a christmas carol gcse essay example

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A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol Essay.

Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is a morality tale of a selfish and bitter Ebenezer Scrooge and his visits from 3 spirits representing his past, present and future, bringing him into a complete change of character and reconciliation for his wrongs. It is based in a gloomy social divided 19 th  century London. The story is split between 5 staves (chapters). For my essay I will explore the language techniques such as repetition, exaggeration, similes, pathetic fallacy etc that Dickens has used to establish and illustrate his points and views through the story A Christmas Carol.

One technique Dickens successfully merged into the story structure is pathetic fallacy. In the first stave negative points of the weather is used to describe scrooges character, such as “The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect”, Dickens did this to give the reader an insight into scrooge, so they see how much of a cold person he is and how upon meeting him themselves his presence would be like harsh weather. The use of pathetic fallacy could also be linked to scrooge himself, rain, snow, hail and sleet are all weather conditions that are cold themselves and bring a chill through those who experience them, that could also be said for Scrooge. Scrooge himself is a cold person, so he brings about a cold atmosphere around him and spreads his coldness to others through the way he treats them.

In the last stave Dickens use of pathetic fallacy is switched completely from negative to positive. He does this through a dramatic change of how the weather is described, phrases such as “No fog, no mist”. By saying there is no fog or mist in the sky, it is meaning that the harshness of the weather has gone and there is nice weather that remains now, which represents all the unpleasantness and nasty points of scrooges character have vanished, and to show the reader that his character has transformed, and that he is a changed, good person. Dickens wanted to show two completely different types of pathetic fallacy to create a contrast between scrooge in the first and last stave that the reader can obviously see.

Dickens use of adjectives in the first stave describes scrooge’s character very negatively. Phrases such as “his eyes red, his thin lips blue” are used to describe scrooge’s appearance. This brings the reader to think of scrooge as an ugly man. Under typical thinking the reader may link his appearance to his personality and think of him as an all-round nasty and vulgar man. Dickens did this to strengthen the opinion of scrooge for the reader and sets them up for a big contrast between the first and last staves.

Dickens use of adjectives changes dramatically in the last stave. Phrases such as “He looked so irresistibly pleasant” are used to describe scrooge. Scrooges appearance has seemed to also transform somewhat to the first stave, as if along with his personality, now all the evil and nastiness has been taken out his appearance has adjusted to that as well. The reader now sees scrooge in a completely different light, now that his personality and his appearance has changed he is now seen as a completely transformed person.

Dickens use of adverbs/verbs in the first stave describes scrooge’s character very negatively. Words such as “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping” are used to describe scrooge, the words link to how tight he is with his money, and how money hungry he is. The verbs themselves sound quite threatening, and so the reader would feel threatened towards such a person as he. Dickens wanted to create a negative view of scrooge for the reader and so by using verbs that describe his actions in a dramatically negative way and make him sound like a money-mongering all around bad person.

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In the last stave Dickens describes and makes scrooges actions sound much brighter and positive in comparison to his actions in the first stave with the use of nicer verbs/adverbs. Verbs such as “fluttered and so glowing” were used to describe scrooge’s actions. The words themselves fluttered and glowing are positive and sound nice, Dickens used words like this to add to scrooges newly found self, and for the reader to see along with a better appearance and transformed personality; his actions are also positive and nice. The term glowing could also be linked with the warmness and the renewing of his character; instead of bringing a dark atmosphere around with him, a certain glow is around him bringing to light to others of his change within himself.

Dickens wanted to put across this idea of rich people being selfish, un-compassionate people. As in Victorian society a blatant social divide of the rich and poor was evident. A sense that people in high society had was that they were more important than those poorer than themselves, and so they’re greed kept their money and anything they had to share was kept to themselves. Dickens’ also shows the appreciation and happiness of the little poor people had and how infact they were richer in life than the rich people were in their wealth.  He uses this with the example to Bob Cratchit’s family with such remarks as “Bob had hugged his daughter to his heart's content.” This shows an emotion not seen in the cold-hearted representation of rich people in A Christmas Carol.

Similes are another language technique that dickens has developed and used to create a dramatic sense of scrooges character. A simile used to describe scrooge for example is “Hard and sharp as flint” this gives the impression that scrooge himself is a person with a hard exterior, almost impenetrable for emotion to break through. He is sharp within the sense of his wit, he talks down to those he opposes and with his sharp wit attacks them verbally, such as where he talks to his nephew and says “What reason have you to be merry?  You're poor enough” this shows the sharpness in his tongue, and the nastiness in his personality. This sort of use of simile gives the reader something to compare scrooge to, and so see deeper into his personality. Here is another simile from the first stave “solitary as an oyster”   an oyster lives on it’s own at the bottom of the ocean isolated, this idea of loneliness could be linked to scrooge. Oysters are also cocooned within a shell; this connects with the thought of scrooge hiding behind a self indulgent front and not letting anyone in emotionally.

