English Christmas Carol Quotes

"As solitary as an oyster"

Simile: Emphasises Scrooge's potential to change as oysters have pearls. Also shows Scrooge's reluctance in change and conveys the idea of him needing teachers (ghosts) who need to help him.

"You were a man of good business"

Syntax: Strange order of words emphasises how Marley's business seemed to take control of his life as he can only be described as a man of 'business'. Portrays how Scrooge's greedy way of thinking is wrong.

"A frosty rime"

Shows how Scrooge seems to be unaturally miserable as a semantic field of coldness is created by repetition of nouns and adjectives. This portrays Scrooge's true miserability and how he is not a kind and warm man.

"decrease the surplus population"

Relates to Dicken's opposition to Malthusian Theory which suggested that the population should be decreased in order to allow for more lavish use of resources. Dickens disagreed with this idea as he wanted giving birth to be a right which all could have. Therefore, this phrase is used to present both Malthusian Economic Theory in a bad light and also present Scrooge in a bad light as what he is saying is both cruel and selfish due to his lack of consideration of the human lives he is simply disregarding due to their poverty.

"It's enough for a man to understand his own business and not interfere with other people's"

Possessive pronoun "Own": Shows emphasis for Scrooge's disbelief in the idea of community and his obsession with his own wealth and money from his 'own business'.

"Begged him to be covered"

Shows how Scrooge dislikes the light as it represents change. This conveys Scrooge's reluctance to redeem himself and contrasts the end of the novella.

"I am a mortal"

Shows how Scrooge distrusts others including the ghosts and contrasts the idea of community. This emphasises how Scrooge is very solitary and does not trust others.

"A greedy, eager, restless motion in the eye"

List of adjectives: Shows how Scrooge believed that material wealth took higher priority over love and compassion and decided to worship it instead of loving Belle.

"I don't wish to see it"

Shows how Scrooge has reluctance to acknowledge the emotionally painful mistakes he made in his past and does not wish to change as he believes it is not for the best.

"The fog came pouring in"

Pathetic Fallacy: Shows Scrooge's ignorance of the lower classes and his lack of tolerance for their struggles.

"Mankind was my business"

Shows Marley's missed opportunities and sets Scrooge on his journey by aiding him in taking his first steps to self-acknowledgement and eventually redemption.

"I wear the chain I forged in life"

Shows the idea of Marley cultivating his own fate and shows Scrooge how he must change and has the ability to do so in order to avoid Marley's unfortunate fate.

"With my eyes turned down"

Shows how Marley's ignorance towards others and particularly the lower class lead to his unfortunate afterlife and begins to teach Scrooge to change his ways.

"Curtains of his bed drawn aside"

Shows how the ghost of Christmas past is entering forcefully but less forcefully than Marley and therefore presents themes of self-acknowledgment and redemption.

"A bright clear jet of light"

Semantic field of hope: Creates the idea of redemption for Scrooge as the theme of light seems to represent a struggle against the darkness he is surrounded by.

"She had a large heart"

Shows how Fan's way of caring for others and being kind was the correct way to live. This encourages Scrooge to echo her behaviour and pushes him towards self-acknowledgement.

"A small matter"

Shows how it is not difficult for Scrooge to show kindness to others and how he is able to change. This encourages him to change his attitude as he can do so easily to avoid Marley's fate.

"He could not hide the light which streamed from under it in an unbroken light"

Shows how Scrooge cannot fight the ghost's lessons and must accept that he has to change. This presents Scrooge as being forced to redeem himself by the end of the novella.

"Bade him enter. He obeyed"

Shows how Scrooge has learnt obedience and to follow the ghosts. Short sentence also shows little reluctance and conveys Scrooge's new curiosity and enthusiasm to change.

"Who bore a glowing torch"

Shows how the ghost is also trying to bring Scrooge out of the darkness. This conveys the ghost's purpose to change Scrooge and remove his dark attitude.

"Beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom"

Shows how Scrooge must beware ignorance as it may lead to him losing his freedom after he dies similar to Marley. This warns Scrooge and encourages him to change.

"Not unlike plenty's horn"

Shows the theme of abundance and how the ghost is an example of how Scrooge should use his abundance of material wealth to help others rather than be parsimonius.

"It was shrouded in a deep black garment"

Shows how the ghost represents death and foreshadows the consequences of what will happen if Scrooge does not change.

