wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of strong imagination, he failed". 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, "Secret, And Self-contained, And Solitary As An Oyster". My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. For characters like Fred and Bob Cratchit, Christmas represents the Christian ideal of goodness and moral prosperity, but Scrooge is at his. Even the blind mens dogs appeared to know him; and when they saw him coming on, would tug their owners into doorways and up courts; No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!. The man took strong sharp sudden bites, just like the dog. very low fire indeed; nothing on such a bitter night. Latest answer posted December 11, 2020 at 10:52:15 AM. Poulterers and grocers trades became a splendid joke; a glorious pageant, with which it was next to impossible to believe that such dull principles as bargain and sale had anything to do. The narrator wants to make it clear that what is to come are. Scrooge's logic is somewhat consistenthe sees money as being the sole important thing in the world, and therefore sees anyone lacking money as being unimportant. Characters of Martin Chuzzlewit: The Pecksniffs. "If they would rather die.they had better do it and decrease the surplus population." hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire simile, he is hard and mean secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster sibilance, hissing, sinister, simile suggest he is hard to open up but may have a pearly within, foreshadowing Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. "Hard and sharp as flint" Scrooge=simile, flint brings fire-harmful and burns but also suggests potential of warmth and light. He is smug and condescending about the poor, and refuses to listen to the gentlemens reasoning. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Scrooge fell upon his knees, and clasped his hands before his face. This is a great quote for highlighting the sort of character that Scrooge was in ' A Christmas Carol '. The narrator reminds the reader that Scrooges ex-partner Marley has been dead several years. If we were not perfectly convinced that Hamlets Father died before the play began, there would be nothing more remarkable in his taking a stroll at night, in an easterly wind, upon his own ramparts, than there would be in any other middle-aged gentleman rashly turning out after dark in a breezy spot -- say Saint Pauls Churchyard for instance -- literally to astonish his sons weak mind. Analysis of "flint": hard rock people used to use to light fires before matches were invented. `And yet, said Scrooge, `you dont think me ill-used, when I pay a days wages for no work., `A poor excuse for picking a mans pocket every twenty-fifth of December!, But I suppose you must have the whole day. His stash of money could afford him a rich, luxurious Christmas but he avoids these traditions. Use correct capitalization. Youre poor enough., `Come, then, returned the nephew gaily. Label each adjective clause adj. -- apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin. 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. Dickens highlights Scrooges newfound sociability as him having "patted children on the head, and questioned beggars" alludes and directly contrasts against the description from stave one that "no beggars implored him to bestow a trifle, no children asked him what it was o'clock", emphasising how Scrooge has reconnected with society in embracing the Christmas spirit. I have got a paragraph here from the book Christmas Carol explaining what scrooge was like. "Hard and sharp as a flint.solitary as an oyster." His answer is, "Bah! And I know I know my dears, that when we recollect how patient and how mild he was; although he was a little, little child, we shall not quarrel easily among ourselves and forget poor Tiny Tim in doing it. `What right have you to be dismal? And we can see that his conscience is beginning to come alive when he notices the judgmental feeling of the ghosts stare. the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? How is Scrooge portrayed as an outsider in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol? My partner is letting her friend sleep in her bed, am I overeacting? In other words, Scrooge is not alone; many people, while perhaps less obviously awful than Scrooge, share his sinful failings. Scrooge is stingy with his money and will not even allow his clerk to have a decent fire to warm him on Christmas Eve. Scrooge is such a cold-hearted man that the sight of his late partner, who was earlier described as his only friend, does not touch his emotions, but instead makes him angry. I am sure we shall none of us forget poor Tiny Timshall weor this first parting that there was among us? There is no doubt whatever about that. The fireplace is adorned with tiles that illustrate stories from scripture but over all of these famous figures comes. Note how Scrooge here condemns such fools to death, when over the next few nights it will be he who learns that he is condemned to a terrible death. Write the kind of sentence in the blank using these abbreviations: dec. (declarative), imp. Here in this quote, one can see Dickens playing with literal and figurative meanings to great effect. He. The hair was curiously stirred, as if by breath or hot air; and, though the eyes were wide open, they were perfectly motionless. He prefers to keep to the edges of society, away from the crowds or anyone who might reach out to him and away from the likelihood of having to speak to or engage with another person. No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty." Let it also be borne in mind that Scrooge had not bestowed one thought on Marley, since his last mention of his seven years dead partner that afternoon. When they were within two paces of each other, Marleys Ghost held up its hand, warning him to come no nearer. 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 water-plug being left in solitude, its overflowing sullenly congealed, and turned to misanthropic ice. Spirit! he cried, tight clutching at his robe, hear me! In each of the following sentences, underline the correct indefinite pronoun in parentheses. Mind! LitCharts Teacher Editions. It is much easier to burn men than to burn their opinions. Whereas the line about being solitary as an oyster suggests that Scrooge refuses to let anybody into his life. Whether these creatures faded into mist, or mist enshrouded them, he could not tell. To make the comparison, similes most often use the connecting words "like A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didnt thaw it one degree at Christmas. "Nothing" said scrooge "nothing. