Explore how Dickens makes his readers aware of poverty in A Christmas Carol.
Explore how Dickens makes his readers aware of poverty in A Christmas Carol One of the major themes in "A Christmas Carol" was Dickens' observations of the plight of the children of London's poor and the poverty that the poor had to endure. Dickens causes the reader to be aware of poverty by the use and type of language he uses. He uses similes and metaphors to establish clear and vivid images of the characters who are used to portray his message. Dickens describes his characters like caricatures. Dickens exaggerates characters characteristics in order to make his point and provide the reader with a long living memory. Dickens' readers enjoy a visual richness of Dickens' characters. His description of Scrooge provides the reader with a much larger than life image, assuming the exaggerated proportions of a caricature. Early on in "A Christmas Carol" Dickens provides the reader with a very clear image of Scrooge describing him as "hard and as sharp as flint," and "solitary as an oyster." These descriptions show that Scrooge does not like to have conversations with people and therefore does not have any close friends if any friends at all. Scrooge is also described as cold hearted and being sharp when he talks to people. These similes provide the reader with a clear image of Scrooge as somebody who is wealthy but is unwilling to share what he has got. In writing the novel
Analysis of how the character "Scrooge" changes as "A Christmas Carol" progresses.
Analyse how Scrooge changes as "A Christmas Carol" progresses. This essay will analyse and report on how the character Scrooge changes throughout the Victorian novel "A Christmas Carol." Each Stave will be analysed, thus showing how he changes throughout the novella. At the start of the story, the impression created of Scrooge is very negative. He is portrayed as a cold and twisted character, who puts the wrong principals, such as money, before those that are more important, such as family and friends. Early in the book, Ebenezer represents the direct opposite of the Christmas spirit. He is shown to be extremely miserly, with very little regard or respect for the poor. He is a misanthrope. By the end, however, he is very different. Instead of being "tight fisted" with his money, he instead appears to have very little concern for it at all, seemingly thrusting it at anyone who will accept it. Most crucially however he is able to have respect for others, instead of just himself. Charles Dickens wanted readers of his book to think about the conditions people of the lower classes lived in, and how despite this they are happy and content. He wanted to give them awareness that money is irrelevant if happiness isn't created with it. Stave one is mostly about getting the reader to become aware of Scrooges attitude and history. It portrays Scrooge as a cold and unpleasant character.
What makes 'A Christmas Carol' such a Powerful and memorable story
What makes 'A Christmas Carol' such a Powerful and memorable story Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' is probably one of the most unforgettable stories passed down the generations. 'A Christmas Carol', although it is of a different time period still today teaches valuable lessons. In the story, Ebenezer Scrooge begins by having no feelings for anything or anybody. In the end, he changes from his gloomy, dark self. Charles Dickens expresses through a Christmas Carol that kindness can lead to happiness. A Christmas Carol shows how the Christmas spirit and caring people can change a person and their outlook on life. Dickens wrote this story partly to make people conscious of the appalling plight of the children of the poor. Firstly, Dickens has many elements in his style of writing that makes him a first-class writer. He uses similes and metaphors very imaginatively to catch the readers' mind and engage them into his story, for example, '...self-contained, and solitary as an oyster', this is a simile and tells us that Scrooge keeps to himself and doesn't trust anyone with anything. Here is one of Dickens' metaphors, '...he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone...', this sort descriptive writing is much more artistic and builds a much more stronger picture of Scrooge or whatever he is trying to portray. Dickens also gives his views on a subject, which gives it a further
English Lit How Does Charles Dickens Use Imagery and Language to Present the Character of Ebenezer Scrooge in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol.'?
GCSE English Literature Coursework How Does Charles Dickens Use Imagery and Language to Present the Character of Ebenezer Scrooge in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol.'? GCSE English Literature Coursework How Does Charles Dickens Use Imagery and Language to Present the Character of Ebenezer Scrooge in Stave 1 of 'A Christmas Carol.'? Charles Dickens' novella 'The Christmas Carol' is based around the miserly character of Ebenezer Scrooge living in Victorian England. Within 'A Christmas Carol Dickens presents himself as an omniscient narrator throughout the book, an omniscient narrator is an all-knowing narrator. Scrooge is a misanthropic business man who is overwhelmed by wealth and greed. The novella 'A Christmas Carol' was written in 1843 and is set in Victorian England, there was a great deal of poverty in England at the time. As a child Dickens witnessed the plight of the poor and his experiences were suggested in his writing. Life in Victorian times was extremely difficult for poor families and young children, Dickens had some experience of poverty when he was very young and he reflects these experiences in his pieces of writing; the Cratchits reflect his experiences of poverty. When Dickens was 12 years old his whole family was put into prison for being in debt, the young Dickens was sent off to a factory to work at the young age of 12. Christmas in the Victorian times
What do you see as Dickens' social aims in 'A Christmas Carol' and how does he go about achieving them?
