From reading 'A Christmas Carol' I have discovered many things about Victorian London, Dickens and the dramatic personality change in Scrooge over the two-day period.

"A Christmas Carol" From reading 'A Christmas Carol' I have discovered many things about Victorian London, Dickens and the dramatic personality change in Scrooge over the two-day period. I am going to write about the interesting ideas I have depicted from the story involving Scrooge, Victorian London and Dickens. How does Scrooge change over the 2 days? Scrooge begins the story as a cold, heartless mean with no compassion or sentiment; "External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him." We adapt a negative opinion of Scrooge from the start. He is a typical miser and a cynic, and constantly refrains by saying "Humbug." Scrooge sees everything to do with Christmas as a trick; this is why he is constantly replying with "Humbug." He sees the world as a "World of Fools." This was bought about by St. Paul; he said 'it is necessary to be fool in order to be wise.' He hates Christmas and refuses to give any portion of his wealth to the needy and less fortunate. He is a capitalist and a businessman who is anti-life; when asked if he would give some money to the poor for Christmas, and is told if they did not receive the money they might die, he replies "if they would rather die they had better do it and, decrease the surplus population" Scrooge turns everything that is good on its head. He is a cheap man, who does not trust

  • Word count: 1825
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Consider how Dickens creates a scary atmosphere in this novel A Christmas Carol

Consider how Dickens creates a scary atmosphere in this novel 'A Christmas carol' 'A Christmas Carol' which took place in London, England during Christmas time around 1843, written by Charles Dickens. In the story of a Christmas carol a lot of focus is on supernatural beliefs. It was believed that in the Victorian Britain the dead would return to haunt who was still alive and that they would be unable to rest until they had relieved themselves from their sins. Fairies were also believed in and witches were also, in 1843 the popularity of ghosts made a perfect topic for Dickens novel. But in contrast house lighting was still extremely poor, therefore people found it much easier to believe in such paranormal activity as it would be straightforward to accept that ghosts existed because of the low light levels. In the story Dickens uses several words to create a ghostly atmosphere, by using specialist vocabulary and language. Setting the scene is extremely important for any story as it creates an image in the readers mind, as Dickens has done, At the beginning of the story he creates a gloomy atmosphere by using words such as "cold, bleak and biting" and also a scary atmosphere by his choice of different vocabulary for example "quite dark already" being dark makes the whole scene seem scary and "palpable brown air". The first mention of ghosts appears in the opening paragraph

  • Word count: 1445
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Describe the means by which Dickens conveys Scrooge's Character.

Describe the means by which Dickens conveys Scrooge's Character. What serious point is Dickens making about the society of his own day? How dose the pursuit of wealth affect people? Do you think there are characters like Scrooge alive today? As we all know the character Scrooge is a horrible man in the opening paragraph it is obvious the author has worked hard to show how Scrooges love for money has over ruled his life. There are many ways in which an author conveys a character I am going to discuses them. The first technique Dickens uses is to tell us directly himself "Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone. Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner!" This list of harsh sounding words emphasise the way in which Scrooge likes his own money. He compares him to an "oyster" so just as an oyster has his shell closed Scrooge has shut down his human contact. Another way of conveying a character is to describe the way he looks. Scrooge's characteristics are all those in which we associate with a witch "pointed nose", "shrivelled his chin", "red eyes" and "thin lips" he even sounds unpleasant. We hear about his "grating voice" even in the heat of summer we are told that his office is cold because "He carried his own low temperature always about him." In general his office reflects the miserable old

  • Word count: 701
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Dickens Essay Comparrison

