He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.". Ebenezer Scrooge is one of the most famous characters created by Charles Dickens and arguably one of the most famous in English literature. Living conditions there were unpleasant and the work was tough such as 'picking out' old ropes. A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, `My dear Scrooge, how are you? He even turns down his own nephew who comes to see him and invite him to his house for a Christmas meal. How could it be otherwise? What reason have you to be morose? But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! Marley represents a kind of family for Scrooge, even though they are not blood-related. "No," said scrooge, "no. `Merry Christmas! There were Cains and Abels, Pharaohs daughters; Queens of Sheba, Angelic messengers descending through the air on clouds like feather-beds, Abrahams, Belshazzars, Apostles putting off to sea in butter-boats, hundreds of figures to attract his thoughts -- and yet that face of Marley, seven years dead, came like the ancient Prophets rod, and swallowed up the whole. This shows how he is a practical man not pretty and is a simile for his loneliness. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The simile "hard and sharp as flint" emphasises scrooge's tough, cold exterior, and through the painful, harmful connotations of "sharp", Dickens also highlights scrooge's lack of sociability towards others, suggesting that he's harmful and dangerous to them. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Scrooge refuses to believe in Marley, just as he refuses to believe in Christmas. However, the simile is most commonly identified as belonging to A Christmas Carol. This is one of Freds lines, and it really helps to highlight the difference in viewpoints between Fred and his uncle. It was full as heavy and as long as this, seven Christmas Eves ago. He is cold and greedy, not the kind of man people want to befriend. science pearson edexcel end of unit test higher. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! To make the comparison, similes most often use the connecting words "like" or "as," but can also A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. "Scrooge was better than his word. And even Scrooge was not so dreadfully cut up by the sad event, but that he was an excellent man of business on the very day of the funeral, and solemnised it with an undoubted bargain. The narrator sets Scrooge up as the quintessential sinner, the most miserable man in the whole city. This might seem like a small detail, but regardless of whether or not the reader consciously juxtaposes these similes, they underscore Scrooge's transformation and provide evidence of a true change of heart. Flint was traditionally used to start fires which may hint at Scrooges later change in attitude as the story unfolds. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned -- they cost enough; and those who are badly off must go there., `If they would rather die, said Scrooge, `they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Though it seems threatening, he is offering Scrooge a very tangible way to improve his fate. The simile first appeared in Shakespeare's Henry IV. I lived rough, that you should live smooth. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. This makes me think that Scrooge would have very sharp features, a pointy nose and always has a scowl on his face. Though his nephew tries to convince him to join his family, Scrooge replies, "Nephew, keep Christmas in your own way, and let me keep it in mine!" 1. "Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk's fire was so much smaller that it looked like one coal". The man took strong sharp sudden bites, just like the dog. 795. ". Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. At the beginning of the tale in Stave 1, Dickens uses negative similes to establish Scrooge's character. "Nothing" said scrooge "nothing. Leading up to this moment it appears as if Scrooge already fears that this is the case, but that does not detract from the tension that Charles Dickens can create here. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. **Example 1**. A slight disorder of the stomach makes them cheats. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster". A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! `I wonder you dont go into Parliament., `Dont be angry, uncle. https://www.youtube. Last weekend, I read $\underline{\color{#c34632}\text{To Build a Fire}}$ . 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. I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Timshall weor this first parting that there was among us? Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Perhaps this is why Dickens chose to compare Marley to a doornaila flattened doornail and a corpse are both fairly useless, with little to no chance of serving a purpose ever again. He does not see the basic human value in all people. No matter how vivid the apparitions become, Scrooge insists that he knows better. `Let me leave it alone, then, said Scrooge. When he gets home, Scrooge would rather save money and live in discomfort, keeping a very low fire for himself, described as nothing on such a bitter night to which he is forced to lean over just to extract the least sensation of warmth from such a handful of fuel. Instead of being a crotchety old man, he feels like a schoolboy. International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, 2023 Book Analysis. The fog came pouring in at every chink and keyhole, and was so dense without, that although the court was of the narrowest, the houses opposite were mere phantoms. Part of the lesson that Scrooge must learn is that life is short but regrets are long and haunting, and have an affect even after death. Dickens, as Scrooge learns lessons and truths from the ghost of Christmas past, portrays scrooge as beginning to change, breaking away from his miserly attitudes and becoming more generous, wanting to "give" the caroller "something", in contrast to his absolute selfishness, rejection of the Christmas spirit and lack of generosity from earlier. