This document contains the key quotes a well as the key moments included in A Christmas Carol. It includes context and writer's message which plays a key role to achieve a grade 8-9 in your GCSE's
Also includes in depth analysis of the key quotes along with writer's techniques.
A Christmas Carol
Stave 1
Marley was as dead as a doornail
Implies how Scrooge felt about Marley’s death.
Scrooge was his sole executor, sole administrator, sole friend, sole mourner
Repetition of “sole” emphasises the fact that only Scrooge associated with
Marley.
Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event
This contradicts with the fact that only Scrooge kindred with Marley and even
he wasn’t devastated about his death. Links to the adjective “sole” which has
connotations of only. This explores the theme of isolation and how Scrooge and
Marley only cared about the profits in their business and not maintaining
healthy relationships with those around them.
Tight fisted hand at the grindstone
Metaphor to describe how Scrooge makes his employees work hard and long
hours.
Clutching, covetous, old sinner!
Alliteration, religious connotations
Exclamation suggests even the narrator is overwhelmed by how outrageously
unpleasant Scrooge is.
Squeezing, wrenching ,grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!
Accumulative list which refers to Scrooge’s hands on how tightly he holds
things, example money. Makes the reader wonder if he had any trauma in his
younger years as he is that adamant to not let things slip from his hands.
Foreshadows his past, school days.
Highlights his lack of generosity.
Hard and sharp as flint
“Flint” is used to start a fire, there is potential warmth in Scrooge,
foreshadowing his redemption.
, Solitary as an oyster
“Solitary” connotations of alone and isolation
“Oyster” lives in the deep and dark parts of the ocean potentially or potentially
not producing a pearl.
Hints that Scrooge has potential to produce a pearl aka redemption.
Imagery foreshadowing the future positive change in Scrooge’s character.
His pointed nose
His eyes red
“Red” has connotations of violence as well as love.
Eyes become red after crying
Scrooge has been affected by something in the past which has made him into the
man he is today.
His thin lips blue
Contrasts his eyes
There is a certain coldness in his attitude,
Links to “frosty rime was on his head”
He carried his low temperature about with him
Dickens is using the chillness of the weather to describe Scrooge’s behaviour.
External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge
Nobody ever stopped him in the street, to say with gladsome looks
Even the blind men’s dogs appeared to know him and tugged their owners into
the doorway.
To edge his way through the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy
to keep a distance
The clerk's fire was so very much smaller that is looked like 1 coal
“Smaller” is a comparative used to compare Scrooge’s fire to the clerk’
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