Dickens changes his use of simile in the last stave to suit scrooges newly found nice character; this shows a variance between the two opposites in scrooge’s personality in the two staves. For example, here is a simile that describes scrooge in the last stave “I am as happy as an angel” that simile sounds very positive in contrast to ones in the first stave. To say he’s as happy as an angel links into how before he wasn’t happy and his own atmosphere was depressing, but now he is happy and not just happy but as happy as an angelic creature. This shows the reader that scrooge is rejoicing in sight of his own change in character, and how they should feel happy to in response to that.

Repetition is another key technique used to dramatically describe scrooge’s character. A word repeated many times in the first few paragraphs is “dead” with this an instant negative mood is brought upon the reader. With it repeated so many times it keeps the text itself to a low mood, and with the other language techniques combined it makes the reader grasp the pessimistic atmosphere. The word “dead” itself could link to scrooge, as scrooge himself could be seen as dead on the inside, due to his complete lack of emotion shown to anything.

Repetition is used in the same way in the last stave but in a different meaning, not to severely show the bad atmosphere but to highlight and create a positive atmosphere towards the overall affect on the reader. Here is a word repeated often in the last stave “chuckle”. This is a cheerful and enthusiastic word that fits in with scrooge’s new change of character. It makes the reader feel that scrooge is now a humorous person, which he never was before and therefore he has obviously changed.

Scrooges views on Christmas vary between the first and last stave, In the first stave he appears to despise Christmas, and those who think of it as merry, for example he says this to his nephew Bob Cratchit in response to him asking to come round for Christmas dinner “every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart” this shows his reluctance against Christmas and makes the reader think that if such a person hates Christmas, a merry and happy time of the year they themselves must be a nasty person. On the other hand they may want to delve deeper into scrooges character, and maybe think why does this man hate Christmas so much? And so wait to find out until they reach an opinion. Dickens idea was to present people of high society as uncompassionate people, and because Christmas is a time to show love and compassion towards others Dickens uses that against scrooges character and makes him hate Christmas, and so that represents the people of high society in that stereotype as cold uncompassionate people, as wanted by Dickens.

In the last stave scrooges view on Christmas appears to have completely changed and reformed into a love of it. For example when he wakes up after all the spirits have visited him he says “A merry Christmas to everybody!” which of course he would have never said before seriously and meant it. This shows the reader that scrooge’s new character has awakened and therefore loves Christmas, and wishes a merry Christmas to all. Dickens created Scrooges love of Christmas to show a comparison between scrooge’s opinions on Christmas, so the reader can see that along with scrooge’s turn of character he is truly a changed man who now loves Christmas.

Dickens uses exaggeration to create a dramatic emphasis of an atmosphere or scrooge’s character, the meaning for it varies between the first and last stave. For the first stave it is used to emphasize the gloomy mood, for example  there is a long list of verbs that describe scrooge and his actions, here is a section of that list “grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous” this directly hits the reader with a settled opinion on scrooge, and makes them think of him as an awfully negative person. He may not be all these things, but in the readers eyes he is exaggerated to be a somewhat inhumanly, horrible and tightfisted man. For that is what dickens’ believed people like  scrooge and within his high class in society to be in the 19 th  century, and so to give the reader a bias view he used exaggeration to exaggerate scrooges actions in a way the reader would be manipulated into believing that that is what rich people were like.

Exaggeration is used in an intensely positively way in the last stave in contrast to the first stave. The phrase “as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other good old city, town, or borough, in the good old world” is an exaggerated phrase, because of course he isn’t the nicest man in the world, but to the reader he appears to be through pushing this idea to them through exaggeration. Dickens wanted the reader to believe that scrooge had become a new person in complete reconciliation for his past-self, and did so by using exaggeration as a language technique to give an obvious contrast between scrooges transformation.

The change of tone and attitude of scrooges character changes dramatically between the first and last stave, this is shown by the way he acts towards others, and how they perceive his as a person. In the first stave for example it says “No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle” this means that no beggars would bother asking him for anything, as they already know what his response would be, a blatant no. This also links to Dickens’ views on people in high society, he regarded them as selfish and tight people, because during the massive social divide in his lifetime people in rich situations in his opinion were selfish and tight and so to spread his views across he used scrooges character and by showing a beggars negative reaction to scrooge. That shows the divide between the two people, high and low class and a disrespect and tightness from high to low. This makes the reader think that scrooge is a selfish, mean man. Dickens uses scrooges attitude towards others so let the readers form an opinion of how they would react to scrooges character themselves.

Scrooges tone and attitude in the last stave reflects his change of character deeply. Because he is of course a changed man his attitude towards others changed also with that. For example as he is asking a young boy to buy him a turkey he says “Come back with him in less than five minutes and I'll give you half-a-crown." This shows his newly found generosity, as before he would have never given anything willingly to anyone. This helps towards the reader adjusting their opinion of scrooge, and believes that if he is kind to others he must be a kind and changed person himself.

