Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol

Symbolism• Scrooge

– Beliefs and values of Victorian England in the 1800’s • Bob Cratchit

– The spirit of Christmas Dickens wanted to see revived in England• Fire that warms Bob and in the fire place

– The warmth felt within those who share and celebrate the season. • Marley’s Chains

– The money and priorities that Marley valued in his life while he was living. • Ghost of Christmas Present

– Christmas joy , kindness, generosity, and peace

• Light Coming from the Ghost of Christmas PastThe memories and spirit of Christmases pastCap held by the Ghost of Christmas Past

– greed, selfishness and other actions that extinguish the spirit of Christmas

Symbolism Girl Want

Poor children who do not have the common necessities (housing, food, clothing)

Boy Ignorance– The uneducated, working-class factory children; they

should be feared because if they remain uneducated England will collapse and be doomed.

Symbolism

• Scrooge’s Coat of Gray– Scrooge’s cold-hearted, unsympathetic

personality

• Scrooge’s Coat of Blazing Holly-Red– A redeemed Scrooge who is caring, generous, and

warm-hearted

Theme• What are some of the themes embedded within

A Christmas Carol?

~People can change, also expressed as mankind can be redeemed. ~ Acts of kindness enrich the spirit and lead to more acts of kindness by others. ~ Unless society reaches out to help those less fortunate and in need, especially children, society is condemned/doomed. ~ The way man treats others is more valuable than one’s possessions. Man’s offensives carries its own punishment

Characterization• What are some ways the author characterizes

Scrooge? “Oh, but he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone….secret, self-

contained, and solitary as an oyster.” Direct Characterization“’There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. I should

like to have given him something: that’s all.’” Implies change through characters speech “’If they rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus

population.’” Characters speech“ ‘It should be on Christmas Day, I am sure, ‘ said [Mrs. Cratchit], ‘ on which

one drinks the health of such an odious, stingy unfeeling man as Mr. Scrooge.’ “

Effects on other characters

Characterization“Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say with gladsome looks, ‘My dear Scrooge, how are you?’ No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no man or woman now, or ever in his life, inquire the way to such and such a place.”Effects on othersScrooge says, “ I’ll raise your salary, and endeavor to assist your struggling family.’”ActionsMr. Scrooge purchased the largest turkey in the poulterer’s shops and had it delivered to Cratchit. Actions He had been revolving in his mind a change of life and thought and hoped he saw his new-born resolutions carried out in this. Characters Thoughts

Characterization• What are some ways the author characterizes

Fred? Bob?• Fred Fred invites his uncle for Christmas dinner even though he

knows he doesn’t like him. Fred restrains himself from yelling or call Scrooge names. Fred welcome his uncle after he was treated poorly by him. Sees Christmas as a time where he profits in personal gratitude

rather than monetary gain.

Characterization

• Bob Slips the two men money when he is can afford

it. Encourages Fred when he leaves. Wishes Scrooge a Merry Christmas even when

Scrooge doesn’t want to hear it. Applauds Fred’s views on the season. Toasts Scrooge even though he treats him

poorly. Not handsome

Setting

• How is the setting significant to the novel?

• Charles Dickens was concerned about the way in which people were treated during the Victorian time period.

• The overall themes embedded within this story are based on the unfair treatment and class separation of the Victorian time period; however, they can be still applied in current times.

Flashbacks

• What flashback helps the reader understand why Scrooge doesn’t care for his nephew?

• When he reveals that his sister has died.

• What flashback helps the reader understand why Scrooge doesn’t believe in love?

• When Belle, his lost love, releases him.

Foreshadowing

• “So I pray, you hurry back to your seats refreshed and ready for a miser- to turn his coat of gray into a blazen Christmas holly-red.”

• ~ Marley pg. 660

• What is the significance of this quote?

Foreshadowing

• What signals does Dickens use to let the reader know that he will have an unusual evening?

Marley’s face appears on the door knocker, he checks each room, the pictures of Marley throughout the room, the sound of chains, the door opening , and the ringing bells.