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Christmas carol stave 2 grade 7-9 analysis
A complete stave 2 grade 7-9 analsyis. This document includes focus and exemplar exam paragraphs on the ghost of christmas past, Scrooge's childhood, Mr fezziwig and belle.
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Stave 2How does Dickens present the Ghost of Christmas past? (50,51)
Dickens presents the Ghost of Christmas past as a ‘supernatural’ agent of redemption, attaining only
to Scrooge’s past. The ghost is a curious mix of both the old and the youth, with a child’s visage yet
hair which ‘was white with age’. He is emblematic of both winter and summer, which demonstrated
by the ‘fresh green holly’ and ‘summer flowers’ he carries. The ghost is able to bring ‘a bright jet of
light’ into the depths of the night, demonstrating the enlightenment it could bring into Scrooge’s
word. The significance of the contrasts between day and night, light and darkness and old and young
demonstrates the possibility of complete transformation, foreshadowing the alteration Scrooge will
undergo in Stave 5. His voice was ‘soft’ and his touch ‘gentle’ this demonstrates his loving and warm
nature, symbolic of the boy Scrooge used to be.
How does Dickens present Scrooge’s reactions to visiting the place of his childhood?
Dickens presents Scrooge to possess a deeply emotional and intimate connection with his past. Upon
recognition of his childhood surroundings, Scrooge exclaims ‘I was a boy here!’ becoming instantly
animated and excited. The great nostalgia and emotions reduced Scrooge to tears, a great contrast
to when he is presented to be unaffected by anything ‘external’ to him (in Stave 1). His childhood
was filled with ‘great spirits’ and ‘crisp air’ all very invigorating and healthy in comparison to London
which is suffocating and stifling.
How does Dickens present Mr Fezziwig?
Dickens presents Fezziwig as a cheerful and jovial character, the embodiment of the employer
Scrooge could and will become (Stave 5). Dickens uses nominative determinism with the name
Fezziwig, immediately connoting warmth and merriness. He has an ‘organ of benevolence’, the
abstract noun ‘benevolence’ represents the kindness he displays both as a character and employer.
His caring personality here acts as another role model and catalyst in Scrooge’s transformation.
Fezziwig is also important in demonstrating the character Scrooge once was. The joyousness and
fizzing energy Fezziwig has influences Scrooge to display those same qualities. Dickens’s setting of
Fezziwig’s offices is in stark contrast to Scrooge’s offices in Stave 1. Scrooge’s offices are ‘dismal’ and
filled with the poverty of warmth, containing only a ‘small fire’ that ‘looked like one coal’. Whereas
Fezziwig’s office is filled with warmth, ‘fuel was heaped upon the fire’ and the room was both ‘snug’
and ‘warm’.
Scrooge also uses Fezziwig as an example of how an altruistic employer is able to create a sense of
family and community in the workplace. The ‘housemaid’, ‘cook’, ‘baker’ and ‘milkmaid’ were
invited to Fezziwig’s celebration. Fezziwig has invited people from all corners of society to his
Christmas party. He is benevolent and thoughtful, seeing past people's social class instead seeing
them as fellow humans. He treats them like family. This contrasts how Scrooge treats his own family.
Dickens uses Fezziwig as a foil against the character of Scrooge, shown to him by the ghost of
Christmas Past, contrasting the two types of rich, material wealth and the wealth of happiness.
How does dickens present Scrooge’s break up with Belle?
Dickens presents Scrooge’s breakup with Belle as a significant turning point in the transformation of
Scrooge’s character and values. Scrooge’s change of character is reflected through his change of
facial expression as it now ‘begun to wear the sins of care and avarice’. Dickens also uses an
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