The Young Vic performance showed a modern twist of A Christmas carol . Scrooge was played by a woman in a South African setting, I believe having a woman play scrooge is to show that now that there is a near equality between men and women; women can become in a position like scrooge, have money to themselves and be selfish with it. The story explores Aid’s, prostitution, poverty etc, this highlighted the contrast between old and modern society by exploring these issues from today’s world, this is important because it demonstrates the moral of A Christmas carol  in relevance to today.

In conclusion I believe the moral behind Christmas carol is that in a social divided community it is important to treat everyone the same. This is shown through scrooge’s character, and how he treats people somewhat below him in the social hierarchy as a man quite high in society and how he treats them after he has been visited by the spirits. I think that the moral is still of relevance to today’s world, although there is a large time difference between now and then there still are social divides throughout society, weather it be financially or through the new celebrity status’s there are or anything else, so it is still important to withhold the belief that everyone has the right to be treated the same, rich or poor, famous or not famous. Equality is something that should be of relevance though any time, weather it is a problem or something newly found, it is an issue and still will be until there is complete equality for all.  

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• Subject English

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A Christmas Carol GCSE Literature example essay - spirits

Subject: English

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A GCSE Literature example essay for the following question: How does Dickens use the spirits in A Christmas Carol?

Full essay - thesis and three main body paragraphs covering Marley, the Ghost of Christmas Past and the Ghost of Christmas Present.

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Miss Huttlestone's GCSE English

Because a whole class of wonderful minds are better than just one!

Category: A Christmas Carol

A model top band essay on ‘acc’ and family.

Throughout Dickens’ allegorical novella, the importance of family is carefully highlighted in each stave as Scrooge starts to realise that profit and gain is not the true way of maintaining happiness.

Primarily in Stave 1, Scrooge’s last-living family member, Fred, invites him round for Christmas dinner, (every year, after continuously getting declined) expressing just how ‘merry’ and morally-inclined Fred is over his Uncle, who is supposedly the influence upon Fred, making it ironic that the younger, less-economically inclined protagonist exhibits a higher moral compass than his own Uncle, this suggests past events that have molded Scrooge into the parsimonious old man he is now. Dickens uses Fred as a mouthpiece to the contemporary audience (as he embodies the Christmas Spirit and the upper-middle class) to communicate money doesn’t buy morals and family and love, so be grateful for what and who you have around you, and help those who need it the most. Scrooge’s lack of love and simple acts of kindness is shown through the way he treats and speaks to his own family, asking them, “what right have you to be merry? You’re poor enough” The dehumanizing interrogative belittles Fred, stripping him of his human “right” to be “merry” which portrays just how stagnant and immoral he is at the beginning of the novella, clearly family means nothing to Scrooge. Here the modern audience finds it comical, how ignorant and narcissistic Scrooge is towards his own family member.

Primarily, within the selected extract, Dickens starts off by using an excessive amount of derogatory language and an abundance of negations to communicate the true, ‘dirty’ ramifications that the lower working class were forced to live in. This is the moment where Scrooge is “appalled” and “starts aback” at the unhealthy living conditions his employee, Bob, lives under and starts to notice just how horrific the living conditions really were, all because he refused to pay Bob anything ‘more nor less than the minimum wage’. This is also where the audience is told that Peter, Bob’s eldest son, also works in order to gain some more income for the family’s welfare. Peter’s loss of youth clearly reminds Scrooge of his lonely childhood as we (as readers) can see a glimmer of hope within Scrooge’s future transformation. Here, Scrooge can see that no matter how poor this family is, nothing will ever change the love they possess for one another as they are described as “happy, grateful, pleased with one another, and contented with the time…” This communicates and foreshadows Scrooge’s possible want for change in the lower working class’ treatment and wages etc, as in Victorian England, anyone born into the lower working class was instantly assumed to be lazy as according to the upper and middle class, it was their fault for being in that situation and it was “punishment” for not working hard enough – although they probably worked just as much as the other working classes, if not more. Dickens went into such detail with The Cratchits living conditions as he wanted to raise awareness to the contemporary audience that societal norms needed to change in order to progress as a country.

Moreover, the importance of family is also shown through Belle’s happiness with her new family and husband. This is where we see slight guilt in Scrooge’s past actions as he “yells, ‘get me out of this place’”. The use of verb “yells” explains how there could be a glimmer of jealousy within Belle’s find for a new love for others and the loss of love she once maintained with Scrooge. In the Victorian Era, it was almost a necessity and classed as a life’s purpose to have a family to carry on future working development and to pass on the family name and so Scrooge has failed at learning to love and care about other people since he “replaced” everyone with a “golden” material. Dickens clearly wanted to make the society of the Victorian Era understand the sheer importance of having a family and not remaining lonely like Scrooge as happiness is spawned within family and laughter. The reader would realise just how much their family should mean to them as the average age of the Victorian Era was 29 years old which- to this day- is very young and they should appreciate who they have around them.

