what was
he trying to: Teach/warn/educate his readers about? Create
awareness for? Initiate change in? His views and values are the
implied opinions and messages of the author through the text.
Discussing these adds complexity to your analysis. When relevant to
the question, try to embed a discussion of the authors views and
values in your responses.
Slide 13
Three levels of analysis Level 1: facts (this is what happens
in the text that cannot be debated against because its right there
on the page) Level 2: interpretations (what do these facts tell us
about the characters and themes?) Level 3: views and values (what
do these interpretations then tell us about the broader, real life
implications of the novella that Dickens was raising?
Slide 14
Example The elements of realism within A Christmas Carol
highlight the plight of the poor in Victorian London. When Scrooge
visits the Cratchits, their clothes are twice-turned and threadbare
which emphasises their poverty, and yet the fact that they are
still brave and merry as they danced about the table implies
Dickens message that it is family and love that brings happiness
rather than measures of financial wealth. Level 1: facts (evidence,
quotes and examples) Level 2: interpretation of character/theme
Level 3: wider implications, messages/morals, authors views and
values related to the themes of the text
Slide 15
Lets start reading
Slide 16
Preface
Slide 17
Preface In the preface, Dickens foreshadows both the Christmas
festivity and contrasting moral lesson of A Christmas Carol.
Discuss. The preface of A Christmas Carol hints to readers that the
tale itself will not only deliver a didactic and sobering lesson,
but also humour and Christmas joy. The Ghost of an Idea that
Dickens has raised, implies negative and fearful connotations,
however Dickens also suggests that it should not put readers out of
humour in any way. Additionally, the fact that this Idea should
live on and not be laid to rest implies that the morality of this
tale is serious in nature as it applies to all people in all future
generations, despite the pleasant nature of its message. Thus, the
contrasting festivity and morality of A Christmas Carol are evident
within the preface. Foreshadowing is a literary device that hints
as to what is to come (usually in a fearful way to build
suspense)
Slide 18
Stave One
Slide 19
Setting the scene (p33) Tone, Language Features, Victorian Era
Q: Who is narrating this story? Describe their tone (how does the
narrators digression to the discussion of the simile dead as a door
nail enhance the establishment of tone?) Q: How is Scrooges
misanthropy introduced? (find a quote p33) Q: A Christmas Carol was
created to be read aloud. Discuss. (use evidence from p33 discuss
the language used by Dickens to suggest this idea) Detour,
deviation, aside Hatred of people
Slide 20
Scrooges icy characterisation (p34-35) Having made readers
aware of Scrooges callous nature, Dickens emphasises his
cold-heartedness by showing how his physical features have warped
along with his character: Hard and sharp as flint... (p.34) similes
help the readers picture Scrooges appearance Scrooges physique
reflects his lack of personal warmth and while we learn the weather
outside is snowy and festive, Scrooges coldness penetrates to much
greater depths (the weather acts as a symbol of Scrooges internal
nature) His personal iciness is contrasted with the people outside,
trying to keep warm The gloom of his office is set against the
bright candles burning in the windows of other establishments
(contrast) Heartless Sharp rock
Slide 21
From the beginning of A Christmas Carol, the protagonist
Ebenezer Scrooge is portrayed as miserly, cold and misanthropic.
Dickens uses the linguistic method of authorial intrusion to
introduce him to us as the readers of this tale. We learn
immediately that Scrooges business partner, and presumably sole
human contact, had died years earlier and yet Scrooge was not so
dreadfully cut up, preferring to focus on business than mourning.
