Subjects

English Literature

Short fiction iii

Explain the function of a character changing or remaining unchanged

A Christmas Carol Stave 1 Annotations and Summary - Marley's Ghost and Scrooge's Character

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A Christmas Carol Stave 1 Annotations and Summary - Marley's Ghost and Scrooge's Character

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A Christmas Carol Stave 1 provides a vivid introduction to Ebenezer Scrooge's miserly character and sets the stage for his ghostly encounters. The story opens on a bleak Christmas Eve in Victorian London, emphasizing Scrooge's cold demeanor and isolation from society.

• Dickens establishes Scrooge as a miserly, cold-hearted businessman
• The death of Scrooge's partner Jacob Marley is confirmed repeatedly
• Scrooge's harsh personality and negative impact on others is described in detail
• The gloomy, wintry atmosphere of London on Christmas Eve is vividly portrayed

15/02/2023

2687

STAVE ONE
Marley's Ghost
for eshadowing
Marley's return
Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt
whatever about that. The register

Scrooge's Isolation from Society

This part of Stave 1 in A Christmas Carol vividly illustrates Scrooge's complete isolation from society. Dickens uses a series of examples to show how people and even animals avoid Scrooge, emphasizing his alienation from the community.

Quote: "Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, 'My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me?'"

The passage describes how various groups - beggars, children, and even blind men's dogs - actively avoid Scrooge. This universal rejection serves to highlight Scrooge's extreme isolation and the extent of his misanthropy.

Highlight: The fact that even animals sense and avoid Scrooge's negative presence underscores the depth of his isolation from all living beings.

Interestingly, Dickens suggests that Scrooge actually prefers this isolation, viewing human sympathy as something to be avoided. This preference for solitude adds depth to Scrooge's character, suggesting that his miserly nature is a defense mechanism.

Quote: "But what did Scrooge care? It was the very thing he liked."

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Introduction of Marley's Ghost

The opening of Stave 1 of A Christmas Carol emphatically establishes that Marley, Scrooge's former business partner, is dead. This repetition serves as foreshadowing for Marley's ghostly return later in the story. Dickens uses vivid language to describe Marley's death, emphasizing its finality.

Quote: "Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that."

The narrator interjects with a humorous aside about the phrase "dead as a doornail," showcasing Dickens' wit while maintaining the somber tone. This passage also introduces Scrooge's character, highlighting his business-like approach even to his partner's death.

Highlight: Scrooge's cold reaction to Marley's death foreshadows his overall character and sets the stage for his eventual transformation.

The repeated use of "sole" in describing Scrooge's relationship to Marley emphasizes Scrooge's isolation and self-centeredness, key themes in the story.

Vocabulary: Sole executor - The only person appointed to carry out the instructions in a will.

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Scrooge's Impact on Others

This section of A Christmas Carol Stave 1 explores how Scrooge's cold nature affects those around him. Dickens uses powerful metaphors and similes to illustrate Scrooge's negative influence on his environment.

Quote: "The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice."

Dickens compares Scrooge to natural elements like frost and bitter wind, emphasizing how his coldness permeates everything around him. This comparison to weather reinforces the idea that Scrooge's influence is pervasive and difficult to escape.

Highlight: The comparison of Scrooge to harsh weather elements underscores his negative impact on others and his environment.

The passage also humorously notes that even bad weather is more generous than Scrooge, as it "comes down" while Scrooge never does. This wordplay adds a touch of humor while reinforcing Scrooge's miserly nature.

Vocabulary: Dog-days - The hottest days of summer, emphasizing Scrooge's constant coldness.

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Setting the Scene on Christmas Eve

The final part of this excerpt sets the scene for the events of A Christmas Carol, describing the cold, bleak atmosphere of London on Christmas Eve. Dickens uses vivid sensory details to create a strong sense of place and mood.

Quote: "It was cold, bleak, biting weather: foggy withal: and he could hear the people in the court outside go wheezing up and down, beating their hands upon their breasts, and stamping their feet upon the pavement stones to warm them."

The description of people trying to keep warm contrasts sharply with Scrooge's indifference to the cold, both physical and emotional. This contrast serves to further emphasize Scrooge's isolation from the rest of humanity.