Finally, within the selected extract, The Cratchits are presented as economically disinclined but “happy, grateful, pleased…” and that is all they need to survive. Scrooge decides to have “his eye upon… Tiny Tim until the last” and this could be he doesn’t want to accept the fact that he declined Bob with a higher wage to help his ‘youngest son’ (Tiny Tim) gain the medication he needs in order to cure his illness. The use of lexical choice ‘upon’ shows how Scrooge is aware that this family needs and wants help economically but refuses to realise that its HIS fault for keeping him paid on the lowest wage. This could mirror a possible future where Tiny Tim was the ‘last’ one born, but the first to die, as in the Victorian Era, contraception didn’t exist and so families (usually of the lower class) had up to 7 kids, also because 1/6 of the born children would die before the age of 1 and 1/5 would die before the age of 5 due to the lack of health care and unsanitary living conditions. Scrooge clearly realised that he would have to live with the fact that he was the reason why Tiny Tim dies (when The Ghost of Yet to Come) takes him to the scene of his death. Here the reader can see that The Cratchits truly love and appreciate each other, and they possess something Scrooge becomes envious of- which is love and Dickens did this in the hope of more appreciation and acceptance of everyone, no matter what social class etc and that if things didn’t change in their societal norms, then regression would certainly take place.

Ultimately, through the ideals of family, Dickens seeks to illuminate its great value, encouraging greater benevolence and sense of community for readers of all contexts.

Model Grade 9 ‘ACC’ essay: Christmas as a Joyful Time

Starting with this extract, explore how far Dickens presents Christmas as a joyful time. (30 marks)

Throughout Dickens’ allegorical novella, his aim is to passionately highlight how such a joyful season can create positive role models for Scrooge. The constant succession of images relating to joy around Christmas may well have been utilised to demonstrate how readers too can learn and improve from the inspirational characters during the novella.

Primarily, within stave 1 of the novella, Dickens utilises the characterisation of Fred as the embodiment of the Christmas spirit with all the positive virtues associated with Christmas. This is evidenced when Fred is described as coming in ‘all in a glow’ with ‘his face ruddy and handsome; his eyes sparkled.’ Here the use of the noun ‘glow’ connotes light and warmth which is strongly linked to hope and purity. This highlights the contrast between Fred and his uncle Scrooge, who was described as ‘hard and sharp as flint.’ Structurally, introducing Fred immediately after Scrooge focuses the reader’s attention on the clear variation between the two and all of the positive qualities that Scrooge lacks. Furthermore, Fred highlights the belief that Christmas is a time for unity within the social hierarchy although it ‘never puts a scrap of gold or silver’ in his pocket and he frowns upon his uncle, completely consumed in the greed for money. Dickens may have done this to foreshadow Scrooge’s transformation into a better man as a result of the inspirational role models around him during the novella. Alternatively, Dickens may have used Fred and Scrooge together to challenge the situation in Victorian Britain during the Industrial Revolution. Scrooge highlights all of the negative traits of upper class men during this time and Fred is a caring and benevolent character, who cares for people lower down on the social hierarchy.

Secondly, within the extract, Dickens utilises the characterisation of Fezziwig to suggest a clear contrast in the two employers. This is evidenced when Fezziwig ‘laughed all over himself, from his shoes to his organ of benevolence.’ The use of the abstract noun ‘benevolence’ suggests the joy and love Fezziwig has for Christmas time. Fezziwig’s kind, caring personality is another role model and catalyst for Scrooge’s transformation. Furthermore, Dickens presents Christmas as a joyful time through Fezziwig’s Christmas party. ‘Fuel was heaped upon the fire’ and the warehouse was transformed into a ‘snug, and warm’ ballroom filled with light. The use of the adjective ‘warm’ connotes kindness and comfort. The detail here in Fezziwig’s scene overwhelms the senses; his generosity is physical, emotional and palpable. As an employer he is the foil of Scrooge and presents all of the positive virtues that Scrooge lacks. Dickens may have done this to highlight a different side to capitalism. Alternatively, presenting Fezziwig as the embodiment of Christmas suggests the importance of Christmas and all of its positive qualities on everyone in society.

Thirdly, within the novella, Dickens utilises the Ghost of Christmas Present to personify Christmas itself. When the ghost appears it has set up an impressive feast of lights and food. This is evidenced when Scrooge’s room is filled with ‘the crisp leaves of holly, mistletoe and ivy reflected back the light, as if so many little mirrors had been scattered there, and such a mighty blaze went roaring up the chimney.’ The scene is hyperbolic and creates a clear contrast with the frugal state of Scrooge’s past Christmases. The use of the light imagery here provides a clear and undeniable tableau of the joyful Christmases Scrooge can afford but chooses to shun. Dickens may have done this to portray Christmas as a bright and familiar celebration which everyone should celebrate in harmony. A modern reader may feel hope that Scrooge will use his wealth to celebrate Christmas with all of the festivities that Christmas should include and celebrate it with the people that care for him, like his nephew Fred.