What do you see as Dickens' social aims in 'A Christmas Carol' and how does he go about achieving them. Dickens' main social aim in 'A Christmas Carol' is to portray the terrible conditions and problems that are faced by the poor, in the hope of creating a kinder, more charitable attitude towards them so that they would be treated with more compassion. It is a story designed to evoke the readers' consciences to convince them of the need to reform the existing social conditions. He aimed to change the way society was developing, and reduce greed and its damaging effects on human behaviour. In order to achieve this, Dickens must re-enlighten those with the money and power to change things, and does so by using the character of Scrooge to personify the willful ignorance of those in power. Dickens also utilizes the theme of Christmas throughout the story to emphasise the desperation of the plight of the poor. He perceives education as the most crucial means by which attitudes can be altered, and uses this to force the reader to become aware of the negative effects of want and ignorance. Dickens uses the tool of Scrooge to symbolise the harsh treatment and attitudes towards the poor at this time - a caricature of the problems. Dickens describes Scrooge as a "squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner". These adjectives have a strong effect on the
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A Christmas Carol Coursework "What is the message behind 'A Christmas Carol' and how does Dickens convey it?" Dickens wrote a Christmas Carol with the intentions of drawing reader's attention to poverty and to make people aware to it and to help. He did not write this book just because he wanted to write a ghost storey, even though it has some similarities. Dickens had very strong views on poverty, because of his personal experiences. When Dickens was 12 his father was sent to a debtors prison, which deeply affected him and therefore spurred him on to write books like David Copperfield but mainly A Christmas Carol because this was the book in which he actually put his point across and tried to open people's eye to the poverty in Victorian England. In this book Dickens very cleverly portrays that when people don't give to charity etc that they will be the ones suffering afterward for eternity. This is aimed at the selfish people so that they can see that if they like Scrooge, do not change then will be the ones to suffer. The message is portrayed mainly through the main character Scrooge who we follow throughout the book. Ebenezer Scrooge starts off in the beginning of the book as the miserly owner of a London counting house, a nineteenth century term for an accountant's office. His temperament is cold, hard, greedy, selfish and so much more, but there is no warmth, love or
Aim: How is the theme of redemption explored in A Christmas Carol
Aim: How is the theme of redemption explored in A Christmas Carol ? INTRODUCTION A Christmas Carol was written by Charles Dickens in the mid nineteenth century depicting the social and economic life of the working people in London. The appalling conditions under which the people had to work is in sharp contrast with the ways the rich people lived in luxury. Most of the people, especially the poor, lived in a rejected environment and had to work long hours with little wages, thus enduring hardship. Children, as young as six, are made to work in order to support their families expenses. Although the rich people had a lot of money, they did not help the poor. They thought that people became poor because they were lazy and did not do enough work. Dickens chose to call his story a song because of the Christmas hymn, 'Tis season to be jolly.' He wants us to remember the poor by giving and sharing in the special time of Christmas. He wants to express the spirit of Christmas from a Christian's point of view. This includes hymns and charities as well as remembering the joyful time about the birth of Jesus Christ. Also, he wants us to know the meaning of true Christmas. Finally, Dickens chose the Christmas setting for his novel to help us explore the character of Scrooge. The novel consists of staves instead of chapters (a stave is a musical score). The different staves are like
A christmas Carol
How does Dickens use the character of Scrooge to teach his readers moral and social lessons? Charles Dickens was born in 1812 near Portsmouth, where his father was a clerk in the navy pay offices. His family was very poor and his father was put in prison for debt. Young Dickens was sent to work in 1823 to a blacking warehouse to support his family. Dickens' poor upbringing made him very sensitive to the plight of the poor in society when he was older. Most of the books that Dickens wrote dealt with the issue of poverty; his main aim was to send the message through society that the poor needed charity and generosity. He wrote 'A Christmas Carol' to point out the differences between the rich and the poor, and to encourage the rich to share their wealth and help the poor, and the needy. The book
Charles Dickens describes 'A Christmas carol' as 'a ghost story for Christmas.' In what ways can the novel be considered a ghost story? And why is it an appropriate tale for Christmas?
By Stephanie Burkett Charles Dickens describes 'A Christmas carol' as 'a ghost story for Christmas.' In what ways can the novel be considered a ghost story? And why is it an appropriate tale for Christmas? Nearly all conventions of the 'ghost story' genre are the same. The typical opening for a ghost story would be for there to be either a dramatic beginning in which somebody dies and then later on in the story comes back as a 'ghost' to haunt a victim. Another possible beginning would be that we are introduced to the main character/ghost and the ghost has come back maybe to finish some un-finished business. The author may also open the story wish a legend to do with ghostly sightings or mysterious goings on. It may also be based upon a description of the main character/victim that is to be haunted or the place in which the ghost will appear first. In a typical ghost story the setting would be, in an old mansion, graveyard, church, deserted town/village or house. The atmosphere would usually include things such as eeriness, suspense, cold, dark, damp nights, maybe a full moon, and silence wit creepy noises in the background area. Maybe trees swaying and doors banging, stairs creaking and wind chimes in the background. This is to create a feeling of suspense and make you want to know what happens next. The weather would normally be very stormy with thunder and lightening
How does Charles Dickens try to encourage his readers to alter their moral and social conscience towards the poor through Scrooge's experiences?
How does Charles Dickens try to encourage his readers to alter their moral and social conscience towards the poor through Scrooge's experiences? "A Christmas Carol" is about how Ebenezer Scrooge changes from being greedy, selfish and only caring about himself to being charitable and caring towards others, especially the poor. The point of the story is to show how and why Scrooge changes. It is also telling people that if someone like Scrooge can change, then anyone can change. The new Scrooge is meant to be setting an example to the reader. In showing how Scrooge changes, Dickens is also trying to encourage the reader to change their opinions and the way they treat the poor. This is done through the experiences of Scrooge when he is visited by three spirits who show him why he needs to change. The book is structured into five staves. The first stave set the scene. It tells us what Scrooge is like and includes a visit from Marley's ghost. The second, third and fourth staves are when the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future come and visit Scrooge to try and make him change. The fifth stave shows how Scrooge has changed and what he does to make amends. Charles Dickens was born in 1812 in Portsmouth. His childhood was very unhappy due to his father's debt problems. When his parents were sent to debtors' prison, Dickens was sent to work in a blacking factory at the young