Scrooge

is in his The tone of the novella shifts with the arrival

The chain-wearing ghost of Jacob The Ghost of Christmas A Christmas Carol – Knowledge Organiser of the deathly Ghost of Christmas Yet to
Scrooge wakes on Christmas
counting-house on Marley visits to warn Scrooge that morning and is enlightened
Past takes him to his old We see Scrooge’s fiancée,
Christmas Eve he will be visited by three spirits. schoolhouse. Belle, leaving him
3 They visit nephew Fred’s house 4 Come, who shows Scrooge a dark future 5 and transformed.
where he has died a lonely man.
Scrooge is rude to Fred, refuses the charity They visit young Scrooge Scrooge cannot bear
1 collectors and reluctantly allows his clerk to 2 at a Christmas party anymore and trues to
The Ghost of Christmas Present takes
him to Bob Cratchit’s home to show
Scrooge spots two
impoverished children
Scrooge sees his name on a grave Scrooge is forgiven: he goes for dinner at
Fred’s house. He is the saviour of himself
take Christmas Day off. thrown by Mr Fezziwig. extinguishes the ghost’s light how the poor can still be happy. and begs for salvation. The ghost
under the ghost’s cloak. relents and saves him. and also of Tiny Tim (who now lives).

How does this quote convey Key Themes

Stave Key Quote Transformation
ideas about…
The novella contains many examples of transformation: the transformation of young Scrooge into an embittered old man; his transformation to a
One: Marley was dead, to begin with Intrigue and the unexpected
benevolent man; transformation of Marley from selfish human to eternally-suffering ghost; the transformation of the future – to save Scrooge and
Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, A biased narrator
Marley’s Tiny Tim. Dickens’ basic message may have been that it is never too late to change; people can take control of their own destiny.
covetous, old sinner!
Ghost visits Hard and sharp as flint (Flint = hard rock used to make tools) Scrooge Compassion, Forgiveness and Reclamation
Scrooge solitary as an oyster Isolation Dickens uses different characters to demonstrate compassion and forgiveness (Fred and Bob who feel pity for him, and then forgive him) and how
External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. No Scrooge these people lead happy lives. In contrast, he shows the selfish nature of mankind in the dark and sinister Stave Four. Scrooge’s reform is a result of
wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent on its purpose…” his newfound capacity for compassion and kindness.
“I don’t make myself merry at Christmas, and I can’t afford to make idle people merry.” Attitudes to the poor Poverty and Greed
“every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding and buried Attitudes to, and symbols of, Dickens wanted to highlight the plight of the poor in Victorian England, and how they were exploited by the capitalist wealthy. He uses Scrooge as a
with a stake of holly through his heart” Christmas
vehicle to show that financial wealth does not mean contentment. Scrooge is impoverished in other ways (family, friends, happiness). Dickens
“It’s enough for a man to mind his own business, and not to interfere with other people’s.” Greed and benevolence created a wealthy man who doesn’t allow himself to enjoy any benefits of wealth versus the Cratchits: a family who are happy despite their poverty.
“Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?” Cold logic Isolation versus Family
“I wear the chain I forged in life” Jacob Marley Consequences and fate We quickly learn that Scrooge (‘solitary as an oyster’) and Marley are isolated, and unhappy, characters. The warmth and emotional richness of
“There is no light part of my penance” Jacob Marley Punishment families (Bob Cratchitt’s, Fred’s, his ex-fiancée’s) serve as a contrast to Scrooge’s self-determined isolation. Scrooge’s unhappy childhood may have
Two: From the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light Symbols contributed to his future behaviour (deterministic). The message may be that family is the cornerstone of a happy society.
“Your reclamation, then. Take heed!” Ghost of Christmas Past Transformation Logic and the passage of time
Ghost of
“Your lip is trembling,” said the Ghost. “And what is that upon your cheek?” Transformation and emotions
Christmas Scrooge’s cold sense of logic is continually disrupted, helping to dismantle his cold and rational view of society. He initially dismisses the supernatural
