In-depth and detailed quotes and analysis for GCSE AQA A Christmas carol.
Includes: the stave, quotation, analysis and theme of the quote.
Detailed and thorough analysis of methods and language.
A Christmas carol quotes
Stave Quotation Analysis Theme
stave 1 “Scrooge was his sole o Repetition of ‘sole’ presents Scrooge as lonely and Isolation
executor, his sole assign, an obnoxious character. Dickens draw parallels
his sole residuary, his sole between Scrooge and Marley, highlighting the
friend and sole mourner” ramifications of ultra capitalism – dies alone with
– Scrooge little care – whilst foreshadowing scrooge’s future if
his lessons are not learnt
Stave 1 “he tried to warm himself o This is interesting as it conveys a lot to the reader Social
at the candle” – Bob about Bob’s characterisation and the cruel injustice
Cratchit treatment he faces at work
o By using the pitiful verb ‘tried’, Dickens creates a
sense of helplessness
o This causes us to sympathise with Bob and
acknowledge his powerlessness before Scrooge
o Furthermore, the anticlimactic ‘candle’ highlights the
poor provisions in place for Bob at the workplace, as
he has nothing but a lone candle to warm himself
o Dickens follows this line with the blunt: ‘he failed’,
this illustrates the nonchalant attitude that many of
the rich held towards the appalling working
conditions of the lower class
Stave 1 “a squeezing, wrenching, o Harsh sounds of ‘c’ and exclamation mark materialism
grasping, scraping, emphasises the extent of Scrooge’s avarice
clutching, covetous old o The negative asyndetic list of relentless verbs refer
sinner!” – Scrooge to him being miserly and selfish
o In this way he is immediately and undeniably
characterised as an unlikeable character
o This makes it difficult for the reader to empathise
with him while also drawing attention to the
unsympathetic narration
o Dicken’s using Scrooge to criticize how selfish the
upper class people were to the poor
Stave 1 “hard and sharp as flint” – o Adjective ‘hard’ suggests that Scrooge lacks Redemption
Scrooge compassion and empathy. ‘sharp’ suggests pain and
that scrooge has no mercy for others
o A ‘flint’ is able to provide fire, so the simile could
suggest that Scrooge has the ability to also provide
warmth and change, hinting to his transformation
and redemption
Stave 1 “No warmth could warm o This is illustrated how Scrooge had a cold and hostile Isolated
him no wintery weather attitude
chill him” – Scrooge
Stave 1 “tight-fisted” – Scrooge o Scrooge starts the novella off as a selfish man Materialism
o This quote suggests that he always has a tight hold
of money and didn’t engage in philanthropy, which
was a growing trend in Victorian times
Stave 1 “solitary as an oyster” – o This simile is interesting as although Dickens Redemption
Scrooge describes Scrooge as ‘solitary’, highlighting his
isolation and so presenting him as hostile
o The choice of an oyster is significant as despite an
oyster being dark and hard on the outside they can
contain something beautiful and valued on the
inside; pearls
o Here, Dickens is suggesting to the reader that there
is something worth saving within Scrooge, implying
that as the novel progresses the spirits will destroy
his hard exterior to reveal the ‘pearl’ within
o The metaphor encapsulates the fact that Scrooge
liked to keep to himself and isolated himself from
society
, Stave 1 “if they would rather die, o Scrooge had been influenced by capitalism – idea Social
they has better do it and that man should look after himself and if your poor injustice
decrease the surplus its your own fault
population” – Scrooge o Reference to the Malthusian idea that the
population must decrease in order to create better
conditions, Dicken’s was openly opposed to this view
and challenges it throughout
Stave 1 “I wear the chain I forged o Declarative sentence mood accentuates the main Isolation
in life” – Marley theme of isolation and hosts an emotional tone for
Scrooge. ‘chain’ implies restriction – sense of self
imposed isolation regarding Scrooge’s unrelenting
nature. Ironic how this noun is used considering at
the time, poor were sent to workhouses (poor law)
o Imagery of supernatural chains as a metaphor for
mental imprisonment and torture in the afterlife.
Warns readers that the things you prioritise in life
will be shackled to you for eternity and is forced to
question the traditional capitalist idea of success is
and if true success is in moral riches rather than
financial ones
Stave 1 “no rest, no sleep, o The two short simple sentences create a sense of Redemption
incessant torture of tension by increasing the pace
remorse” – Marley o In addition it mirrors the trapped, claustrophobic
feelings Marley is experiencing in purgatory
o Furthermore, Dickens subverts the rule of three in
the first sentence, by stopping after two clauses
Dickens leaves the sentence unfinished, causing the
reader to feel uncomfortable
o This may perhaps be to mirror Scrooge’s
uncomfortable feelings towards the ghost, allowing
the reader to empathise with his character
Stave 1 “Humbug! but stopped at o Was going to dismiss the apparition with a word that Redemption
the first syllable” – means to rubbish something, but stops at ‘Hum’
Scrooge o Could show his tiredness, however, it could show his
first signs of his path to redemption and how he was
scared enough to change his ways
Stave 1 “Extraordinary kindness o Fred is portrayed as a kind and generous person, Christmas
of Scrooge’s nephew” – with a gentle and jovial nature, he is the
Fred embodiment of Christmas spirit
o Dickens uses Fred as hope for what society should
be like, therefore he is the ideal role model
Stave 1 “I have always thought of o Here, Fred is a symbol of hope as he embodies all of Christmas
Christmas as a good time, the Christmas values and understands the
a kind, forgiving, importance of Christmas further emphasising his
charitable, pleasant time” warm-hearted nature and his kindness and selfless
- Fred attitude towards the plight of the poor
Stave 2 “It was a strange figure – o Childlike nature links to purity and innocence whilst Supernatural
like a child: yet not so like his shifting forms are suggestive of the murkiness of
a child as like an old man” the past and memories
– ghost of Christmas o Scrooge is keen to extinguish the light by covering it
present with a cap, suggesting his unwillingness to change
Stave 2 “Home, for good and all. o Dickens uses anaphora in Fan’s speech to highlight Family
Home, for ever and ever” how important his return home is to the siblings
– Fanny o The repetition implies that Scrooge is in disbelief
while the lyrical quality of the line creates a child-like
and magical tone – as if returning home was
inconceivable
o This ultimately causes the reader to sympathise with
Scrooge while also feeling grateful for their own
families, furthering the idea family is central
Stave 2 “A delicate creature, o The spirt adopts a poetic quality in its language while Family
whom a breath might describing Fan, using ethereal adjectives such as
have withered… but she
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