Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol
STAVE TWO
THE FIRST OF THE THREE SPIRITS
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‘All he could make out was, that it was still very foggy and extremely cold…. ‘ p53.
‘The more he thought, the more perplexed he was…..’ ‘Marley’s Ghost bothered him exceedingly.’ “Was it a
dream or not?” p54.
‘The curtains at hi bed were drawn aside….found himself face to face with the unearthly visitor who drew
them…..’ p54.
‘It was a strange figure- like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old man……’ p55.
‘It wore a tunic of the purest white; and round its waist was bound a lustrous belt, the sheen of which was
beautiful.’ P55.
‘ It held a branch of fresh green holly in its hand….’ P55.
‘ Even this, though, …….was not its strangest quality.’ P55. Note how Dickens builds the reader up to what he
wants the reader to see as the most important feature of this ghost. He keeps us waiting for the most
Important information.
‘For as its belt sparkled and glittered now in one part and now in another, and what was light one instant, at
another time was dark …….’ P55. Note how Dickens makes much use of contrasts or opposites, light and dark for
example, to draw out key ideas;
‘The voice was soft and gentle…..’ p55.
“I am the ghost of Christmas past.” P55.
“What!”….”would you so soon put out, with worldly hands, the light I give?” “Is it not enough that you are one of
those whose passions made this cap…..”p56. Note how Scrooge is still not taking any ownership for the presence
of these ghosts. He is not understanding the complexity and significance for their presence.
“Your welfare!”….”Your reclamation, then.” P56. Why does the ghost have to change his tact or approach?
‘I would have been in vain for Scrooge to…..’ ‘The grasp, though gentle as a woman’s hand, was not to be
resisted.’ P56.
“Bear but a touch of my hand there,”….laying it upon his heart, “and you shall be upheld in more than this!” p56.
Discuss the significance of this statement.
‘The city had entirely vanished.’ ‘The darkness and the mist had vanished with it….’ P56. Discuss the symbolism of
this line.
“I was bred in this place. I was a boy here!” p56.
‘He was conscious of a thousand odours floating in the air, each one connected with a thousand thoughts, and
hopes, and joys, and cares long, long, forgotten!’ p57.
“Your lip is trembling,” said the ghost. “And what is that upon your cheek?” p57 What is Scrooge feeling for the
first time in many years?
“Remember it!” “I could walk it blindfold.” P57.
“These are but shadows of the things that have been,”…. P 57.
‘Why was he rejoiced beyond all bounds to see them!’ ‘Why did his cold eye glisten, and his heart leap up qs they
went past!’ ‘Why was he filled with gladness when he heard them give each other Merry Christmas…….’ P57.
‘What was merry Christmas to Scrooge? Out upon merry Christmas!. What good had it ever done to him? P57.
Why is the narrator questioning the changes taking place for Scrooge?
“A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still.” P57. Note this is the first real clue the reader is given
as to why Scrooge may have resulted in the way he is. Do we begin to sympathise with him?
‘There was an earthy savour in the air, a chilly bareness in the place, …..too much getting up by candle-light, and
not too much to eat.’ P58.
‘…and Scrooge sat down upon a form, and wept to see his poor forgotten self as he had used to be.’ P58.
‘…..but fell upon the heart of Scrooge with a softening influence, and gave a freer passage to his tears.’ P 58
Further evidence of the way in which Scrooge is being effected by all that he sees and experiences.
‘To hear Scrooge expending all the earnestness of his nature on such subjects, …..would have been a surprise to
his business friends in the city, indeed.’ P59.
28. ‘Then with a rapidity of transition very foreign to his usual character, he said, in pity for his former self, “Poor
boy!” and cried again.’ P59
29. “I wish”, …..”but it’s too late now.” “…There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. I should
like to have given him something: that’s all.” P59. Note the very real ways in which Scrooge is changing.
30. “Let us see another Christmas.” P59.
31. ‘Scrooge’s former self grew larger at the words, and the room became a little darker and more dirty.’ P59. What
idea might Dickens be trying to convey in this line?
32. ‘ He only knew that it was quite correct; that everything had happened so; that there he was, alone again, when
all the other boys had gone home for the jolly holidays.’ P 59. To put this line in context, one must understand
that the practice was to send young boys off to boarding school, and that only during holidays would the boys
have returned home. Why might Scrooge not have “gone home for the jolly holidays”?
33. “Home, for good and all. Home, for ever and ever……but first, we are to be together all the Christmas long, and
have the merriest time in all the world.” P60.
34. “Always a delicate creature…..But she had a large heart.” P61. Note how the ghost drew a sharp distinction
between Scrooge and his sister.
35. ‘Scrooge seemed uneasy in his mind; ……’ p
P61.
36. ‘ It was plain enough, by the dressing of the shops, that here too, it was Christmas time again, …..’ p61.
37. ‘Scrooge cried in great excitement:…’ p61.
38. “No more work to-night. Christmas Eve, Dick. Christmas, Ebenezer.” P 62 Compare how Mr Fezziwig treated his
employees with how Scrooge treated his clerk at the opening of the novel.
39. ‘….and the warehouse was as snug, and warm, and dry, and bright a ball room, as you would desire to see upon a
winter’s night.’ P 62. Using paraphrased quotes, describe the difference between this description to those of
Scrooge’s home and place of employment
40. After reading the description of the Fezziwig ball, why might the editor have chosen this very image for the
cover of this edition?
41. ‘Mr and Mrs Fezziwig took their stations, …and shaking hands with every person individually as he or she went
out, wished him or her a Merry Christmas.’ P 64. Dickens gives the reader further evidence to help contrast Mr
Fezziwig with the adult Scrooge. What is the effect of this on the reader?
42. ‘ During the whole of this time, Scrooge had acted like a man out of his wits. His heart and soul were in the scene,
and with his former self.’ P 64.
43. “He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil.”
“The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune.” P64. This is a powerful scene within this chapter,
for Scrooge has made a powerful realization. Discuss with reference to the early conversation he has with his
nephew, whom makes a similar claim to the one Scrooge makes here.
44. “No. I should like to be able to SAY a word or two to my clerk just now! That’s all.” P64. Note the effect these
experiences are having on Scrooge. What has been awakened within is his conscience.
45. “Another idol has displaced me……” “Our contract is an old one. It was made when we were both poor and
content to be so, until, in good season, we could improve our worldly fortune by our patient industry. You are
changed. When it was made, you were another man.” P65. Using quotes as evidence, what ‘idol’ does the ghost
of the fair young girl refer to? What has Scrooge replace their shared idea with?
46. “That which promised happiness when we were one in heart, is fraught with misery now that we are two.” P66.
Put this in your own words, discussing the significance to Scrooge’s life.
47. ‘….can even I believe you would choose a dowerless girl- you who, in your very confidence with her, weigh
everything by Gain:…..?” P66. What becomes apparent here is that Scrooge chose money and position over
being with this girl. How has that decision affected his life?
48. “May you be happy in the life you have chosen!” p 66.
49. “show me no more!” “No more!” p66-67. Scrooge has been clearly affected by seeing the ghost of the girl, in
that he does not want to see the last one.
50. ‘ …a man laden with Christmas toys and presents.’ ‘The shouts of wonder and delight with which the development
of every package was received!’ “remove me from this place.” “Remove me!” “I cannot bear it!” p67-68. Does
the reader feel any sympathy for the pain of regret felt here by Scrooge who has never understood the joy of
Christmas?
51. ‘ …but though Scrooge pressed it down with all its force, he could not hide the light:’ p70. The ‘light’ in this
chapter is a motif. Discuss the symbolism of the action described here.