A Christmas Carol Quotes and Analysis

Introduction to A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol is a novella by Charles Dickens about Ebenezer Scrooge, an old man, who is well-
known for his miserly ways. On Christmas Eve, Ebenezer Scrooge is in his counting-house (an office
or building in which the accounts and money of a person/company were kept) and both he and his
clerk (office worker), Bob Cratchit, are still working in the cold. Scrooge’s nephew, Fred, arrives to
wish his uncle a Merry Christmas, and to invite him to celebrate with his family. Scrooge rudely
refuses his offer and will also not give money to the charity collectors. Scrooge arrives home, and
as he’s about to open his door he sees the face of Jacob Marley (his old business partner that died
seven years ago on Christmas Eve) in the door knocker. Later that evening, Marley’s ghost appears
in Scrooge’s bedroom. Marley is wrapped in a heavy chain and doomed to endlessly roam the
earth. Marley says to Scrooge that he will suffer the same fate as him unless he changes his ways.
He explains that Scrooge will be visited by three spirits and that they’re his only chance of saving
himself.

The Ghost of Christmas Past appears to Scrooge. The ghost takes Scrooge to the village where he
grew up, and Scrooge sees his younger self at school, where he’s spending Christmas alone.
Scrooge then sees some happier Christmases: his sister Fan/Fanny coming to take him home from
school, and a party organised by his old boss, Mr Fezziwig. Next, Scrooge is taken to see the
moment when his fiancée, Belle, broke off their engagement because of Scrooge’s obsession with
money. He then sees Belle grown up, with a family of her own. Scrooge struggles with the ghost
to make the vision stop and he’s transported back into his bedroom.
The Ghost of Christmas Present arrives, he is jolly and friendly. Scrooge and the ghost visit Bob
Cratchit’s family, who are enjoying their Christmas Day. Scrooge learns that Bob’s son, Tiny Tim,
will die in the near future. Scrooge and the ghost travel the world, visiting other people. They’re
all enjoying Christmas. They then visit Fred’s house. The people there made fun of Scrooge and his
attitude towards Christmas. The ghost reveals two starving children hidden within his robe. The
children are named ignorance (rude) and want, the ghost warns Scrooge to beware of them.

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come arrives to collect Scrooge. The ghost silently shows Scrooge
the reaction of some people to the death of an unknown man. Nobody seems to care very much
that the man is dead. An undertaker (someone who prepares a dead body for burial), a
charwoman (cleaner) and a laundress try to sell the dead man’s belongings, which they’ve stolen.
They’ve even taken the shirt from his body. Scrooge and the ghost visit Bob Cratchit’s family.
Scrooge discovers Tiny Tim has died, and the Cratchit’s are very upset. The ghost takes Scrooge to
a graveyard, and silently points out to a grave with Scrooge’s name on it. Scrooge is extremely
terrified by the visions of his death, so he promises the ghost that he will honour Christmas and
change the course of his life.

Scrooge finds himself back in his bedroom and it’s still Christmas Day. Scrooge has completely
changed; he laughs and wishes passers-by a Merry Christmas. He bought the Cratchit family a
huge turkey, then joins Fred and his companions for Christmas dinner. The next day, Scrooge gives
Bob Cratchit a pay rise. We’re told that Tiny Tim will survive, and that Scrooge becomes like a
second father to Tiny Tim and gains a reputation for knowing how to celebrate Christmas.