Finally, in ‘A Christmas Carol’ Dickens reinforces the theme of Christmas spirit through the Cratchit family. Dickens utilises Bob Cratchit to symbolise the true spirit of Christmas and the importance of family. This is evidenced at the Cratchit’s dinner where nobody remarked that it was ‘a small pudding for a large family’. The adjective ‘small’ emphasises the Cratchit’s lack of luxury and yet their enthusiasm in the scene is palpable. This highlights that this ‘small’ pudding was seen as an indulgence to them which is something Scrooge takes for granted. Furthermore, the Cratchit’s ‘four roomed house’ is filled with an overwhelming sense of energy and excitement, which exists as an antithesis of Scrooge’s ‘old…dreary’ abode. This is evidenced as the youngest Cratchit children ‘danced about the table’ this suggests the sense of energy despite their lowly status in society on this festive day. Dickens may have done this to suggest the importance of Christmas to all members of society. Although the Cratchit family are less fortunate than Scrooge or Fred their Christmas is filled with the love they have for each other. A reader may feel delighted to see this family enjoying Christmas day, contented with what they own and hope that Scrooge will see this family as a role model for his transformation.

‘Big Ideas’ in your Literature texts

Having pre-planned ‘big ideas’ that can function as top band essay introductions is a productive use of your time ahead of the Literature exams over the next two weeks. I sat down and had a go for ‘A Christmas Carol’ and ‘An Inspector Calls’. One of my year 11 students also came up with three superbly perceptive ‘big ideas’ for ‘Macbeth’, also displayed below. No matter the focus, knowing your concept, your way in before you enter the exam hall is excellent preparation and a HUGE time saver.

Many of Shakespeare’s critics, Bloom among them, have argued that Macbeth and Lady Macbeth may be Shakespeare’s most authentic couple out of all of his plays, this is due to the deep devotion and passion they demonstrate to each other. However, if we observe their marriage at a microscopic level throughout the play, we can see how it fluctuates and slowly decays at the hands of their unchecked ambition and hubris.

In Shakespeare’s eponymous play, ‘Macbeth’, our tragic hero and his wife are both riddled with unchecked ambition and often take radical measures to accomplish their ultimate goal: kingship. While this ruthless thirst for power is seemingly prosperous at first, it hastily crumbles to nothing as guilt plagues their minds full of “scorpions”. Macbeth transforms from a “brave” and noble warrior to a guilt-ridden and despised “butcher”, while Lady Macbeth’s stoic and transgressive persona deteriorates into a pitiful and anxious version of her former self.

‘A Christmas Carol’ Grade 9 Response on Fred’s Characterisation

Hi all – another AMAZING essay penned by my year 11 student Ashley. Use as a model for how to structure a top band response:

Within his festive, allegorical novella, Dickens crafts Scrooge’s only nephew Fred to function as a model for embracing Christmas. Most importantly, he demonstrates the virtues associated with this time of year, namely goodwill, benevolence, family and community.

Primarily, the first time the reader meets Fred he is depicted as an embodiment of the Christmas spirit. Fred is ‘all in a glow’ when he comes to meet his uncle. The lexical choice ‘glow’ connotes light which is often linked with purity and hope, emphasising that Fred acts as a role model for Scrooge to learn from. Fred spreads his Christmas cheer and is happy despite not being wealthy. Additionally, Fred is said to have walked through the ‘fog and frost’; the fog could symbolise the lingering presence of the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s and all the negativity it brought such as apathy and ignorance. The ‘fog’ blinkered many capitalists from the fact that the people of London were suffering greatly due to the functions of power failing to protect them and for choosing capitalism over socialism. Fred being ‘all in a glow’, stands out from this metaphorical atmosphere of capitalism and material gain; whilst doing so, he clears a path for goodness and cheerfulness to seep into Scrooge’s melancholy life. He therefore paints himself as selfless and caring – qualities that were quite rare in the 1800s.

Secondly, Dickens cleverly utilises structure to illustrate the weak relationship between Fred and Scrooge. Throughout the extract the terms ‘nephew’ and ‘uncle’ are repeated several times. Dickens intention for this technique may have been to remind the reader that Scrooge and Fred are blood relatives; therefore they should have a familial connection. This is extremely ironic considering the way Scrooge communicates with his ‘nephew’ by calling him ‘poor enough’. This remark can be perceived as very rude, dismissive, ignorant and derogatory to a reader; one may even say their conversation resembles two strangers conversing. Dickens does this to highlight the distance between the two, one whose ‘eyes sparkled’ and one who is ‘hard and sharp as flint’. However, despite this obstacle, Fred continually tried to bridge the gap between them by inviting Scrooge to his annual Christmas dinner every year. From this we can infer that Fred is persistent in ensuring that his uncle stops marginalising himself and is included in familial engagements. This is because Fred understands the importance of community and how one can benefit spiritually from it, something Dickens strongly believed people needed to have.