A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still Childhood and determinism
Past “He has the power to render us happy or unhappy […] The happiness he gives is quite as much as if it cost a Generosity and leadership
appearances, before then submitting to them. The ghosts are late to visit him, and then distort time as they seem to visit him all in one night – not
fortune.” over three nights as promised. This discarding of logic reflects Dickens’ criticism of the heartless economical logic of the New Poor Law.
“I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the master passion, Gain, engrosses you.” Belle Obsession and avarice The Malthusian Catastrophe
“Remove me!” Scrooge exclaimed. “I cannot bear it!” Truth and reflection Robert Malthus was a controversial economist who warned that the industrial revolution would lead to population growth; this population growth
Three: Scrooge entered timidly, and hung his head before this Spirit Transformation could then lead only to starvation and disease as there would not be enough resource for everyone. This concept was named the ‘Malthusian
They had smelled the goose and known it for their own; and basking in luxurious thoughts of sage and onion, these Poverty and family Catastrophe’. Malthus therefore opposed the poor laws as they aimed to get people into factories to increase productivity. Dickens highlights the
Ghost of
young Cratchits danced about the table. Malthusian Catastrophe when Scrooge refers to the workhouses as a logical solution for the poor.
Christmas “To hear the insect on the leaf pronouncing on the too much life amongst his hungry brothers in the dust!” Ghost Attitudes to the poor
Present With an interest he had never felt before…”No,no…Oh no, kind Spirit! Say he will be spared’ Transformation and empathy Character Summaries Remember – each character is constructed by the writer for a purpose
“If he die, he better do it, and decrease the surplus population” Ghost of Christmas Present reminds Scrooge of Attitudes to the poor (and the
something he said in Stave One Malthusian Catastrophe) The character of Scrooge represents avarice (greed), cold logic and the negative effects of isolation.
“I am sorry for him […] Who suffers by his ill whims? Himself, always.” Fred Forgiveness and isolation The protagonist initially dismisses the goodwill and generosity associated with Christmas. After being forced to transform, he becomes a symbol of
Uncle Scrooge had imperceptibly become so gay and light of heart Family and isolation
Christmas spirit in Stave Five. He is a dynamic character (a character who changes). A man who seems to embody everything about relentlessly
“This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both […] They are Man’s” Ghost of Christmas Present Mankind’s responsibility
striving capitalist spirit of the time.
Four: plundered and bereft, unwatched, unwept, uncared for, was the body of this man Isolation
“Avarice, hard dealing, griping cares? They have brought him to a rich end, truly!” Wealth versus poverty
Ghost of The Cratchit family symbolise poverty, the power of family and cheerfulness in adversity.
“Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they the shadows of the things that May be only?” Transformation
Christmas Bob is Scrooge’s downtrodden but loyal employee. His family are a symbol of Victorian poverty, cheerfulness in adversity, togetherness and
The kind hand trembled. Forgiveness
Yet to Come Christmas Spirit. Bob shows pity for Scrooge, and provides a contrast to Scrooge’s isolation and meanness. Tiny Tim is an emblem for noble poverty;
he accepts his disability without complaint.
Five: “No fog, no mist; clear, bright, jovial…heavenly sky, sweet, fresh air” Transformation and semantic fields
“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” Transformation and childhood
Scrooge is The character of Fred represents compassion, forgiveness and the power of family. He serves as a contrast to Scrooge.
“I don’t know how long I have been among the Spirits. I don’t know anything. I’m quite a baby.” Logic
transformed Scrooge regarded everyone with a delighted smile. Transformation
Fred epitomises the concept of goodwill and forgiveness, refusing to be discouraged by his uncle’s misery. People (such as the Cratchits) speak highly
His own heart laughed: and that was quite enough for him Wealth of Fred and his generosity, in contrast to how they speak of Scrooge. Fred shows that Scrooge has chosen isolation and shows forgiveness to Scrooge,
welcoming him in Stave Five.