Ebenezer Scrooge
• Scrooge doesn’t seem to care about anything except money
At the start of the novel Scrooge is portrayed very negatively, as someone who only cares
about money. He’s described as “a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping clutching,
covetous old sinner!”. He’s so miserly that he envied (jealous) Bob Cratchit his Christmas wage,
and won’t allow him a decent fire. In a vision of Scrooge’s past, his fiancée Belle says, that
Scrooge sees money as an “idol”, and that it has “displaced” her in Scrooge’s love. This
suggests that Scrooge worships money as if it’s a God, and his love for it is greater than his
love for Belle.
• He’s cold-hearted and unsympathetic
Scrooge is unsympathetic towards other people, so he has no interest in helping the poor. He
refuses to donate to charity because he thinks he’s done enough by paying taxes to support
the prisons and workhouses. He’s not concerned about the poor people and how they might
be feeling because he believes it’s not his “business” to care about them. Dickens describes
Scrooge using cold and icy language, for example, there’s a “cold within him” that “froze his
old features”, and he’s described as having a “frosty rime” (a frosty covering). This emphasises
Scrooge’s cold-hearted nature. The pathetic fallacy describes Scrooge’s stubbornness,
presenting him as an unfriendly character.
We learn that Scrooge’s past has shaped him
As the reader, we see more of Scrooge’s past, and it becomes clear to understand why Scrooge
is so cold and bitter. The events of his past are partly responsible for his present-day
personality. Scrooge is shown sympathetically as “a lonely boy” near a “feeble fire” at his old
school. We learn that he’s been left there because his father won’t let him come home for
Christmas. Scrooge is eventually brought home by his sister, who he clearly had a close
relationship with. It’s possible that he isolated himself from Fred because he’s a sad reminder
of the sister Scrooge lost. Scrooge is distressed at the vision of Belle leaving him, and his painful
memory is made worse by the vision of Belle’s happy family. As the reader we feel sympathy
for when he pleads “in a broken voice” to show no more. It seems like the heartbreak Scrooge
suffered may have contributed to his bitter, closed-off personality in stave one.
• Scrooge has to see himself as others see him
Throughout the visions shown by the ghosts, Scrooge is forced to see how other people talk
about him when he’s not around:
• A businessman calls Scrooge “Old Scratch” (a nickname for the devil)
• A couple, who owe Scrooge money, call him “merciless”
• Mrs Cratchit calls Scrooge an “odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man”
At the beginning of the novel, Scrooge is selfish, he doesn’t care about how his attitude to life
affects others. However, the phantoms (spirits) show him the way other people talk about him,
which makes him realise his fault and convinces him to change his attitude
• Tiny Tim shows Scrooge that the poor are people to
Seeing Tiny Tim helps Scrooge to feel empathy again. Scrooge asks the spirit if Tiny Tim will
die, with “an interest he had never felt before” Tim’s situation makes Scrooge start to care
about other people. The Ghost of Christmas Present uses Tim to show how wrong Scrooge’s
 beliefs were about decreasing “the surplus population”, which forced him to think about poor
people as individuals. This saddens Scrooge by how cruel his opinions were.

• Scrooge’s values change

By the end of the novel Scrooge changes completely. He laughs at himself and says he’s “as
merry as a school-boy”. He also learns to be charitable. He buys the Cratchits a Christmas
turkey and makes a large donation to charity. Scrooge’s values change completely even the
narrator says that he “knew how to keep Christmas well”. The spirits teach Scrooge to value
family and companionship/friendship, so he embraces his nephew’s family and becomes a
father figure to Tiny Tim.

Stave 1
“Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone”.

Technique: Metaphor

Explanation: Dicken’s begins the novella by describing Scrooge as a money grabbing, selfish old
man. His only concern and obsession is making money, and he works hard for it, as well as making
other people work hard for him in an attempt to gain even more money, which proves his greed
and hunger for wealth.

Theme: Greed

Key word: The exclamative in “oh!” suggests that even the narrator is overwhelmed by how
unpleasant Scrooge is. To further present Scrooge’s brutality the metaphor “tight-fisted hand at
the grindstone” implies that he grinds down his employees and customers while making money
for himself.

Reader’s effect: This makes the reader feel that Scrooge was a mean and unkind man. He was a
greedy “covetous old sinner” who forced others to work long hours and suffer for his own
advantage. He didn’t even pay a decent amount of money to his clerk Bob Cratchit. This further
makes the reader feel trusted by the narrator and instantly realises that Scrooge is a man who is
miserly and unpleasant.

Stave 2
“A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still”.
Technique: Adjective

Explanation: Dickens describes young Scrooge as a quiet and isolated child. This phrase could
suggest why Scrooge is the way he is now. He was neglected by society as a child so he feels he
can’t join society now, as he’s afraid of rejection. When the Ghost of Christmas Past showed
Scrooge his childhood history he cried when seeing this, demonstrating that the feelings are still
very raw to him.

Theme: Loneliness

Key word: The writer zooms on the adjective “solitary” and the verb “neglected” to demonstrate
that Scrooge began his life with few friends, which makes the reader feel sympathy for young
Scrooge as he didn’t have many friends to share his thoughts and feelings with. The adjective
"solitary" links back to the elderly Scrooge being described with the simile "solitary as an oyster".
This simile highlights Scrooge's distancing from society, locked in a shell and surrounded by a sea
of misery.

Reader’s effect: This makes us wonder if he has chosen a lonely life because he was lonely as a
child. It also makes the reader wonder why he would want to be alone as an adult, especially after
being alone as a child. Further making the reader feel sympathetic towards Scrooge as he does
not appear to be a warm or welcoming presence. This is why people are deterred (put off from)
from interacting with him. As the reader we can see the significant impact of his loneliness as a
child. As Scrooge seems to find comfort in being lonely because it is familiar to him. This also
indicates that he may be afraid of getting close to people. As a result, due to Scrooge’s solitude,
the readers sympathy grows as he is not just a one-dimensional (boring or showing a few qualities)
character, but he is layered with emotion.