"I fear you more than any spectre"

Shows how the ghost of Christmas yet to come is teaching Scrooge to truly change as he cannot fight his fear of the ghost.

"I don't mind if a lunch is provided"

Shows how Scrooge must change his way of living or else he will not be valued after death. This can be seen through the noun 'lunch' emphasising the greed of the people surrounding him and the lack of care they have for his death.

"Steeples called good people all to church"

Shows how Christmas is a time for all classes to mix together and emphasises the point of community to Scrooge and how it is important for everyone universally.

"Their good humour was restored"

Shows how Christmas should be a time of joy for all and that happiness should be the most prominent emotion at the time of year. This juxtaposes Scrooge's harsh behaviour.

"Sit ye down before the fire"

Shows how Mrs Cratchit is acting compassionate and as a model for how Scrooge should act. Also presents the theme of spreading warmth which contradicts Scrooge's miserable cold.

"Company assembled round a glowing fire"

Shows how both warmth and community are essential and Christmas and conveys to Scrooge how he must change to accept these two values into the way he thinks.

"Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked"

Shows how due to poverty the two children within the ghost of Christmas present are now evil rather than more childish like. This shows how poverty can warp people and therefore presents the poor as a very sympathetic group of people.

"I am sure he loses pleasanter companions"

Shows how Scrooge's obsession of wealth is wrong as he is losing friends and communal values which are worth much more than money.

"There was an air of cheerfulness"

Juxtaposition of miserable environment: Shows how the lower classes manage to stay merry at Christmas time even though they cannot have the same luxuries as the upper classes.

"The darkness and mist had vanished"

Shows how Scrooge has begun to lose his ignorance and is starting to accept the ghost's teaching. This presents him as becoming more tolerance and starting to achieve redemption.

"To a poor one most"

Shows how Dickens wanted to present the struggles of the working class and how they require the most help out of all people in society. He did this to try and influence his upper class audience to become more philanthropic.

"Its tenderness and flavour, size and cheapness"

Juxtaposition of cheapness and positive adjectives: Shows how poorer people are able to make do with less and presents them as hard working durable people who deserve help from those who are more fortunate.

"Brave in ribbons which are cheap and make a goodly show"

Oxymoron of 'cheap' and 'good': Shows how wealth is not required to have a better quality of life however also presents poor people as being forced to be more cheap and conveys their struggle in poverty.

"A small pudding for a large family"

Juxtaposition of small and large: Shows how the Cratchit's are forced to make do with less than they want and shows their perseverance and durability in a time of poverty.

"A custard cup without a handle"

Shows how although poor people seem to not have material worth they still have sentimental worth through key values such as community. This helps to show Scrooge the community of other values above money.

"We shall none of us forget Tiny Tim"

Shows how Scrooge must adapt an ethos similar to Tiny Tim's in order to make people care for him similar to the Cratchit's care for Tiny Tim after his death. This also creates sympathy for the suffering of the poor as the Cratchits could not afford the medication to keep Tiny Tim alive.

"God bless us everyone"

Shows how Tiny Tim is grateful for his situation and presents Christmas as a time for everyone to be grateful as Tiny Tim is in an unfortunate situation. This conveys sympathy for the poor who struggle to have a good Christmas but still make do with what they have.

"Scrooge cried in great excitement"

Shows how Scrooge is starting to show more emotion rather than being a cold-hearted man. Presents Scrooge as beginning to accept the need to change.

"Say a word or two to my clerk"

Shows how Scrooge is starting to feel sympathy and compassion as he previously did not care for Bob Cratchit's emotions but now wishes to apologise for his harsh treatment.

"Scrooge did as he was told"

Shows Scrooge's will to follow the ghost's instructions and how he is changed from his distrusting mindset to a more communal one.

"I am not the man I was"

Shows how Scrooge has truly redeemed himself and emphasises how he has completely dissociated himself with the character he was before.

"The bedpost was his own"

Shows how Scrooge has finally taken control over his fate and doesn't need to be controlled by the ghosts to redeem himself.

"His door wide open"

Shows contrast to how he is open to change now compared to when he used to be blinded by ignorance at the beginning of the play. Motif of thresholds presented.

"Make up the fires and buy another coal-scuttle"

Shows contrast to how Scrooge used to be cold and parsimonious but now spreads warmth amongst others and spends money as it has less value to him than others.

"His own heart laughed"

Personification: Emphasises Scrooge's true happiness at his redemption.