In stave 3, the ghost of Christmas present takes Scrooge to a ‘bright, dry and gleaming room’, which we soon learn to be part of Fred’s home. The description of this setting is essential in understanding the character is Fred. The adjective ‘gleaming’ implies that Christmas spirit is almost leaking out of Fred’s house as it is so full of joy and benevolence. This proves that Fred’s house stands out, drastically, from the cold darkness that many people, like Scrooge, fall into on special occasions like Christmas. Here Dickens shows the vast division between those who are wealthy in the Christmas spirit and those who are wealthy but lack the spiritual benefits of Christmas through imagery. Therefore urging readers to understand that importance of family and relationships in order to avoid isolation.

In essence, Dickens utilises Fred to jolt Scrooge and his targeted capitalist readers out of this apathetic ways via his thoughtfulness, cheerfulness and ‘extraordinary kindness’.

The significance of the supernatural in A Christmas Carol

The supernatural isn’t merely utilised by Dickens because he was intrigued in the power he felt it wielded in reality or because society was fixated on witches like in Shakespeare’s era. Instead the supernatural is used as a catalyst for Scrooge’s change. It’s present as a plot device to move the action along and to encourage Scrooge’s redemption. In their own unique way each spirit has a lasting impact of our protagonist.

I’ve found a really great student response you might look at before tomorrow:

It takes you through the significance of each of the spirits and the lessons they encourage in Scrooge.

Watch and take note!

“If a question on Fred in ‘A Christmas Carol’ cropped up what would I talk about?!”

Despite the fear that potentially surrounds this character appearing in Literature Paper 1, there is a logical means of approaching this. Think of his key moments and what Scrooge and the reader learn from them:

Fred’s key moments:

1) Visits Scrooge in his office to wish him a merry Christmas – contrast in characterisation established (Fred as a foil to Scrooge: ‘There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited’) 

2) Fred holds a jolly family orientated Christmas party where he refuses to be derogatory about his uncle although he does laugh at his miserly ways (“He said that Christmas was a humbug, as I live!” cried Scrooge’s nephew. “He believed it too.”). Fred abandons himself to childish pleasures and games, displaying his absolute acceptance of the Christmas spirit. This intimate moment displays Fred’s deep and unwavering concern for family and the spiritual wealth it brings. 

3) Fred is authentically benevolent towards Bob, expressing his genuine sorrow for the death of Tiny Tim (as portrayed by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come). Bob recounts the ‘extraordinary kindness’ he displays. It appears Fred is unaffected by social prejudice and sees all humans as ‘fellow passengers’ throughout live. His is non-discriminating, a pure model of good will.  

4) Finally, he welcomes Scrooge into the family Christmas without question, never berating him for his past erro r s (“It’s I. Your uncle Scrooge. I have come to dinner. Will you let me in, Fred?” / Let him in! It is a mercy he didn’t shake his arm off.’). He stands for forward progression and celebrates Scrooge’s redemption. 

So why is he so important?

• Allegorically, Dickens utilises Fred as a model for embracing Christmas and its associated virtues e.g. goodwill, family, love, community
• Fred’s concern is revealed by his persistence and pity – his manner is what Dickens sought to inspire in others.
• Both Bob Cratchit and Fred are important characters in bringing about the transformation of Scrooge’s character.
• Fred is a foil to Scrooge in the opening of the novella, so helps to heighten Scrooge’s absolute misery nature and need for change.

More on Fred:

The Theme of Regret in ‘A Christmas Carol’

Hi all, a pupil asked me to go over what the key moments for the theme of regret might be if you were faced with such a focus in the exam next week. I sent the following advice which may be of use to you also:

1) Marley’s unsettling and potentially prophetic display of regret . The ‘chain’ he ‘forged in life’ is composed of the consequences of his fixation on the accumulation of capital at the expensive of spiritual wealth. Now in a state of purgatory he is doomed to walk the earth baring witness passively, unable to help, those most in need. Marley’s regret foregrounds Scrooge’s later acknowledgement of all the ills his own fixation has wrought him.

2) Scrooge himself has many regrets while he visits the past. His biggest regret is likely his relationship with Belle (he allowed ‘another idol’ to displace his love, a ‘golden one) as he drove way a young woman who would have been his lifelong companion and enriched his life with love: a far greater wealth than money.

3) We also see him lament brushing of the little caroler without giving him money (he later displays clear regret for this dismissive action when he redeems himself by speaking enthusiastically the the boy from his window: ‘An intelligent boy!” said Scrooge.  “A remarkable boy! The series of exclamatives and short complimentary sentences displaying his regret for not engaging in community.

4) His treatment of Cratchit, his loyal employee is regretted in stave two fairly early on upon baring witness to his foil Fezziwig (‘I should like to say a word or two…that’s all’). Scrooge seeks to remedy this regret in stave five when he gifts them a large turkey. Scrooge was better than his word.  ‘He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. Through the Cratchits he embraces family again, tackling the regret for marginalising family from young adulthood.

4) There’s the son of his beloved sister. He hasn’t been good to Fred over the years, but this is the one relationship from the past he can do something about. When he ventures to Fred’s Christmas morning he requests: ‘It’s I.  Your uncle Scrooge.  I have come to dinner.  Will you let me in, Fred?”. This is a huge marker of his indication. Wishing to be ‘let..in’ can be taken to symbolise his regret of existing far too long in his ‘solitary’ state. His regret is for not forging a family, for not honouring his sister’s memory through her son, a true extension of her.