Stave 3
“Through the Spirit’s eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them”

Technique: Phrase/adjective

Explanation: After his encounter with the first Ghost, Scrooge has begun to see that he has made
some bad choices in life. Therefore, when he meets the second Ghost, he can’t even look at him in
the “eyes” because he feels so guilty and at fault. Scrooge also knows that this Ghost will likely
give him more information to feel guilty about, and is not looking forward to seeing the
consequences of his actions.

Theme: Supernatural/regret/guilt

Key word: The writer zooms on the adjective “kind” to suggest that the phantom might be wanting
to encourage Scrooge to use him to lean more about how to be good, generous and a loving man.
Scrooge needs to face the regret that’s taking over his mind and improve his own personality and,
therefore, the wider society. As the reader we understand that it can be really hard for Scrooge as
he’s so ingrained with his cruel and miserly ways, that by looking through his mistakes would build
even more guiltiness for him to handle.

Reader’s effect: This makes the reader feel that Scrooge clearly knows that he is about to look into
his own life again. knowing that he does not treat people the way that he should, which is why it
immediately makes him feel guilty to meet the “eyes” of the Ghost of Christmas present as he will
show him the errors of his ways.

Stave 4
“I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been”.

Technique: Pronoun

Explanation: Near the end of stave four Dickens uses the phrase “I am not the man I was. I will not
be the man I must have been” to imply that Scrooge is going to change. There is a theme of religion
and redemption. This shows the reader that it is never too late to change. The pronoun “I am”, “I
was” and “I will” further demonstrates that at this point Dickens confirms that Scrooge has finally
begun to understand the lessons of all three spirits so the reader must wait in suspense to see
whether he is truly “past all hope”.

Theme: Redemption

Key word: The verb “must” suggests that Scrooge was not really aware of what he had become,
or the consequences of it, before the Ghost showed him.

Reader’s effect: This makes the reader feel that Scrooge had definitely learnt a valuable lesson
which changed his miserly ways. He will no longer live a solitary, miserable, selfish, uncaring life,
but is determined to change and treat people better.

Stave 5
“Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father.”

Technique: Alliteration

Explanation: The Cratchits family grew to love Scrooge so much that he became like a father figure
to Tiny Tim, whom he indirectly helped save from his death. Since Scrooge raised Bob’s salary, they
could pay for Tiny Tim’s treatment.

Theme: Redemption
Key word/phrase: The phrase “he was a second father” could imply that Scrooge was upset
because he couldn’t become a father, but now that his bond between the Cratchits family has
become strong, he now has Tiny Tim who is like his son. Scrooge now has discovered family with
Fred and with the Cratchits.

Reader’s effect: The description of Scrooge to Tiny Tim, shows the reader how Scrooge has chosen
to change and help the Cratchit’s family, creating an imagery of kindness and generosity. This
further symbolises that Scrooge’s morals are changing, as he is helping the Cratchit’s family,
contrary to stave one where he quotes “are there no prisons?”, to suggest that the poor is guilty
of something.

Cratchits family
Bob Cratchit
• Bob Cratchit is Scrooge’s employee
Bob Cratchit is uncomplaining and tolerant. He works quietly in Scrooge’s “dismal little cell” of
an office despite the bitter cold. He’s polite and respectful, he returns Fred’s greetings
“cordially” and addresses Scrooge as “sir”. Bob is patient when Scrooge grumbles at him for
talking about a Christmas day off. Bob remains civil despite Scrooge’s continuous grumpy
attitude. Bob Cratchit’s eagerness and pleasure about Christmas contrasts with Scrooge’s
attitude. Bob can’t help applauding Fred’s speech about the joy of Christmas, which contrasts
with Scrooge’s grumpy response as “Humbug!”
• He’s also a kind and devoted father
Bob is a friendly, playful father. He carried Tiny Tim home from the Christmas church service
on his shoulders, and on the way home he takes twenty turns sliding down an icy street, despite
having no coat on. When he thinks his oldest daughter Martha Cratchit won’t be joining the
family for Christmas, he’s upset and hugs her “to his heart’s content”. This shows how
important it is for him to have all his family together on Christmas Eve. He’s caring and kind
with Tiny Tim, who sits “very close to his father’s side” while Bob holds his hand. Despite the
grief of Tiny Tim’s death, he tries to be cheerful around his family, in order to spare them more
pain, “I am very happy,’ said little Bob”.

Stave 1
“Dismal little cell”.

Technique: Adjective
Explanation: Dickens describes Cratchit’s working area as a “dismal little cell” suggesting that Bob
Cratchit cannot escape his metaphorical “cell” because poor people in Victorian England had very
few options and very few opportunities to get good jobs, so he has to put up with being treated
badly so he can support his family, whom he loves. However he does not complain about his
situation because he is scared that he might lose his job.