This deliberate alienation of himself from others is highlighted
further as Dickens metaphorically states that he is solitary as an
oyster. The weather acts a symbolic representation of Scrooges
internal nature the thick fog, icy and bitter cold reflects
Scrooges selfish personality to the point where he carried his own
low temperature around with him. These traits of Scrooge are so
exaggerated that he can be considered a caricature of a miser,
especially when we consider that his external features of a pointed
nose, shrivelled...cheek and thin [blue] lips match his internal
ugliness. He has no regard for the poor despite his comfortable
financial situation, stating that they should die to decrease the
surplus population, and ignored his clerks working conditions,
preferring him to try to stay warm by candlelight rather than offer
him coal for a fire. Clearly, Scrooge is the archetype of the
selfish, money-coveting character, which is immediately established
in Dickens opening pages of Stave One. Topic sentence Explanation
Evidence Link Example: Discuss the representation of Scrooge at the
beginning of A Christmas Carol (TEEL structures highlighted)
Slide 22
How does Dickens set up a contrast between Scrooge and his
clerk, Bob Cratchit? (p35, 37-38) Example TEEL response There is a
clear distinction between Scrooge and Cratchit, not only in terms
of social class but also characterisation. Scrooges clerk, Bob
Cratchit, is subjected to appalling working conditions. Like
Scrooges icy physique and persona, the office he keeps is cold and
dark in comparison to the neighbouring offices bright candles
flaring in the windows. Cratchit is a struggling family man whose
chilly working environment brings little joy, or income. In his
dismal little cell, with a fire consisting of only one coal,
Cratchit unsuccessfully tries to warm himself at the candle.
However, poor economic times in combination with a surplus
population ensured Cratchit dare not appeal to his master for
another measly fire coal for fear of retrenchment. Despite these
appalling conditions, Cratchit involuntarily applauded Scrooges
nephew, Freds, declaration that Christmas is a good time, a time
for kindness, forgiveness and charity, rather than financial gain.
However, Scrooge is unable to understand Freds and Cratchits joy in
the festive season as Fred is poor enough while Cratchit exists on
only fifteen shillings a week, with a wife and family. Scrooge
regards their festive exuberance as lunacy declaring it makes him
feel like retire[ing] to Bedlam. Hence, Scrooges misanthropy and
cruelty is in direct antithesis to Cratchits warmth and joy in the
face of dire poverty.
Slide 23
Q: Describe the antithesis between Scrooge and his nephew Fred.
(p35-37) (optional) T: The arrival of Scrooges nephew, Fred,
provides a clear contrast between the miserly businessman and his
good-humoured relative. E E: Use at several pieces of evidence
below in your exploration of the topic sentence a cheerful voice
Bah! Humbug! his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled
What right have you to be merry... Youre poor enough What right
have you to be dismal... Youre rich enough Every idiot who goes
about with Merry Christmas on his lips should be boiled with his
own pudding ...a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time...
...though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket,
I believe it has done me good and will do me good... His nephew
left the room without an angry word L: (link your discussion back
to the topic)
Slide 24
The New Poor Laws The New Poor Laws made a series of 22
recommendations which were to form the basis of the new legislation
that followed in the same year. Its main legislative proposal was
that: Except as to medical attendance, and subject to the exception
respecting apprenticeship herein after stated, all relief whatever
to able-bodied persons or to their families, otherwise than in
well-regulated workhouses (i.e. places where they may be set to
work according to the spirit and intention of the 43d of Elizabeth)
shall be declared unlawful, and shall cease, in manner and at
periods hereafter specified; and that all relief afforded in
respect of children under the age of 16 shall be considered as
afforded to their parents. In addition, it recommended that
workhouse conditions should be 'less eligible' (less desirable)
than those of an independent labourer of the lowest class The
report also revived the workhouse test the belief that the
deserving and the undeserving poor could be distinguished by a
simple test: anyone prepared to accept relief in the repellent
workhouse must be lacking the moral determination to survive
outside it.