5) The ghost of Christmas present reveals ignorance and want and scrooge exclaims: ‘Have they no refuge or resource.’ cried Scrooge – vocalising an interpretative in absolute juxtaposition to his previous dismissive and intolerant nature in stave one. The ghost reminds him how he should regret such ignorance of the poor’s plight by echoing his previous words:’Are there no prisons.’ said the Spirit, turning on him.

6) In stave 5 it is palpable that scrooge regrets his ill treatment of the charity workers in stave one. Upon meeting them a second time he seems to remedy his brusque nature by offering a hearty donation: ‘a great many back-payments are included in it, I assure you.’ His regret is that he failed to acknowledge the great power of charity as a remedy to want and to actively target the persistent cycle of poverty dickens abhorred.

Key Structural Features in ‘A Christmas Carol’ – boost your author’s methods!

The novella has a simple structure:, a christmas carol is divided into five chapters, and dickens called each chapter a ‘stave’. staves are the five lines on which musical notes are written, which may explain why there are five chapters. the word ‘stave’ is also another word for a verse of a song..

• The use of staves and the title, ‘A Christmas Carol’, suggest that this novella, like a carol, was meant to be listened to and enjoyed by groups of people. Reading aloud to friends and family was more common in Victorian times than it is today. Could it be that the novella, like a carol shared among singers, was meant to be shared in a community, passed on and recalled?
• The middle three chapters each relate to Scrooge’s past, present and future, and they contain various lessons for Scrooge to learn from the three ghosts. The appearance of each ghost is signaled by the ominous tolling of a bell.
• The final chapter reintroduces things from the first chapter, such as the charity collectors. This gives the story a circular structure that clearly shows how Scrooge has changed — Scrooge shows that he’s learnt from his experience, saying that he promise s to “live in the Past, the Present and the Future”.
• Scrooge’s transformation is foreshadowed by the change in Scrooge’s father. The fact that Scrooge was more kind-hearted in his youth also acts as a hint that he will be able to change back.
• In the first few pages of the novella, Dickens uses the phrase “Once upon a time”, which links the story to a fairy tale and suggests that it will have a happy ending.

The story has an unusual time scheme:

• The story doesn’t follow a chronological structure. It’s mainly set in Scrooge’s present, but it includes three separate episodes that have visions set in different time periods — Scrooge’s past, present and future.
• Each individual episode with the ghosts doesn’t follow a regular time scheme — each one contains several jumps in time.
• The linking sections between each ghostly visit are set in Scrooge’s present, but they also don’t follow the normal rules of time. Scrooge falls asleep after 2 am, but he’s visited by the first ghost at 1 am that same night. The tolling of the bell shows that hours are passing, but the three visits only take one night.

Supernatural visits drive the action:

• The reader is repeatedly made aware that the ghosts have a short amount of time convey their messages to Scrooge. This drives the plot forward with a sense of urgency and dramatic tension that builds with each ghostly visit.
• The Ghost of Christmas Past instructs Scrooge to “Rise! and walk with me!”, and its manner gets more urgent from then on. It tells Scrooge “Let us go on”, “Let us see another Christmas!” and, “My time grows short… Quick!”
• The Ghost of Christmas Present’s visit is a blur of activity. Scrooge and the spirit speed through several Christmas visions, but there’s a sense that there’s barely enough time for Scrooge to learn all that he needs to learn before the spirit leaves — the spirit warns Scrooge “My life upon this globe, is very brief”.
• The Ghost of Christrnas Yet to come is in such a hurry it appears in the chapter of the previous ghost. It rushes Scrooge towards what seems to be his final lesson — the vision of Scrooge’s own corpse. Scrooge slows down the pace by refusing to look at the corpse, which increases the tension as the reader worries that Scrooge may run out of time to fully learn his lesson. However, later on, the pace builds as the spirit relentlessly points Scrooge towards his final lesson in the graveyard.

The omniscient narrator influences the reader’s view of Scrooge:

• The narrator puts the reader at ease immediately with his casual tone and humorous ramblings about the phrase “dead as a doornail”. The narrator comes across as a talkative, witty storyteller — Dickens presents the narrator in this way so that the reader likes and trusts him.
• Once the narrator has the reader’s trust, he gives lots of negative opinions about Scrooge, e.g. describing him as a “covetous old sinner” with “ferret eyes”. By doing this, Dickens uses the narrator to encourage the reader to despise Scrooge at first.
• As the novella goes on and Scrooge begins to change, the narrator reveals the feelings and emotions Scrooge is experiencing, causing the reader to sympathise with Scrooge. This allows the narrator to drastically change. the reader’s opinion of Scrooge over the course of the text, making his eventual transformation even more powerful

Key Adjectives For Characters in ‘A Christmas Carol’

Use the following vocabulary when discussing any of the following characters:.