Theme: Trapped

Key word: The adjective “dismal” also implies that Bob Cratchit is forced to work in, which could
further reflect Bob’s feelings to his long working hours. The adjective “little” also connotes the idea
of small and insignificance, which highlights the influence the working class had in Victorian
society.

Reader’s effect: This makes the reader feel sympathy for Bob Cratchit as he is trapped and
imprisoned in a horrible job as Scrooge treats him horrifically. Scrooge’s counting house is
described by Dickens to be like a “dismal little cell”, this gives the reader the impression that it is
cheap, dark and cold because the fire he describes is so small it’s as if it only has one “coal”, which
further links back to Scrooge’s miserly behaviour.

Stave 1
“the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle”
Technique: Verb

Explanation: Dickens describes the scene in Scrooge’s office where Scrooge rations the live coals
needed to heat the place during winter. Scrooge lowers his clerk Bob Cratchit to a minimal fire,
expecting Cratchit to work in cold. Bob knows that if he refills his fire, Scrooge will threaten to
terminate his job. So he tries to warm himself as best he can without angering Scrooge. Despite
the poor working conditions since Bob cannot afford to lose his job as he has a family to support.
Bob suffers in silence for his family’s sake.

Theme: Obedience
Key phrase: He “tried to warm himself at the candle” Bob Cratchits efforts to warm himself at the
candle is pitiful, which illustrates that he would prefer to do this than challenge Scrooge and put
his job on the line.

Reader’s effect: This makes the reader feel sympathy for Bob Cratchit because Bob takes orders
from his bad-tempered boss, Ebenezer Scrooge without complaining. This further exemplifies that
Bob Cratchits is helpless and can’t do anything as his family needs the financial support, in order
to survive.

Stave 3
“I’ll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast”
Technique: Dialogue

Explanation: Scrooge is too miserly to offer his clerk a decent wage, but Bob Cratchit is generous
enough to be grateful to his boss, which illustrates that Bob is poor but loving unlike Scrooge,
who’s rich but lonely. Bob Cratchit is shown as the humble happy figure who is grateful to a
horrible boss because he appreciates how fortunate he is to have a job in the first place.

Theme: Humble

Key phrase: “The founder of the feast” implies that he proposes a toast to Scrooge even on
Christmas Day to thank him for allowing his family to enjoy Christmas because he gave Cratchit a
job in the first place.

Stave 4
"My little, little child!" cried Bob. "My little child!"

Technique: Repetition
Explanation: Bob Cratchit cries openly when his son Tiny Tim is dead.

Theme: Sensitivity

Key word: The repetition of “little” further expresses the sad effect of Bob's cry. It also emphasises
Tim’s youth. Although child mortality was high at this time, Dickens is showing the reader that this
death could have been avoided if the family had not been so poor. We feel sympathy for him at
this point.

Stave 5
“I’ll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family”

Technique: Dialogue
Explanation: By directing Scrooge’s change of heart at Cratchit, Dickens was able to show how
much of a difference Scrooge could easily make to a poor family. Cratchit has never asked for these
things, but Scrooge is able to highlight his sudden generosity and caring nature by offering it to a
poor man whose sole desire is to make his family happy.

Theme: Redemption

"It's only once a year, sir," pleaded Bob, appearing from the Tank.”- Fearful- Bob Cratchit is afraid
of Scrooge's reaction when he arrives late to work after Christmas Day. He “pleaded” which
illustrates that he is worried about being punished by Scrooge.

Mrs Cratchit
• Mrs Cratchit is good natured and busy
Mrs Cratchit works hard to make the Cratchits family happy. The Christmas goose has to be
“eked out” to feed the whole family, but the Cratchits greet the food with “universal
admiration”. Although, she thinks that Scrooge is an “odious, stingy, hard, unfeeling man”,
she still drinks to his health, because Bob wants her to, and she loves him. When Tiny Tim dies
she’s protective of her families feelings. She speaks in a “steady, cheerful voice” and hides her
“weak eyes” from Bob as she doesn’t want to increase his worries.

The Cratchit children

• The Cratchit children are hard-working
Peter is Bob’s “son of heir”. He likes the idea of being rich and upper-class, as he proudly wears
Bob’s “shirt collar”, and “yearned to show his linen in the fashionable parks”. Bob is keen for
Peter to start working as a “man of business”, while Martha works hard as a hat making
apprentice. Dickens emphasises that the Cratchits children aren’t lazy or unwilling to work,
which challenges the beliefs of Thomas Malthus who thought that poverty was often linked to
laziness. The Cratchits all help out with the Christmas dinner, even the youngest children, as
they work together as a family. This is shown by the long sentences “Mrs Cratchit made the
gravy…”. Dickens uses this to make up several short clauses, to emphasise how busy the
Cratchits are as they make the final preparations for dinner. The young Cratchits are excited
“they crammed spoons into their mouths, lest they should shriek for goose”. This excitement
shows the positivity of the Cratchits household.