Slide 25
Dickens and the New Poor Laws (pp. 38-9) Upon Freds departure,
one of A Christmas Carols greatest concerns is bought to light:
poverty and inequality Bob Cratchit admits (lets in) the portly
gentlemen who are collecting to provide some Christmas cheer for
the destitute Scrooge demands Are their no prisons? (p.38) Dickens
uses Scrooge as a mouthpiece to expose the brutality of interning
paupers in a workhouse, rather an than providing for them in a
compassionate manner Scrooges outright refusal of aid is described
to shock readers out of their inertia it is not enough to just read
passively, but it is important for Dickens to have an impact on his
readers for change to occur in society. Remaining inert will
results in terrible consequences for society. Poor people Apathy,
inaction, disinterest
Slide 26
The warning of Marleys Ghost (pp. 44-52) The scenes growing
gloom gradually prepares the reader for Scrooges surprise and
uncertainty as his door knocker and then his fireplace metamorphose
into Marleys face As Marley appears, Dickens conveys Scrooges
horror but also shows the misers incredulity (disbelief/scepticism)
has given way to belief in the ghost and the warning he brings The
chain-wearing ghosts are disempowered, doomed to watch suffering
for eternity, but unable to intervene or offer help When Scrooge
stands at the window Dickens invites us to share his perspective
and to identify with his terror and curiosity Like Scrooge, we
should be afraid of becoming powerless spectators and should
therefore take action before its too late TEEL paragraph: The
arrival of Marleys Ghost suggests that Scrooges change is triggered
by fear. Discuss. (due Monday) Morph, change, modify
Slide 27
Stave Two
Slide 28
Recap So far, we know: Scrooge is an alienated, misanthropic
miser He has a joyful nephew (Fred) He is cold and cruel to his
clerk (Cratchit) He hates Christmas It is Christmas Eve He used to
work with Marley, who died seven years ago Marleys ghost, bound in
chains of money boxes, came to warn Scrooge that three ghosts will
visit him so that he can avoid the same fate of other spirits who
suffer for their sins
Slide 29
Scrooges confusion (p53-54) Scrooge awakens unsure of the time
and whether he has been dreaming However, he feels so unsettled by
Marleys ghost that he cannot sleep until he hears the clock strike
one (which is when Marley predicted the first ghost) (when the bell
tolls one p50) Sure enough, once the hour bell sounds. Lights
flash, the curtains are drawn aside to reveal the First of the
Three Spirits
Slide 30
The First of the Three Spirits Dickens uses imagery to depict
the strange appearance of the Ghost of Christmas Past what examples
are used? (ensure these are annotated in your copy) Q: Why might
Scrooge want to extinguish the Ghosts light? (top of p56)
Slide 31
Scrooges childhood school Scrooge, upon being touched by the
Ghost on his heart, is able to fly and walk through walls The Ghost
takes him to the place where Scrooge grew up as a boy Scrooge
recognises everything about this place: He was conscious of a
thousand odours floating in the air, each one connected with a
thousand thoughts, and hopes, and joys, and cares long, long
forgotten! (p57) Q: Find a quote where Scrooge denies he has been
moved to tears (p57) Why does he deny this? Scrooge even feels joy
at seeing these memories and hearing the children wish each other a
Merry Christmas not that he is conscious of these emotions Why was
he filled with gladness? (p57)
Slide 32
Memories and imagination Scrooge sees a lonely boy reading near
a feeble fire in a long, bare, melancholy room Scrooge weeps to see
his poor forgotten self as he had used to be (p58) The Ghost brings
Scrooges childhood fantasies to life he sees Ali Baba (a hero from
a fairytale), Valentine and Orson (from an old French romance) and
Robin Crusoe (from an adventure tale) This scene is regarded as one
of the most pathos-laden (emotional) incidents in the novella Q:
Why did Scrooge as a child imagine these fantasies? Q: What is a
possible reason that Scrooge has become the man he is today? What
point is Dickens making about neglect, not only for those in need,
but for those who turn a blind eye to the troubles of others? How
does this relate to Victorian society?
Slide 33
Let us see another Christmas! Scrooge is still at school, but
older now. He is not reading, but walking up and down despairingly
(p59) His younger sister Fan has come to bring him home for the
holidays, because Fathers ever so much kinder than he used to be,
that homes like Heaven! (p60) Note the contrast between the
coldness and misery of Scrooges school, and the giddiness and glee
of Fan Q: How is the atmosphere of Scrooges school manifested in
his adult life? (think back to Stave One) The Ghost notes Fans
delicacy but also her large heart (p61) we learn that she has died
leaving a child behind (Scrooges nephew Fred) Q: Why might Scrooge
seem uneasy at this reminder of Fred?