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grind- stone, Scrooge! Oh! - Scrooge, create, study and share online flash cards, "Oh! Bovey, Lee-James "A Christmas Carol Quotes " Book Analysis, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. Indeed, Scrooge has become a new man. No, no, no. In contrast, Scrooges routine is deliberately isolated and miserable. This gives the perception of Scrooge being a very cold character, a word also associated with being mean. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his. "I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. Once more? A squeezing, wrenching, grasping,scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! If the good Saint Dunstan had but nipped the Evil Spirits nose with a touch of such weather as that, instead of using his familiar weapons, then indeed he would have roared to lusty purpose. -, "The ancient tower of a church whose gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge", Click here to study/print these flashcards. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. It is required of every man, the Ghost returned, `that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellowmen, and travel far and wide; and if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death. This is a great quote for highlighting the sort of character that Scrooge was in A Christmas Carol. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. This suggests his ability to hurt others. Latest answer posted January 12, 2021 at 5:08:54 PM. Browse Library, Teacher Memberships 'Oh! What does the quote hard and sharp as flint mean?Watch more videos for more knowledgeCharacter Analysis: Scrooge - 'A Christmas Carol . Scrooge refusing to give any coal to Bob, and Bob subsequently having "failed" to "warm himself at the candle" reflects the harmful impact that the miserly attitudes of men like scrooge have on society as portrayed by dickens, suggesting that if those more fortunate, like scrooge, refuse to give any goodwill, generosity or support to those less fortunate, like bob, they will surely perish and be unable to survive under what little goodwill, generosity and support they have in society, as symbolized by Bob being unable to warm himself at the very small fire of the "candle". Dickens sets up Cratchit and Scrooge as opposite figures, Cratchit symbolizing joy despite poverty and hardship and Scrooge symbolizing the grave-like sobriety of greed. At Fezziwig's party (pp. No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! Dine with us tomorrow.. Scrooge bends over his weak fire. Many's the hard day's walking in rain and mud, and with never a penny earned. Download. The narrator describes Scrooge as "Hard and sharp as flint." His appearance matches his character, with cold-looking, pointy features. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. Explain Ignorance and Want, who appear in stave 3 of A Christmas Carol. He went the whole length of the expression, and said that he would see him in that extremity first. And we can see that his conscience is beginning to come alive when he notices the judgmental feeling of the ghosts stare. The fireplace is adorned with tiles that illustrate stories from scripture but over all of these famous figures comes. I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now! It is through your support of visiting Book Analysis that we can support charities, such as Teenage Cancer Trust. It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. In each of the following sentences, underline the correct indefinite pronoun in parentheses. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. `Dont be cross, uncle! said the nephew. But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Countrys done for. This self-description provides evidence of his transformation. Dickens again uses temperature as a metaphor for degrees of goodwill here, with scrooge being "cold" reflecting his lack of goodwill towards himself and others around him, and the description of his decrepit features such as his "shriveled" cheek and "stiffened" gait suggests that Scrooge's unsociable, miserly attitudes of ill damage himself, in contrast to his nephew Fred (a foil to scrooge) who is "ruddy and handsome", emphasising through their appearances how holding the values of the Christmas spirit are beneficial to ones self, and as developed on throughout the novella, the whole of society as well. Oh! "Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster." See in text (Stave One) These two similes define Scrooge in three ways: First, he is portrayed as inflexible through the comparison to flint (a hard gray rock). Whatever the book. Owl Eyes is an improved reading and annotating experience for classrooms, book clubs, and literature lovers. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. From this exchange, it sounds like Marley was at least somewhat generous. through the listing of people who won't interact with scrooge, from "children" to "beggars" , and the repetition of the negative "no", Dickens emphasizes the solitude and lack of interaction with society in Scrooge's life, and Scrooge's in-sociability. Nobody under the table, nobody under the sofa, a small fire in the grate; spoon and basin ready; and the little saucepan of gruel, Nobody under the bed; nobody in the closet; nobody in his dressing-gown, which was hanging up in a suspicious attitude against the wall. Through Scrooges transformation in this allegorical tale, we also see his attitude to using fuel change. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. Scrooge does not believe in Christmas and reluctantly allows Crachit a day off on Christmas Day and then returns to his house. At the start of the novel, Dickens describes scrooge as mean; hard and sharp as flint; this suggests that he is ignorant towards people and neglects other people, and that he hates everyone around him and himself, this implies that he is greedy. A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol. Refine any search. A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Here, readers are exposed to the ghost of Christmas yet to come. The ghost breaks the news to Scrooge that the person whose death has been talked about so callously was his own. went down a slide on Cornhill, at the end of a lane of boys, twenty times, in honour of its being Christmas Eve, and then ran home to Camden Town as hard as he could pelt, to play at blindmans-buff. 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