Tiny Tim
• Tiny Tim is weak, but he doesn’t complain
Tiny Tim is fragile and very ill. His father carried him on his shoulders and is especially close to
him, whilst Tim’s siblings make sure he joints in all the fun. Dickens presents Tiny Tim as a good
character by showing the audience his religious nature. Tim hopes people see him in church,
because he wants to remind people about “who made lame beggars walk” (Jesus). This
suggests that Tiny Tim is exceptionally thoughtful for his age, which highlights how
ungenerous Scrooge and adults can be. He also echoes his father’s toast “God bless us every
 one!”. Dickens also uses Tim to show how poverty can lead to suffering and death. If Scrooge
hadn’t helped the Cratchits, Tiny Tim would have died.

Stave 3
“Bob’s voice was tremulous… when he said that Tiny Tim was growing strong and hearty”.
Technique: Adjective/verb

Explanation: This quote adds a heartbreak imagery for the reader as we see Bob Cratchit
attempting to be strong in the presence of his children.
Theme: Extremely vulnerable

Key word: The verb “trembled” shows that Bob Cratchit is lying in an attempt to protect his
children from hurt, which further exemplifies that Tiny Tim is growing weaker, not stronger.

Reader’s effect: This makes the reader feel sympathy for Tiny Tim as he is becoming more and
more vulnerable and needy every day, until Scrooge changes and decides to help.

Stave 3
“God bless us every one!”

Technique: Dialogue

Explanation: We learn that Tiny Tim is kind and offers equal love to all mankind. Tiny Tim wants
to help everyone. As an angelic, holy character, Tiny Tim offers blessings of love, hope and
happiness to the whole of society. He also shows that people can change and make a difference
to others, which is linking back to Scrooge towards the end of stave five, where he quotes “I’ll raise
your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family”, which exemplifies that Scrooge’s
values have changed completely as he laughs at himself and says he’s “as merry as a school-boy”

Theme: Blessings and Christmas

Stave 3
“Tiny Tim upon his shoulders”

Technique: Alliteration
Explanation: With Tiny Tim on Bob Cratchit’s shoulders, lifted up so high, he could be said to
represent an angel. He may also need to be physically lifted up because he is weak and vulnerable.
His innocence, vulnerability and angelic nature makes his potential downfall at the hands of
Scrooge so much more horrific.
Theme: Innocence and angelic

Key word: However, the preposition “upon” could also personify how children were a financial
burden that working class parents had to carry.
Stave 3
“Spirit,” said Scrooge, with an interest he had never felt before, “tell me if Tiny Tim will live.”

Technique: Dialogue

Explanation: For Scrooge, this is a turning point in his life, he soon realises that if Tiny Tim dies, all
that is good in the world will die with him.

Theme: Death and sickness

Stave 4
” we recollect how patient and how mild he was”.
Technique:

Explanation: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows the vision of Tiny Tim’s death. Here, Tiny
Tim is remembered fondly by his family for his good qualities which highlights the way that the
people who knew Scrooge were glad at his death. Bob tries to turn Tim’s death into a life lesson
for his remaining children. He asks them to behave towards each other as Tiny Tim always did.
With these words, Bob shows his mature side as his family’s leader and guide. Even in grief he tries
to keep his family committed both to loving each other and to doing right.

Theme: Remembrance

Fred
• Fred is a complete contrast to Scrooge
Fred arrives to Scrooge’s office “all in a glow” and “his eyes sparkled”, this emphasises the
warmth and friendliness of his character. He’s the opposite of Scrooge, who’s associated with
the cold. Fred disagrees with Scrooge’s miserly values. He thinks that Scrooge’s wealth is
useless because “he don’t do any good with it”, suggesting that unlike Scrooge, he values
happiness more than money. He’s empathetic, demonstrating he’s “heartly sorry” for the
Cratchits family after Tim dies , even though he barely knows him. This contrasts with Scrooge,
who begins the novel as a self-focused person who doesn’t care about others.
• Fred is a cheerful man
Fred’s personality is defined by his pleasant laugh. The narrator says he’s like to meet “a man
more blest in a laugh than Scrooge’s nephew”. Fred’s laugh illustrates his cheerfulness. He’s
calm and refuses to argue with Scrooge. He tells Scrooge “I’ll keep my Christmas humour to
the last”, and later says that he “couldn’t be angry” with Scrooge if he tried. He’s determined
to involve Scrooge in the celebrations: “I mean to give him the same chance, every year,
whether he likes it or not”. He believes in the importance of being kind at Christmas, especially
to family.
• Fred shows true Christmas spirit
Dickens presents Fred as someone who shows lots of the values associated with Christmas.
Fred shows generosity to Scrooge in inviting him to his party, and forgiveness when he
 welcomes Scrooge into his home, despite Scrooge’s behaviour-“It is a mercy he didn’t shake
his arm off”.

