A Christmas Carol

'decrease the surplus population'

Scrooge demonstrating Malthusian beliefs and showing how cruel they are, Dickens believed the oppoisite

'solitary as an oyster'

Scrooge, a simile used to describe Scrooge's hard exterior but soft inside. Shows that he has a opportunity for redemption

'tight fisted hand at the grindstone'

Scrooge wants to spend as little money as possible

'squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner'

list of adjective all meaning to hold onto, Scrooge wants to hold onto his money

'Are there no prisons? ... and the Union workhouses?'

Scrooge's cruelty and disregard for the poor

'the fog and darkness'

pathetic fallacy, Scrooge refuses to see the suffering of the poor

'his melancholy dinner in his usual melancholy tavern'

repetition of melancholy contrasts Scrooge's dinner with the Cratchits

'cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel'

Jacob Marley's ghost's chain is made of things associated with money, shows his obsession in life

"There's more of gravy than of grave about you, whatever you are!"

Dickens uses humour to make Scrooge seem relatable to the reader and not isolate him as a villianous character

"I wear the chain I forged in life,"..."I made it link by link, and yard by yard"

Jacob Marley saying that the choices he made in life (the choice to value money and business over others welfare) made the fetters he now wears

'Scrooge was his sole executioner, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend, and sole mourner.'

repetition of 'sole', Marley was lonely with Scrooge as his only 'friend', when Marley died, Scrooge was left alone

'Mankind was my business'

Dickens talking through Marley to try and show the miserly upper class that other people are more important than money

'like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man'

Ghost of Christmas Past can be seen as old and young

'being now a thing with one arm, now with one leg, now with twenty legs, now a pair of legs without a head, now a head without a body'

The Ghost of Christmas Past is constantly changing in its appearance as it mimics reflecting on memories: memories are remembered differently

'a tunic of the purest white'

connotes innocence of the past and of a younger self

'from the crown of its head there sprung a bright clear jet of light'

light symbolises knowledge. by reflecting on the past Scrooge will become wiser and understand himself better

'A solitary child, neglected by his friends'

Scrooge's past is lonely, juxtaposition of neglected and friends

'dear brother'

repetition of this phrase shows the close relationship between Scrooge and Fan, term of endearment

'I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now'

Scrooge realising his unjust cruelty towards Bob after seeing his old boss, Fezziwig

"Another Idol has displaced me" ... "A golden one"

Belle to Scrooge in stave three. Shows Scrooge prefers money to love. Use of "idol" implies Scrooge worships money.

'turkeys, geese, game, poultry, brawn, great joints of meat, sucking-pigs, long wreaths of sausages, mince-pies, plum-puddings, barrels of oysters, red-hot chestnuts, cherry-cheeked apples, juicy oranges, luscious pears, immense twelfth-cakes'

asyendetic list emphasises the huge amount of food and the generosity of the Ghost of Christmas Present

‘jolly Giant’

Ghost of Christmas present is presented as non-threatening to Scrooge and reader

‘Plenty’s horn’

symbol of abundance and good fortune

‘black garment’

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come symolises death and darkness