Slide 34
Scrooges apprenticeship Scrooge is delighted to remember
Fezziwig very uncharacteristic of him! Fezziwig is throwing a
convivial (welcoming) and joyful Christmas party with dancing,
music and a great feast The Ghost (reflective of present day
Scrooge) downplays Fezziwigs ball because he only spent a few
pounds and doesnt deserve praise Scrooge responds unconsciously
like is former, not his latter, self: [Fezziwig] has the power to
render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or
burdensome; a pleasure or a toil...The happiness he gives, is quote
as great as if it cost a fortune (p64) Q: Why does Scrooge want to
say a word or two to [his] clerk just now! what has he
realised?
Slide 35
Belle Q: How has Scrooges countenance (facial
appearance/expression) changed, compared to the last memory? (p65)
An older Scrooge is in conversation with a fair young girl who we
find out was Scrooges fianc Belle she is breaking off their long
engagement. Q: When she says to him May you be happy in the life
you have chosen! (p66), what is this life she is talking about?
What reason is given for Scrooges current state of
miserliness?
Slide 36
Show me no more! The Ghost inflicts one more scene on Scrooge,
of an older Belle, clearly happy in her life and with her loving
husband and children. Her husband tells her how he saw Scrooge, at
the time when Marley was dying he saw Scrooge as quite alone in the
world (p68) Scrooge is overwhelmed and cannot take any more he
pushes the extinguisher (night cap) over the Ghost to try to trap
the light and hide the faces it has shown him. Exhausted, he falls
asleep.
Slide 37
Closing ideas Clearly, the Ghost of Christmas Past is symbolic
of memory Scrooge has been shaped by his past and in digging up
these old memories, starts to become aware of the person he has
become In a way, he is like Gollum: blinded by greed, he has both
physically and emotionally become a twisted, tormented shadow of
his former self, almost completely unrecognisable Q: TEEL response:
Scrooge is a bitter and lonely man because he chooses to be.
Discuss. Brainstorm points in small groups before individually
writing your paragraph.
Slide 38
Stave Three
Slide 39
Waiting for the second spirit Scrooge now anticipates the visit
from the second spirit, establishing a sharp look-out all round the
bed (p71) he wants to challenge it when it appears and does not
want to be taken by surprise Dickens uses authorial intrusion here
to explain that though Scrooge isnt a free-and-easy sort of person,
he was still ready for any sort of strange appearance: nothing
between a baby and a rhinoceros would have astonished him very much
(p71) He was however unprepared for NOTHING to happen when the
clock stuck one, which caused his a violent fit of trembling He
waits for 15 minutes and nothing has happened, other than a strange
light blazing on his bed where he lays he is powerless to make out
what it meant (p72) and eventually decides to find its source in
the next room
Slide 40
The Ghost of Christmas Present As soon as Scrooges hand touches
the doorknob, a strange voice calls his name to enter, which he
obeys Though it is his own room, it has been completely
transformed: it looked a like a perfect grove covered in plants
(living green) with bright berries. There was mistletoe hanging, a
big fire in the fireplace (as that dull petrification of a hearth
had never known in Scrooges time), and light was reflected
everywhere by the shiny leaves of the ivy and other leaves A throne
was made by piled up Christmas foods puddings, turkeys, geese,
pigs, sausages, mince pies, chestnuts, apples and so on In an easy
state upon this couch, there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see
this spirit held a torch in a shape like Plentys horn (a
cornucopia) to shine light on Scrooge as he enters (p72) This
Ghost, despite its size and appearance, is very young and has more
than eighteen hundred brothers It wears a green robe, a wreath of
holly on its head, sparkling eyes and its voice is cheery, giving
off a joyful air (p74) Q: Describe the symbolism of the Second
Spirit what does it and its surroundings represent/symbolise?