Stave 1
“he was all in a glow; his face was ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled”.

Technique: Adjectives

Explanation: Right from the start, Fred is shown to be so happy and kind that it seems to radiate
(give off) from his skin, his goodness makes his skin and eyes glow. He directly contrasts Scrooge,
who is dull and miserable by showing it through his miserly ways. However, Fred loves life; Scrooge
seems to hate it. Dickens uses Fred at the beginning to exemplify what Scrooge could be like.

Theme: Happy and kind

Key word: The adjectives “ruddy”, “handsome” and “sparkled” describe Fred as a warm
welcoming character in the novella. Fred is a foil (contrast) to Scrooge, demonstrating that just
like Scrooge's coldness of heart is reflected his physical coldness, so is Fred's physical warmth
reflects his warm heartedness. The verb “glow” also suggests that he radiates heat, further
illustrating that his goodness touches those around him.

Stave 1
“a good time, a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time”.

Technique: Adjectives/List

Explanation: Despite Scrooge's unfriendliness, Scrooge's nephew Fred explains why he felt the
need to see his uncle and wish him a happy Christmas. Fred believes that the Christmas spirit
benefits him even if the spirit does not profit him. While Fred feels that the Christmas spirit falls
on him, making him feel charitable, he actually embraces and spreads the Christmas spirit via his
generosity and kindness. This shows that Christmas is a time to be nice to each other and give to
charity.

Theme: Christmas spirit

Stave 3
“I mean to give him the same chance every year whether he likes it or not.”

Technique: Dialogue

Explanation: Fred refuses to let Scrooge’s miserly attitude dampen his spirits. He shows his care
for his uncle by pledging to continue visiting Scrooge regardless, which further shows that Fred’s
concern is revealed by his persistence and pity.

Theme: Persistent
Stave 4
“Extraordinary kindness from Mr Scrooge’s nephew”

Technique: Adjectives

Explanation: Fred shows his care and huge social responsibility.

Theme: Kindness

Stave 5
“Let him in! It is a mercy he didn’t shake his arm off”.

Technique: Dialogue
Explanation: Fred’s enthusiasm is evident in his hearty welcome, shaking his uncles hand with
force. This shows what upper-class people should be like, even though Scrooge has always been
horribly rude and dismissive (unworthy) of him, Fred does not take this to the heart, but instead
he feels sorry for his uncle because he felt that Scrooge didn’t hurt anyone with his miserly and
isolated behaviour but himself.

Theme: Example to the upper classes

Key phrase: The dialogue “let him in!” creates an imagery of forgiveness because when Scrooge
finally turns up for Christmas dinner, Fred forgives him for all his sinful, barbaric behaviour and
welcomes him into his home.

“Scrooge’s nephew laughed in this way: holding his sides”- constantly laughing- Throughout the
novella Fred is always laughing. This adds to the sense that Fred loves life, he never seems to take
things too seriously or be offended by Scrooge’s behaviour. In his life, he also shows a sense of
freedom; Scrooge seems to have locked away any sort of enjoyment in his life, as he doesn’t laugh
until he revisits the good times he had as a youth.

Jacob Marly

• Marley’s ghost has come to warn Scrooge

Marley’s main role in the novella is to warn Scrooge about what will happen after he dies
unless if he changes his ways. Marley and Scrooge have similar personalities. They’re “two
kindred spirits”, who are obsessed with money and don’t care about other people. They’re so
similar that Scrooge lives in Marley’s old rooms and even answers to Marley’s name, “it was
all the same to him”. These similarities emphasises Marley’s role as a warning figure.
• Marley’s appearance is disturbing
Scrooge feels “the chilling influence” of Marley’s “death-cold eyes”, and when the ghost
removes the bandage from his head, its “lower jaw dropped down upon its breast”. Marley’s
terrifying appearance reflects the frightening nature of the message, and makes it seem more
important. Marley gives off a hellish atmosphere. His clothes are “agitated as by the hot
vapour of an oven”. This description links Marley to ideas of hell and eternal suffering.
• Marley tries to help Scrooge
Marley regrets that he didn’t change his ways when he was alive as it’s too late for him to
avoid suffering. But what he can do is offer Scrooge the chance to escape the same fate.
Marley says that his presence now is “a chance and hope”. This suggests that he’s tried (and
succeeded) to find a way to help Scrooge by giving him a chance to save himself. Marley is
acting selfless, he’s helping a friend, even through he has no hope of redemption himself.

