Dickens A Christmas Carol English I Miller Charles Dickens was the best-selling novelist in Victorian England. Wildly popular, many of his books were serialized, meaning they came out in sections in periodicals rather than as a novel all at once. This means that often Dickens novels have cliffhangers (like the conclusion of an episode or a season of a television program) at the end of every three of four chapters. The cliffhangers were meant to convince the reader to purchase next week s periodical. Dickens was also often paid by the word which may account for his long descriptive passages. A Christmas Carol was not serialized, but it has Dickens signature character descriptions what Dickens does best. In the 170 years since its publication (December 1843), it has never been out print. It has inspired various literary recreations, film versions, and even opera and ballet. Dickens is known as the creator of some of the most famous characters in fiction: Miss Havisham (Great Expectations), Madame DeFarge (A Tale of Two Cities), and Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol). Characterization is achieved in a number of ways including description, character s speech, character s action(s), and other people s responses to and comments about characters. Stave 1 focuses on two characters, Ebenezer Scrooge, the main character, and Jacob Marley, the ghost of Scrooge s seven-years dead partner. An examination of these characters reveals how Dickens establishes their characters. Mode of characterization Scrooge Marley Description Old, pointed nose, red eyes, thin (blue) lips, grating voice, grey hair, living What the character says Bah! Humbug! resents his clerk taking Christmas off, thinks the poor get what they deserve, doesn t like Xmas Pigtailed, transparent, carrying chained money boxes, dead Repent before it s too late! Do good for people while alive What the character does Threatens, intimidates, yells Moans, frightens, warns, suffers Reaction of others Nephew tries to turn Scrooge around, clerk accepts Scrooge s bullying, many avoid him, Marley warns him Scrooge reacts in disbelief and needs proof the accept his message Stave: a stave is a portion of lines (usually in songs or poems) or a chapter (as used in A Christmas Carol). (know this definition for final exam)
Compare and Contrast: Complete the graphic organizer below by comparing and contrasting Scrooge s attitudes toward others from the beginning of the book with his attitudes at the end of the book. Character Early Scrooge Late Scrooge Jacob Marley open for business on day of funeral Bob Cratchit gives him a raise, funds treatment for Tiny Tim Portly Gents slings insults, refuses to make a donation Boy caroler Tries to atone by giving a large tip to the boy who brings the turkey Belle feels she abandoned him, thinks her insensitive Fran does not remember her love and kindness to him as a boy Spirits an intrusion in his well-ordered life, fear Passers by calls out friendly greetings to all who pass Scrooge himself
A Christmas Carol Quotes from Stave 1 During reading, consider the importance of the passages in the immediate context of the story. Upon completion of A Christmas Carol for the final exam consider the significance of the passages to the work as a whole. 1. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail (1). 2. There is no doubt that Marley was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate (2) 3. Oh! but he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint...didn t thaw it one degree at Christmas (2-3) 4. External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm... and Scrooge never did (3). 5. The city clocks had only just gone three, but it was quite dark already it had not been light all day and candles were flaring in the windows of... Nature lived hard by, and was brewing on a large scale (4) 6. What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry? You re poor enough... You re rich enough (5). 7. Bah! said Scrooge. Humbug! [and later] Bah! again; and followed it up with Humbug (5).
8. I wish to be left alone, said Scrooge. Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don t make merry myself at Christmas, and I can t afford to make idle people merry... If they would rather die, said Scrooge, they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population (9-10). 9. Quite satisfied, he closed his door, and locked himself in; double-locked himself in, which was not his custom (16). 10. It was long, and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge observed it closely) of cashboxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel (17-18). 11. I wear the chain I forged in life, replied the Ghost, I made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its pattern strange to you? (21) 12. Business! cried the Ghost, wringing his hands again, Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business! (23). 13. This is no light part of my penance, pursued the Ghost. I am here to-night to warn you, that you have yet a chance and hope of escaping my fate (23-24) 14. Every one of them wore chains like Marley s Ghost; some few (they might be guilty governments) were linked together; none were free... The misery with them all was, clearly, that they sought to interfere, for good, in human matters, and had lost the power forever (25).