Highlight: The gloomy, cold atmosphere of London mirrors Scrooge's own cold nature, creating a cohesive mood for the story.

The passage ends with the image of candles flaring in windows, a small point of warmth and light in the darkness. This detail foreshadows the theme of redemption and the possibility of change that will be central to the story.

Example: The flaring candles in the windows symbolize hope and the potential for warmth and light to penetrate even the coldest, darkest situations.

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Scrooge's Character Introduction

This section provides a detailed character analysis of Scrooge in Stave 1, painting a vivid picture of his miserly nature and cold demeanor. Dickens uses powerful descriptive language to emphasize Scrooge's negative traits.

Quote: "Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!"

The metaphor of Scrooge being "as solitary as an oyster" is particularly striking, suggesting both his isolation and the possibility of hidden depth beneath his hard exterior.

Example: Just as an oyster may contain a pearl, Dickens hints that Scrooge might have some goodness hidden beneath his harsh exterior.

Dickens uses vivid imagery to describe Scrooge's physical appearance, linking his cold personality to his physical features. This technique, known as physiognomy, was popular in Victorian literature.

Highlight: The description of Scrooge's appearance reinforces his cold, harsh personality, creating a memorable character portrait.

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Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.

Knowunity is the #1 education app in five European countries

Knowunity has been named a featured story on Apple and has regularly topped the app store charts in the education category in Germany, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Join Knowunity today and help millions of students around the world.

Download in

Google Play

Download in

App Store

4.9+

Average app rating

13 M

Pupils love Knowunity

#1

In education app charts in 12 countries

950 K+

Students have uploaded notes

Still not convinced? See what other students are saying...

iOS User

I love this app so much, I also use it daily. I recommend Knowunity to everyone!!! I went from a D to an A with it :D

Philip, iOS User

The app is very simple and well designed. So far I have always found everything I was looking for :D

Lena, iOS user

I love this app ❤️ I actually use it every time I study.

Subjects

English Literature

Short fiction iii

Explain the function of a character changing or remaining unchanged

A Christmas Carol Stave 1 Annotations and Summary - Marley's Ghost and Scrooge's Character

revision

@ctrevision

20 Followers

15/02/2023

2687

English Literature

252

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Scrooge's Isolation from Society

Quote: "Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, 'My dear Scrooge, how are you? When will you come to see me?'"

Highlight: The fact that even animals sense and avoid Scrooge's negative presence underscores the depth of his isolation from all living beings.

Quote: "But what did Scrooge care? It was the very thing he liked."

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Introduction of Marley's Ghost

Quote: "Marley was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that."

Highlight: Scrooge's cold reaction to Marley's death foreshadows his overall character and sets the stage for his eventual transformation.

The repeated use of "sole" in describing Scrooge's relationship to Marley emphasizes Scrooge's isolation and self-centeredness, key themes in the story.

Vocabulary: Sole executor - The only person appointed to carry out the instructions in a will.

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Scrooge's Impact on Others

Quote: "The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice."

Highlight: The comparison of Scrooge to harsh weather elements underscores his negative impact on others and his environment.

Vocabulary: Dog-days - The hottest days of summer, emphasizing Scrooge's constant coldness.

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Setting the Scene on Christmas Eve

Quote: "It was cold, bleak, biting weather: foggy withal: and he could hear the people in the court outside go wheezing up and down, beating their hands upon their breasts, and stamping their feet upon the pavement stones to warm them."

Highlight: The gloomy, cold atmosphere of London mirrors Scrooge's own cold nature, creating a cohesive mood for the story.

Example: The flaring candles in the windows symbolize hope and the potential for warmth and light to penetrate even the coldest, darkest situations.

Sign up to see the content. It's free!

Instant access to 950k+ study notes

Connect with 13M+ learners like you

Improve your grades

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Scrooge's Character Introduction

Quote: "Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!"

The metaphor of Scrooge being "as solitary as an oyster" is particularly striking, suggesting both his isolation and the possibility of hidden depth beneath his hard exterior.

Example: Just as an oyster may contain a pearl, Dickens hints that Scrooge might have some goodness hidden beneath his harsh exterior.

Dickens uses vivid imagery to describe Scrooge's physical appearance, linking his cold personality to his physical features. This technique, known as physiognomy, was popular in Victorian literature.