This essay will compare and contrast a range of techniques Dickens uses to present Scrooge in the first and final chapters. I will start with an integration of how the author uses similar techniques and then move on to different techniques Dickens uses to show change. Dickens had released a book which wasn't popular because it was seen as depressing therefore I would expect the book to be optimistic so that Dickens could gain some popularity back. I also expect that the book would be universally friendly, in the sense that it would not offend any nationalities. His previous book was anti-American and portrayed Americans as "snobs" and depicts the flag of the United States with "blood" on it. So in order to regain American popularity he would make sure he didn't offend anyone like he did with his last book. Dickens was a philanthropist so I expect that he will show giving charity in good light to encourage others to do the same. Dickens believed in God however he did not like the Church (the institution of God) therefore I expect that the philanthropist in the book will give charity without being associated with God because Dickens wants to show that you can be good (like him) without being associated with the Church. I would also expect the main character to be a happy person in order to regain popularity. His last book was depressing, so the idea of having a depressing main

  • Word count: 2860
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Compare and Contrast Scrooge in Stave 1 and in Stave 5 in Charles Dickens novel a Christmas Carol.

Compare and Contrast Scrooge in Stave 1 and in Stave 5 In Charles Dickens novel a Christmas Carol the main character Scrooge makes a miraculous change from being a amoral person to someone who possessed many good qualities. In this essay I will endeavour to show these character changes. At the start of Stave 1 Dickens sets the atmosphere by mentioning Marley's death this introduces a gloomy mood. This enables Dickens to describe Scrooges personality , He does this by using words such as "greedy , grasping and as a covetous old sinner". These adjectives immediately tell you that Scrooge is not a nice person. Another example of this is that on page 2 it tells us that after Marley's death Scrooge kept his name on the plaque outside the business. This was probably because if he kept the name on the plaque it would benefit his business if people thought Marley was alive. This shows that Scrooge is amoral and cares only for his money. Scrooge also has no need to be liked by anyone this is evident in page 3 where Dickens says that "No beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o'clock" which is followed by "But what did scrooge care it was the very thing he liked". This shows that not only has Scrooge no need to be liked but also that he likes being on his own. This attitude towards money is a stark contrast to what is see in Stave 5 after the

  • Word count: 784
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

A Christmas Carol - Explore Scrooges Transformation from the beginning of the novel to the end.

A Christmas Carol - Explore Scrooge's Transformation from the beginning of the novel to the end. 'A Christmas Carol' was written by Charles Dickens, in the 19th century, England. It was written during a time of great poverty and social discrimination. The industrial revolution was at its worst. Thick smog covered every house, making it hard to see the rivers of human waste that flowed down the street, and straight into the Thames, where families collected their drinking water from. Up to thirty people shared one tiny house. Young children were being forced to work in life-threatening conditions. The working class had no fall-back options if they messed up. They were undernourished, uneducated, and spent the little money they had on getting drunk, to try and drown out the horrors of their actual lives. Overall, London was a hell hole and it was because of the appalling conditions of the time that Charles Dickens decided it was time for a change. I think he created "A Christmas Carol" and Scrooge for several reasons. One of which, was to show the huge gap between classes, in this story, especially the middle and lower. Secondly I think he was trying to encourage the richer people to help as many of the poor as possible. Charles Dickens clearly believed all throughout the story that anyone can change for the better if they want it enough. Scrooge's character was a metaphor

  • Word count: 2886
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Presentation of the character Scrooge.

Presentation of the character Scrooge In both the film and the text, Ebenezer Scrooge is an unhappy man who doesn't celebrate Christmas, at the beginning of the story, but at the end he is completely the reverse, he has become happier, and has now started to celebrate Christmas. In stave 1 Scrooge is thought to be miserly, cruel and stubborn. However by stave 5 he has become happier, merry and aware of people around him. In Stave 1. In the text of 'A Christmas Carol' Scrooge is described to act miserly towards his clerk, Bob Cratchitt as he was feeling cold and wants to light the fire but Scrooge refuses. Also Bob asks for Christmas Day off work, but Scrooge replies by saying that is 'inconvenient' and 'unfair' as he'll be losing money. This is showing that Scrooge only thinks about himself and not people who are worse off than him. In my opinion Dickens is using the figure of Scrooge to describe the way the rich treated the poor in Victorian times, but a typical rich man is described to be extremely obese with a jolly attitude and living a luxurious life. As you can see Scrooge's attitude is the complete opposite of a typical rich man, which must mean that he has got the attitude of a poor man during the Victorian period that had very little money. The cruelness that Scrooge shows is through the way he treats his nephew, Fred. When Fred asks Scrooge to go to