“I wear the chains I forged in life”. - The chains Marley wears is related to items with the word of
business and making money: “cash boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses”. It
was “forged” because he cared more about money than people. Dicken’s is using Marley to scare
the Victorian's into changing their ways.

The Ghost of Christmas Past

• The Ghost of Christmas Past represents memory and truth
The Ghost of Christmas Past has a “strange” appearance. It’s connected, through Scrooge’s
memory, in different stages of his life. The ghost is strong but quiet. Its voice is “low” as if “it
were at a distance”, like it’s speaking to Scrooge from somewhere far away, or long away. This
emphasises the spirits connection to Scrooge’s distant past. The ghost helps the reader
sympathise with Scrooge by showing us that parts of his childhood were miserable, and that
he wasn’t always so cold and unfeeling.
• The first spirit is forceful to help Scrooge change
The spirit makes Scrooge explain the things that he realises when he sees the visions of his
past. For example, “what is the matter?… Something, I think?” force Scrooge to explain what
he’s realised after Fezziwig’s party. He realises that sometimes it’s important to spend money
generously, because of the happiness if gives to others. The memory of Bell is “torture” for
Scrooge. He begs the ghost to let him leave, but the spirit is too strong for him. It “pinioned
him in both his arms” and “forced” him to watch. The ghost’s actions seem cruel, but it’s
actions help Scrooge to learn.

Stave 2
“Bright, clear jet of light, by which all this was visible”.

Technique: Adjectives
Explanation: A “bright clear jet of light” shining from the ghost’s head could symbolise the truth
that can be found in memories. It could also represent how it’s about to shed metaphorical light
on Scrooge’s past. It is about to highlight some of the reasons why he is miserable and alone, as
well as some of the poor decisions he made as he got a bit older.

Theme: Past vs future

Key word: The noun “light” suggests that it’s making Scrooge very uncomfortable, as he enjoys
living in the dark, away from emotion.
Stave 2
“Like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man”

Technique: Simile

Explanation: In Stave Two, Scrooge is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past. The ghost looks "like
a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man”. This implies that the ghost has a “strange”
appearance, it shapeshifts like unclear early memories. This creates an unsettling description of
the “strange figure” as it is constantly shifting between childlike impressions and aged
impressions. Dickens makes the ghost something that could apply to anyone, to scare everyone
reading into thinking whether they ought to change their ways too.

Theme: Transformation

Stave 2
“The Ghost stopped at a certain warehouse door, and asked Scrooge if he knew it”.

Technique:

Explanation: The Ghost is making Scrooge feel as though he has some control, therefore any
change that comes from this is his own doing. It suggests that anyone can change their personality
if they put their mind to it.

Theme: Past vs future

Stave 2
“She died a woman… and had, as I think, children… Your nephew!”

Technique: Dialogue

Explanation: Scrooge is with his younger sister, Fanny, who he adored. The Ghost explains that,
despite her death, her son Fred continues to exist. Scrooge remembers how much he loved
Fanny. Fred's efforts to involve Scrooge in his life clearly shows that Fanny's kindness lives on in
Fred. Scrooge's hatred for Fred might be because Fred reminds him of his loss.

Theme: A reminder of the family bond

Stave 2
“Your lip is trembling,” said the Ghost, “And what is that upon your cheek?”

Technique: Rhetorical question

Explanation: This is the first sign of emotion within Scrooge as he becomes tearful looking at
himself as a child. The Ghost indicates that Scrooge is feeling emotion. The Ghost doesn’t say
directly, ‘you are crying', but instead asks a question, leaving it to Scrooge to recognise and name
the emotion. However, Scrooge can only mutter and say that it is a “pimple”.
Theme: Emotion/feelings

The Ghost of Christmas Present

• The Ghost of Christmas Present generously helps others
The Ghost of Christmas Present is compassionate. It sprinkles incense and water from its torch
as a blessing, and it restores the “good humour” of angry people so that they can enjoy
Christmas. The ghost is related with abundance (large quality of something) and generosity.
For example, the torch the spirit carries resembles “plenty’s horn” (symbol of abundance) and
it generously sprinkles blessings from it on those who need it most.
• The second ghost is upset about poverty
The Ghost of Christmas Present has “sympathy with all poor men”, and is “sorrowful” at the
sight of Ignorance and Want. The spirit cares about poor and it challenges Scrooge’s previous
harsh words about poverty, calling them a “wicked”. The spirit speaks emotionally about the
way society ignores the problem of poverty. It argues that society denies the problem of
ignorance and want, and suggests that ignoring these problems will eventually lead to
society’s “Doom”.

Stave 3
“Are there no prisons, no workhouses?”