• Prejudiced • Ignorant • Cold-hearted • Miserly • Cruel • Isolated

By Stave 5: • Altruistic • Penitent • Redeemed • Charitable •Emblematic

Show the contrast through key quotes:

“If they would rather die, . . . they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population” “Squeezing” “Wrenching” “Gasping” “Clutching” “Odious” “Stingy” “Secret, self contained”  “Solitary as an oyster” By Stave 5: “I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel” “I will honour Christmas in my heart”  “I’ll raise your salary” “Overcome with penitence and grief” “Delighted smile” “Wonderful party”

The Cratchits:

• Vulnerable • Hardworking • Moral/ Christian • Cheerful • Grateful

Key quotes:

“Brave in ribbons” “I’ll give you Mr. Scrooge, the Founder of the Feast!“ “Bob was very cheerful” Food is “eked out” The children “work” and “help” out

• Benevolent • Family orientated • Altruistic • Charming

Key Quotes:

Christmas is “as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time” “Don’t be angry Uncle. Merry Christmas!” “If you should happen, by any unlikely chance, to know a man more blessed in a laugh than Scrooge’s nephew, all I can say is I should like to know him too.” “Scrooge’s offences carry their own punishment. Who suffers? Himself!”

Jacob Marley:

• Direct • Prophetic • Reformed • Emblematic • Terrifying

“I wear the chains I forged in life” “Mankind was my business” “I am here tonight to warn you” “Death cold eyes”

Ghost of Christmas Past:

• Young and old • Commanding • Light

“Bright clear jet of light” “relentless ghost”

“Would you (Scrooge) so soon put out..the light I give?”

“A small matter to make these folks so full of gratitude”

Ghost of Christmas Present:

• Jolly • Welcoming • Prophetic • Honest

“Jolly Giant, glorious to see” Has “sympathy with all poor men” “Sorrowful” for Ignorance and Want “Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die? It may be in the sight of heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child”

Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come:

• Silent • Dark • Ominous

“Scrooge feared the silent shape” “It seemed to scatter gloom and misery” “it’s kind hand trembled”  “It was shrouded in a deep black garment which concealed its head, its face, its form and left nothing visible except one outstretched hand” “Ghost of the Future. I fear you more than any spectre I have seen. But as I know your purpose is to do me good, I am prepared to bear you company with a thankful heart.”

Each Key Event in ‘A Christmas Carol’ listed and ordered

The narrator tells us marley is dead. scrooge is in his counting house – it’s christmas eve and he and his clerk bob cratchit are still working, fred, scrooge’s nephew arrives to wish him merry christmas and to invite him to spend christmas with him but scrooge refuses rudely. two charity men also visit and scrooge refuses to give them any money “are there no prisons, scrooge arrives home and sees the face of jacob marley in the door knocker., later that evening the ghost of jacob marley appears – he is wrapped in heavy chains and is doomed to wandering the earth. marley says scrooge will end up the same as him if he doesn’t change and that scrooge will be visited by three spirits who are the only chance scrooge has of saving himself. stave two:, the ghost of christmas past appears to scrooge. he is both young and old looking and has a beam of light coming out of his head., the ghost shows scrooge his childhood – spending christmas alone at school with only books for company., in his next memories the ghost shows scrooge some happier times. a christmas spent with his sister fan collecting him from school and fezziwig’s party., next scrooge is shown belle breaking off her engagement to scrooge because scrooge is obsessed with money. he then sees belle grown up with a family of her own., scrooge struggles with the ghost to make the visions stop and puts the hat on its head extinguishing the light., stave three:, the ghost of christmas present arrives – he is jolly and friendly., scrooge and the ghost visit bob cratchit’s family on christmas day – they are enjoying christmas and are very grateful for their tiny feast. scrooge learns tiny tim will die if nothing changes for the cratchits., scrooge and the ghost travel the world visiting other people who no matter their circumstance or environment, are all enjoying christmas., they then visit fred’s house where everyone is having fun but are making fun of scrooge., the ghost reveals ignorance and want hidden in its robes – the ghost tells scrooge to beware of them., stave four:, the ghost of christmas yet to come arrives., the ghost silently shows scrooge the reaction of some people to the death of an unknown man. nobody seems to care that the man is dead., an undertaker, a 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 and laugh that none will notice or care., scrooge and the ghost visit bob cratchit and his family and learn that tiny tim has died, everyone is very upset., the ghost shows scrooge a grave with scrooge’s name on it scrooge promises the ghost he will change., stave five:, scrooge finds himself back in his own bed and discovers that it is christmas day., scrooge has completely changed – he laughs and wishes everyone a merry christmas. he buys the cratchit family a huge turkey and joins fred and the family for christmas dinner. the next day he gives bob cratchit a pay rise., we’re told tiny tim will survive and scrooge celebrates christmas for the rest of his life., it is imperative that you know the rest of the novella – this means as a starting point you must learn the sequence of events and where key events occur (as above). create a timeline of the above events and add helpful images/sketches/quotes to aid your revision. .

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