Key Vocabulary Context The Ghosts are supernatural mechanisms, directing Scrooge on a journey of reflection and reclamation.
Dickens’ message on poverty
Novella Dickens experienced poverty as a child when his father was sent to a debtors’ prison and young Charles had to work in a The Ghost of Christmas Past is a symbol of childhood, truth and enlightenment.
Parable factory. The harsh conditions made a lasting impression: he sought to draw attention to the plight of the poor by setting The spirit forces Scrooge to reflect on painful memories of childhood and his youth in order to properly understanding his self. The bright light which
Supernatural the novella against a grim background of Victorian poverty. emanates from his head represents truth. The cap which Scrooge uses to try to extinguish the light is a symbol ignoble human desires and ignorance.
Avaricious The Ghost of Christmas Present represents goodwill, plenty and the festival of Christmas.
London and inequality
Isolated The frequent and abrupt jumping between scenes of middle class comfort (Fred) and grinding poverty (The Cratchits,
He is the symbol of abundance. He holds a cornucopia (a horn of plenty). While he wears a scabbard, it is does not contain a sword and is neglected
in care: symbolising peace. He represents Christmas, saying that he has “More than 1,800” brothers (each Christmas since Christ). When Scrooge
Logical Beetling shop) emphasises the close proximity and contrast of the different classes, and highlights the Christian concept
declares that this is a ‘tremendous family to provide for,” the ghost is angry because Scrooge’s only concern is the cost of this festival of goodwill.
Misanthropic of ‘love thy neighbour’. The urban setting allows Dickens to exercise his fondness for hyperbole, with the exaggerated
extremes of poverty adding to the effect of the ‘plight of the poor’. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come symbolises a catastrophic future for mankind.
Dynamic character
The spirit echoes the figure of the ‘grim reaper’ in his description, or Death. His silent characterisation and ominous atmosphere create the idea of an
Transformation The New Poor Law, 1834 unknowable and threatening future. He makes the final decision to show mercy towards Scrooge (“The kind hand trembled” when pointing to grave)
Enlightenment In order to deter poor people from claiming financial help, the government made claimants live in workhouses: and complete his ‘reclamation’.
Compassion essentially, prisons for the poor. Dickens hated this law. He spent 1843 touring factories and mines in England and wished
to highlight the situation facing poor people. A Christmas Carol was published soon after – in December 1843. Form and Structure
Forgiveness
• The novella is narrated by a didactic third-person narrator, who manipulates our impression of Scrooge with scathing descriptions of him.
Didactic The ingredients for a hit novella • We sometimes hear Dickens’ voice when he adds a touch of comedy: this authorial intrusion is designed to win over the reader, making them
Deterministic Dickens previous novel had not sold well and so he needed a hit. He deliberately combined elements that he knew would more agreeable to Dickens’ message.
appeal to Victorian readers: a parable; the supernatural in the form of a ghost story; a happy conclusion; and Christmas. • It is a parable: a moral story with a strong message; it is a simple didactic tale.
Adversity
• It’s arranged in five staves (not chapters) as a metaphor for an actual Christmas carol. It contains musical imagery throughout (eg. church bells)
Abundance Dickens’ construction of secular Christmas values • Many of the characters are allegorical figures: characters who stand for ideas (Eg. Fred stands for tolerance and forgiveness)
Malthusian Until the mid-1800s, Christmas was solely a religious festival. Dickens helped to popularise many of the cultural elements • Gothic imagery creates feelings of suspense, fear and tension
Catastrophe that we now associate with Christmas. This imagery (food, decorations, music) is used throughout the novella. This has • Circular structure: Scrooge’s change is emphasised. In Stave 5 he makes amends with all those he rejected in Stave 1: charity collectors, caroller
contributed to a more secular (non-religious) Christmas, based on the values of goodwill, benevolence and forgiveness. in first stave to boy in Sunday clothes, Bob Cratchit (haggling over coal to giving him a raise)