Characterization Consider the following characters introduced in A Christmas Carol. Note their physical and personality characteristics and consider how Dickens establishes them as characters. Ebenezer Scrooge: The Ghost of Jacob Marley The Ghost of Christmas Past (The First of the Three Spirits) The Ghost of Christmas Present (The Second of the Three Spirits) Tiny Tim The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (The Last of the Spirits)
A Christmas Carol Quotes from Stave 2 1. Marley s Ghost bothered him exceedingly. Every time he resolved within himself, after mature inquiry, that it was all a dream, his mind flew back again, like a strong spring released, to its first position, and presented the same problem to be worked all through, Was it a dream or not? (28). 2. The school is not quite deserted, said the Ghost. A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still. Scrooge said he knew it. And he sobbed (34). 3. Nothing, said Scrooge, nothing. There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. I should like to have given him something, that s all (36). 4. It isn t that, said Scrooge, heated by the remark, and speaking unconsciously like his former, not his latter self it isn t that, Spirit. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy... Say that his power lies in words and looks, in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count em up; what them? The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it cost a fortune (43-44). 5. No, said Scrooge no. I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now. That s all (44). 6. You fear the world too much, she answered gently. All your other hopes have merged into the hope of being beyond the chance of its sordid reproach. I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master passion, Gain, engrosses you. Have I not? (45). 7. No more! cried Scrooge no more. I don t wish to see it. Show me no more! (47) and Remove me, Scrooge exclaimed, I cannot bear it! (49) and Leave me! Take me back! Haunt me no longer! (50).
A Christmas Carol Quotes from Stave 3 For he wished to challenge the Spirit on the moment of its appearance, and did not wish to be taken by surprise and made nervous (51-52). I am the Ghost of Christmas Present, said the Spirit. Look upon me! Scrooge reverently did so (54). There was nothing very cheerful in the climate or the town, and yet there was an air of cheerfulness abroad that the clearest summer air and brightest summer sun might have endeavored to diffuse in vain (56). If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, the child will die. No, no, said Scrooge.. Oh, no, kind Spirit! Say he will be spared. If these shadows remain unaltered by the Future, none other of my race, returned the Ghost, will find him here (66). Scrooge was the Ogre of the family. The mention of his name cast a dark shadow on the party, which was not dispelled for full five minutes (67). He s a comical old fellow, said Scrooge s nephew, that s the truth; and not so pleasant as he might be. However, his offenses carry their own punishment, and I have nothing to say against him (73).
When this strain of music sounded, all the things that Ghost had shown him came upon his mind; he softened more and more and thoughts that if he could have listened to it often, years ago, he might have cultivated kindness of life for his own happiness with his own hands, without resorting to the sexton s spade that buried Jacob Marley (76). A merry Christmas and a happy New Year to the old man, whatever he is! said Scrooge s nephew. He wouldn t take it from me, but may he have it, nevertheless. Uncle Scrooge! Uncle Scrooge had imperceptibly become so gay and light of heart, that he would have pledged the unconscious company in return, and thanked them in an inaudible speech, if the Ghost had given him time (79). They are Man s, said the Spirit, looking down upon them. And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware of them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it! (81)
A Christmas Carol Quotes from Stave 4 It s likely to be a cheap funeral, said the same speaker, for, upon my life, I don t know of anybody to go to it. Suppose we make up a party, and volunteer. I don t mind going if a lunch is provided, observed the gentlemen with the excrescence on his nose. But I must be fed, if I make one. Another laugh (86). This is the end of it you see! He frightened every one away from him when he was alive, to profit us when he was dead! Ha, ha, ha! (93). If there is any person in the town who feels emotion caused by this man s death, said Scrooge, quite agonized, show that person to me, Spirit, I beseech you! (95). She was a mild and patient creature, if her face spoke truth; but she was thankful in her soul to hear it, and she said so, with clasped hands. She prayed forgiveness the next moment, and was sorry, but the first was the emotion of her heart (96).... it was a happier house for this man s death (96-97). Are these the shadows of the things that Will be or are they shadows of the things that May be, only? (102). Spirit!; he cried, tight clutching at its robe, hear me! I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for the intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope? (103). I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone! (103).
Stave 4 Two Deaths In Stave four, The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows Scrooge two deaths, his own and Tiny Tim s. The reactions are heavily contrasted. Explore the people s responses to these two deaths. What is the response to Scrooge s death? Consider the laundry women, the charwoman, and the undertakers assistant as well as the young couple whose loan Scrooge was about to foreclose upon. Also consider those who would willingly attend the funeral only if a proper meal is served. In contrast, what is the reaction to Tiny Tim s death? Focus on the Cratchit family s, especially in comparison to the early scene Scrooge observes there, and Scrooge s reaction.
A Christmas Carol Quotes from Stave 5 I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future! Scrooge repeated, as he scrambled out of bed. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. O Jacob Marley! Heaven and the Christmastime be praised for this! (104). I don t know what to do! cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath... I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to everybody! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo! (105). Really, for a man who had been out of practice for so many years, it was a splendid laugh, a most illustrious laugh. The father of a long, long, line of brilliant laughs! (105). He had no further intercourse with Spirits, but lived upon the Total Abstinence Principle ever afterward; and it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, Every One! (113).