  • Word count: 1077
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

The House of the Spirits - Isabel Allende

Carolina Resk House of the Spirits Composition Ms. Viegas Throughout the novel, "The House of the Spirits," we find many elements of Magical Realism. Like many Latin American writers, Isabel Allende uses this type of literature which is a combination of the real with the magical. The book is based on Clara's (protagonist) journals in which she writes all the occurrences that happen in her life and therefore the book becomes a testimony of the events that took place in the time. Fate also takes a very important role in the novel. Chance or strange twists of fate recur repeatedly in The House of the Spirits. As mentioned before several elements of magical realism are found on the novel which creates a mystical atmosphere. Some examples of this uncommon type of literature would be when the narrator describes one of the characters, Rosa. It says, "...Rosa was white and smooth, without a wrinkle, like a porcelain doll, with green hair and yellow eyes- the most beautiful creature to be born on earth since the days of original sin..." (pg.4). Allende refers to Rosa's green hair as though it were out of the ordinary, yet not unheard of. Moreover we can include to this magical atmosphere the way spirits and ghosts are always present in the story. They become part of the family, of the history. One scene that can be cited is when Ferula's spirit comes to say good-bye in the big

  • Word count: 554
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

What issues stand out in Charles Dickens's writing? Why does Charles Dickens highlight these issues?

Research Topic What is on Charles Dickens's mind? Key Questions: * What issues stand out in Charles Dickens's writing? * Why does Charles Dickens highlight these issues? Research Notes: Oliver Twist (Novel) Author: Charles Dickens Written time: 1837 ISSUES: Contrast and conflicts between poor and rich people * Oliver Twist, a poor, nameless orphan boy. He is forced to suffer the indignities of starvation, brutal treatment, and is damned to life in a workhouse. * "For more!" said Mr. Limbkins. "Do I understand that Oliver asked for more, after he had eaten the supper allotted by the dietary?" "That boy will be hung," said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. "I know that boy will be hung." * They established the rule that all poor people should have the alternative of being starved by a gradual process in the house, or are quick one out of it. * "Bleak, dark, and piercing cold, it was a night for the well-housed and fed to draw round the bright fire and thank God they were at home; and for the homeless, starving wretch to lay him down and die. Many hunger-worn outcasts close their eyes in our bare streets, at such times, who, let their crimes have been what they may, can hardly open them in a more bitter world." Self-improvement and hope * Oliver Twist becomes better acquainted with the Characters of his new Associates. * Oliver Twist was a poor, helpless,

  • Word count: 972
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay

Christmas Carol - Beginning.

Christmas Carol BEGINNING In this extract from the opening chapter of the novel, we learn several things. We get a strong impression of the sitting of London in the nineteenth century. We get an idea of the way. Some people worked and the conditions they had to work in. the character of scrooge is made clear with some interesting description, as well as the character of his nephew. This is an important passage in giving the reader lots of information to get the story moving. The story opens on Christmas Eve and the place is London. The weather was foggy, "Cold, bleak, biting." Scrooge's place is called a "counting house" because scrooge is an accountant - a person who works out all the money that comes in or out of a business. Scrooge, "... Could hear the people in the court outside go wheezing up and down..." A court is a small courtyard or square with houses all around it in nineteenth century London the houses were all built very close together and there were many courts opening off the sheets. These were reached by alleyways and were often small, dark ad dirty. Scrooge's court is one of these, "The city clocks had only just gone three, but it war-quite dark already..." Because electric lighting, (or even gas lighting) had not bee invented, the only light in the offices comes from candles, but Dickens does not describe the candles as they give much clear light,

  • Word count: 793
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
Access this essay