Slide 41
Lessons to learn Scrooge was very timid in the company of this
Ghost and didnt want to meet its eyes why might this be? (p74)
However, Scrooge says he is willing to learn from this Ghost, as he
did from the First Spirit (To-night, if you have aught to teach me,
let me profit by it) Once Scrooge touches the Phantoms robe, he is
transported to the city streets on Christmas morning, where
although the weather is severe, the atmosphere is joyful (p75) Q:
Explain how Dickens juxtaposes the description of the icy weather
with the warmth of the people (and the many descriptions of food)
to establish a message that Christmas is a time of shared joy
(p75-76) use at least 3 quotes The Spirit, watching the streets
filled with people (remember, no one can see the spirit or
Scrooge), sprinkles incense from his torch onto their dinners and
restoring good cheer to those who quarrel (p77)
Slide 42
The Cratchits The Ghost takes Scrooge to his clerks house the
Cratchit home (the Ghost smiles and blesses the dwelling with his
incense before they step in) Q: How does Dickens describe the
Cratchits? contrast their appearance and with their mood (find at
least 3 quotes p78-79)
Slide 43
Tiny Tim Q: Describe Tiny Tim his appearance, how Bob treats
him, what he says what ideas/people does Tiny Tim represent in A
Christmas Carol? Scrooge is moved by this scene and asks, with an
interest he had never felt before whether Tiny Tim will survive
(p82) The Ghost replies: I see a vacant seat...in the poor chimney
corner, and a crutch without an owner, carefully preserved. If
these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die
(p82) Scrooge is appalled: Oh no, kind Spirit! Say he will be
spared!, only to hear the Spirit return Scrooges own words to him:
If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus
population Q: Scrooge hangs his head in shame, overcome with
penitence and grief how is Scrooge changing by witnessing the
Cratchits Christmas?
Slide 44
Mrs Cratchit Bob suggests they drink to Scrooges health as the
Founder of the Feast (p83), and though Mrs Cratchit initially
refuses, she eventually agrees for her husband and because it is
Christmas Upon mentioning Scrooges name, a dark shadow was cast on
the party which was not dispelled for a full five minutes Scrooge
is seen as the Ogre of the family
Slide 45
Key passage (p84) They were not a handsome family; they were
not well-dressed; their shoes were far from being water-proof;
their clothes were scanty...But they were happy, grateful, pleased
with one another, and contented with the time Make sure you
highlight this! This exemplified part of Dickens message to his
audience about Christmas
Slide 46
Other Christmas presents The Ghost takes Scrooge to visit the
miners, the men who tend the lighthouse, men on a ship at sea, and
finally to his nephew Freds Christmas (p85-87) Regardless of where
the Ghost takes Scrooge on this Christmas night, everyone is
celebrating the festive season Scrooge is struck by the good humour
of his nephews laugh and notices that he is the topic of
conversation
Slide 47
Freds Christmas Fred and his wife (Scrooges niece by marriage)
are discussing how Scrooge turned their invitation down to join
them for Christmas Q: Fred sees Scrooge as a comical old fellow and
also that his offences carry their own punishment (p87) explain
what Fred means by this statement Despite Scrooges riches, Fred
feels sorry for him and says he will give him the same chance every
year, whether he likes it or not (p88)
Slide 48
Music and memory Scrooge listens to his niece play the harp
which stirs up memories for him when he was at school, made fresh
by the Ghost of Christmas Past He thought that if he could have
listened to it often, years ago, he might have cultivated the
kindnesses of life for his own happiness with his own hands (p89)
Fred and his wife and party guests play games Scrooge even joining
in (forgetting he is invisible) as he gets so caught up in the fun
(p90) The Ghost tells Scrooge they must go, but Scrooge wants to
stay for one last game (the Ghost is greatly pleased to find him in
this mood) The last game is one at Scrooges expense, and they all
drink to his health for giving them plenty of merriment (p91)
Scrooge is thankful to Fred and the others for how much joy they
have brought him that might
Slide 49
Other Christmases The Ghost takes Scrooge from Freds to other
Christmases: Sick bed, foreign lands, struggling men, hospital,
jail and so on and yet all with a happy end (p91) Possible essay
topic: What is Dickens suggesting about the power of Christmas
throughout A Christmas Carol? -what does it mean by the power of
Christmas?