Technique: Rhetorical question

Explanation: Here the Ghost of Christmas Present is shown as smart and manipulative. He repeats
Scrooge’s own words back to him when scrooge asks what will happen to Tiny Tim. This makes
Scrooge feel ashamed and shows we need to care for each other. The effect of repeated negative
noun phrases is to make this negative viewpoint emphatic.

Theme: Regret

Stave 3
“My life upon this globe, is very brief”

Technique: Dialogue

Explanation: The Ghost of Christmas Past lives for just one day every year. Here Dickens is
emphasising how brief the spirit of Christmas lasts within society, further illustrating that as soon
as Christmas is over people go back to their selfish ways. It could also suggest that life is really
short and it’s important for Scrooge to make the best of it.

Theme: Death

Stave 3
“The boy is ignorance, the girl is want. Beware them both!”

Technique: Dialogue
Explanation: Ignorance and want represent the starving children of London. The spirit shows
Scrooge the children to make him realise the consequences of his selfish lifestyle. Dickens
personifies the largest problems of the world to make them seem more real.

Theme: Human nature

Stave 3
"Come in!" exclaimed the Ghost. “Come in! and know me better, man!”

Technique: Dialogue

Explanation: In this line, the Ghost is encouraging Scrooge to come in and talk to him in a
welcoming, friendly manner, which could contrast the way Scrooge talked to his nephew in an
unpleasant manner. Alternatively, the Ghost may be metaphorically encouraging Scrooge to use
him to learn more about how to be a good, kind and a generous man. In order to change his ways
Scrooge, need to know the Ghost so he can improve his own personality and, therefore, the wider
society.

Theme: Welcoming
Key word: The word “exclaimed” makes the Ghost seem excited to see Scrooge. His invitation to
“know me better” is generous and open-hearted.

Stave 3
“If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population.”

Technique: Dialogue
Explanation: When Scrooge asks whether Tiny Tim will live, The Ghost answers with the words
Scrooge had previously spoken to the portly gentlemen who were collecting the charity. The Ghost
of Christmas Present uses Scrooges own words against him. In his honest response, that Tiny Tim
is likely to die, he holds a mirror up to Scrooge and his behaviour.

Theme: Honest

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

• The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is a sinister figure
The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come represents Scrooge’s future. The ghost is “shrouded in a
deep black garment”, its mysterious appearance implies that the future cannot be known for
sure. The ghost is silent and intimidating. It points instead of speaking, and won’t answer
Scrooge’s questions. This adds to the sense of mystery surrounding it. It’s only when Scrooge
begins to beg that the ghost shows any reaction at all. Its “kind hand trembled”. This could
suggest that the ghost pities Scrooge, reminding the reader that the ghosts are trying to help
him.

Stave 4
“The phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached”
Technique: Adverbs/List of three

Explanation: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is arriving with no warning and Scrooge is
oblivious to what will happen to him next. The ghost does not speak or make a sound which makes
it even more terrifying for Scrooge. The adverb “gravely” implies the seriousness and importance
of the spirit coming. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come is also referred to as a “phantom” by
Dickens. This term has connotations of darkness and “death”. The Victorian reader would
understand its links with the Grim Reaper.

Theme: Supernatural

Stave 4
“Still the Ghost pointed with an unmoved figure to the head”

Technique: Verb

Explanation: The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come silently demands that Scrooge pays attention to
whatever he wants Scrooge to look at and does not move until he obeys. The spirit’s silence is
unrelenting. This creates a feeling of unease.

Theme: Demanding

Stave 4
“I fear you more than any spectre I have seen” (Scrooge about the Ghost)

Technique: Dialogue

Explanation: Scrooge is petrified by the presence of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come and fears
what he will show him. This emphasises the dark nature of the Phantom.

Theme: Fear, scared

Stave 4
“It was shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form”

Technique: Alliteration

Explanation: The fact its face is “concealed” suggests that we can’t truly see the future and that
Scrooge’s future must be a dark one.
Theme: Appearance

Stave 4
“It shrunk, collapsed, and dwindled down into a bedpost”

Technique: Rule of three

Explanation: This part shows Scrooge that his vision he saw were indeed just visions, not reality,
and so he now has the chance to change his horrible fate. In a strange way, this Ghost could
represent hope to Scrooge because if he follows the guidance from the Ghosts, he can live a better
life.

Theme: Redemption

“A solemn Phantom, draped and hooded, coming, like a mist along the ground, towards him”- The
adjective “solemn” suggests that this Ghost has some serious truths to reveal to Scrooge. It will
show him the outcome of his life if he doesn't change. However, the fact that the Ghost seems to
be floating “like a mist” could suggest that the future it reveals is not yet punished.

“I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future!”- After realising the mistakes he has made in
life, Scrooge vows to change and become a better person, creating an imagery of redemption.