Slide 50
The shortness of life All the while during this night, the
Ghost is visibly growing older and older (p92) its life ends
tonight Q: Why is the idea of time running out significant for
Scrooge? Scrooge sees something claw-like poking out of the Spirits
robe Two children emerge they are wretched, miserable, frightful
hideous, ragged and so on Scrooge is appalled at their
appearance
Slide 51
Ignorance and Want The children are Mans the boy is Ignorance
and the girl is Want Q: What does it mean to say that Man has
created these children? Q: TEEL response: Dickens uses the children
of Ignorance and Want as a warning to Scrooge and society in
general. Discuss. Discussion points for this paragraph: The
animalistic, emaciated, wretched appearance of the children How
these children contrast with other children such as Tiny Tim The
change in tone of the Ghost The spirit quoting Scrooge Are there no
prisons? Are there no workhouses? Dickens condemns Scrooge using
Scrooges own words What do these children represent? What is the
spirit hinting will happen if his warning is denied? (All on
p94)
Slide 52
The end of Stave Three The Ghost of Christmas Present
disappears as the clock strikes twelve, and Scrooge sees a solemn
Phantom, dark and hooded coming towards him
Slide 53
Stave Four
Slide 54
The Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come The hooded Phantom
approaches Scrooge it is shrouded in a deep black garment, which
concealed its head, its form, and left nothing visible save one
outstretched hand (p95) Q: How has Dickens used synecdoche to
intensify the horror of this Ghost? (see bottom p95-top p96)
Scrooge guesses that this is the Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come
(based on the past two Ghosts), even though it doesnt actually say
anything to him Scrooge is terrified of this Ghost even after the
past two he feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled
beneath him (p95) Even so, he knows the Ghost is to do [him] good
and he hope[s] to live to be another man from what [he] was (p96),
so he follows the Ghost after being caught up in its shadow
Slide 55
The Change (stock exchange) They go to the city and observe
some businessmen they are at the Change (Royal Exchange in London
Scrooge went there often for business) who are discussing a man who
had died no one is upset, and they even say Its likely to be a very
cheap funeral...I dont know anybody to go to it (p97) They listen
in on another conversation, where Old Scratch the person who had
died was also being discussed (he got his own at last) Old Scratch
was a nickname for the devil Scrooge knew these men as well, but
couldnt fathom the Ghosts purpose in listening to such trivial
conversations Scrooge searches for his future self in these visions
to find his moral lesson, but to no avail
Slide 56
The bad side of town They move on to a part of town with bad
repute (p98) like with many of Dickens descriptions, the appearance
of this area of town reflects its nature Q: Despite the clear
poverty of this area, how is it different to the Cratchit house?
Scrooge and the Ghost visit a group of people at a second-hand good
shop a charwoman, laundress (Mrs Dilber) and undertakers man are
selling items to Joe that they have taken from the unnamed dead man
It is clear that they have no sympathy for him, even though he died
alone by himself (p100) They sell items such as buttons, brooches,
sheets, towels, teaspoons, boots, bed curtains, blankets, and a
shirt (that he was meant to be buried in) Scrooge listened in
horror (p102) to this scene these people are likened to demons
Slide 57
Legacy Scrooge thinks he has learnt the lesson: The case of
this unhappy man might be my own (p102) The scene changes and
Scrooge almost touches the bed where the corpse lay the Phantom
points Scrooge to look upon the body but he has no power to do so
Scrooge hears a voice in his head: It is not that the heart and
pulse are still; but that the hand WAS open, generous, and true;
the heart brave, warm, and tender; and the pulse a mans. Strike,
Shadow, strike! And see his good deeds springing up from the wound,
to sow the world with life immortal! (p102-103) Q: What does
Dickens mean by this statement? Upon pondering this message,
Scrooge asks the Spirit to show him anyone who feels emotion caused
by this mans death The Ghost takes Scrooge to a room with a mother
and her children her husband arrives home and he seems to be filled
with serious delight of which he felt ashamed, and which he
struggled to repress (p103) Both the husband and wife (Caroline)
rejoice at the news that their creditor is dead so they have more
time to make repayments on their debt
Slide 58
The Cratchits This time, the Cratchit household is very quiet
(p104) they are in mourning for Tiny Tim and waiting for Bob to
come home from visiting Tiny Tims grave They try to hide their
sorrow to one another their house is decorated for Christmas though
there are reminders of Tiny Tim everywhere Fred has offered his
condolences to Cratchit and his wife and offers to help them, so
they hope he will give Peter (their son) a better position (they do
not want charity they prefer ways that they can help
themselves)
Slide 59
Scrooges lesson Scrooge finally asks for the identity of the
dead man They go past his old office and Scrooge looks in to see
himself in the future it is still his office, but not his as the
furniture had been changed and someone else was in there Q: They
arrive in the churchyard describe the grave site (p108) and explain
why it is a worthy place Scrooge asks the Ghost, Are these the
shadows of the things that Will be, or are they the shadows of
things that May be, only? (p108) Q: Scrooge seems to have finally
realised what he is about to see, and says that Mens courses
foreshadow certain ends...but if the courses be departed from, the
ends will change what is he reassuring himself of? He finally sees
the grave EBENEZER SCROOGE - and declares that 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 (p110) The Ghost collapses
and disappears, leaving Scrooge back in his own bed TEEL: What is
the message of the final Ghost?
Slide 60
Stave Five
Slide 61
The end of it Scrooge wakes in his own bed and is relieved to
know the Time before him was his own, to make amends in! (p111) The
fact that Scrooge wakes holding a bedpost suggests that the whole
experience with the three ghosts was a dream, but the fact remains
that he is committed to reform and takes the hauntings seriously He
is unclear of what time or day it is and finds out that it is
Christmas Day even though the hauntings seemed to take place over
several nights, The spirits have done it all in one night
(p112)
Slide 62
Scrooges redemption Clearly, Scrooge is a changed man Q:
Contrast his vocabulary with that of Stave One find 5 quotes that
highlight his reformed character and new outlook on not only
Christmas, but his whole life He buys the Cratchits the
prizewinning turkey as an anonymous gift (a symbol of the
generosity of Christmas spirit that Scrooge now possesses) Q: Why
is the fact it is anonymous important? (He shant know who sends it
p113) He sees the portly gentlemen from Stave One who were
collecting for charity and though his heart felt a pang due to how
he treated them the day before, he makes a large contribution He
goes to Freds house for dinner and played in all the Christmas
games The next day he waits for Bob Cratchit to come in to work
late and pretends to be angry (though even his old manner of
speaking is being forgotten), but instead raises Bobs salary,
promising to help his family We find out that Scrooge was better
than his word, keeping all his promises into the future And Tiny
Tim didnt die! TEEL: Scrooges dramatic transformation teaches us
that we are all capable of redemption. Discuss.
Slide 63
Romance and realism Romantic: features of literature that may
be seen as fantasy clearly not likely to happen in reality Realism:
literature that aims to capture the actual image of society through
words A Christmas Carol combines romance and realism to present a
tale that is both an enjoyable Christmas fantasy, and a reminder of
the harsh realities of society at the time Q: Make a list of
elements of the text that may be seen as ROMANTIC and others that
fall under the category of REALISM. How does Dickens combine these
elements to achieve his purpose?
Slide 64
Scrooges transformation Possible essay topic: Why does Scrooge
change? Find evidence for the following suggestions: he changes
because he selfishly wants to avoid dying alone and forgotten he
changes because he genuinely wants to improve life for others he
changes because he is fearful of his predicted afterlife he changes
because he feels guilty about his past actions and wants to
alleviate this guilt other reasons?