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! The exclamation mark in "Oh!" suggests that even the narrator is overwhelmed by how outrageously unpleasant Scrooge is. "No," said scrooge, "no. A doornail is notably small and insignificant, but it can be used to build things. Fred is the opposite of Scrooge in appearance and spirit. "Spirit," said Scrooge with an interest he had never felt before, "tell me if Tiny Tim will live.". "Oh! Of course he did. Consequently, everybody who comes into contact with Scrooge avoids him. Owl Eyes is an improved reading and annotating experience for classrooms, book clubs, and literature lovers. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! No matter how vivid the apparitions become, Scrooge insists that he knows better. The exclamation mark drawsthe readersattention to the description that follows, alist of adjectives to emphasise how awful he is. A squeezing, wrenching, grasping,scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!" - Narrator. not to know, that ages of incessant labour, by immortal creatures, for this earth must pass into eternity before the good of which it is susceptible is all developed. a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! -, "The ancient tower of a church whose gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge", Click here to study/print these flashcards. -Graham S. Scrooge sees "good" as referring solely to profits. Apparently, Scrooge is: Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. It was not in impenetrable shadow as the other objects in the yard were, but had a dismal light about it, like a bad lobster in a dark cellar. Early in the chapter, the narrator says, "Oh! His nephew left the room without an angry word, notwithstanding. 1. The brightness of the shops where holly sprigs and berries crackled in the lamp heat of the windows, made pale faces ruddy as they passed. 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. (Dickens 6). Oysters are confined solitarily. Fred is unrelenting in his attempts to change his uncles way of thinking. 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 struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. Generally speaking, nails can usually be used more than once. Fuel was an expensive commodity for many at the time the novella was written so the amount burnt, reflected by the size of a fire, reflected the generosity of a character. Scrooge is an outsider because that is the way he likes it. a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs wander through the world -- oh, woe is me! | 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. Instead of being a crotchety old man, he feels like a schoolboy. Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one lifes opportunity misused! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. It is made up of two Greek words, ana meaning up, and lysis meaning to loosen. You have laboured on it, since. `I wonder you dont go into Parliament., `Dont be angry, uncle. The narrator describes Scrooge as "Hard and sharp as flint." His appearance matches his character, with cold-looking, pointy features. This is an odd simile. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster". At this time of the rolling year, the spectre said `I suffer most. Scrooge is described as "solitary as an oyster". How is the theme of isolation presented in A Christmas Carol? In each stave Scrooge gradually changes his attitude to become a better person. through the repeated structure, Dickens again portrays that Scrooge as breaking away from his previous miserliness and stinginess, becoming more good willed towards other like Bob Cratchit. ". It suggests that even though cruelty seems to reign, the goodness embodied by the Christmas message can always find a way through, through the fog, through the keyhole. He thinks he sees the dead Marley in his door knocker. "No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him." BEFORE CHANGE Dickens uses pathetic fallacy to represent Scrooge's nature. `You dont mean that, I am sure?, `I do, said Scrooge. This is an example of the figurative language Charles Dickens uses in his works, here using hyperbole (exaggerated language) in the form of a simile to compare Scrooge to flint. Flint is a form of the mineral quartz, which occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalk and limestones. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Scrooge sees the senses as pointless, as easily fooled or manipulated. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. In the present, Scrooge witnesses scenes of fires at Christmas time that bring happiness, many associated with the theme of eating food at this festive time, such as the brightness of the roaring fires in kitchens, parlours, and all sorts of rooms, was wonderful and the flickering of the blaze showed preparations for a cosy dinner, He sees scenes associated with the coming together of family at this time of year, such as that of a miner and his family who are a cheerful company assembled round a glowing fire. 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. It swung so softly in the outset that it scarcely made a sound; but soon it rang out loudly, and so did every bell in the house. But he couldnt replenish it. Scrooge knew he was dead? PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. Humbug! but stopped at the first syllable, A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas. `The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then? said Scrooge. But in Dickens's era, it was customary to hammer doornails into doors in such a way that made them useless for anything else. ", "If they would rather die.they had better do it and decrease the surplus population." Discover more quotations from A Christmas Carol. for Scrooge kept the coal-box in his own room; and so surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part. Latest answer posted December 06, 2020 at 12:31:06 PM. `Because, said Scrooge, `a little thing affects them. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are trading names of The Student Room Group Ltd. Register Number: 04666380 (England and Wales), VAT No. 1 / 4. Oh! International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, 2023 Book Analysis. Oh! This is one of Freds lines, and it really helps to highlight the difference in viewpoints between Fred and his uncle. External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. 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. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! Already, the poor townsfolk are elevated above Scrooge in moral standing he is a caricature of a lonely miser. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. secret, and self contained, and solitary as an oyster. No, Spirit! *(Many, Nobody)* is predicting rain for tomorrow. The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. (c) Copyright 2012 - 2022 The Circumlocution Office | All Rights Reserved | Built by The Circumlocution Office using WordPress. The apparition walked backward from him; and at every step it took, the window raised itself a little, so that when the spectre reached it, it was wide open. Once more? `Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years, Scrooge replied. In other words, Scrooge is stingy and tough: he has no sympathy, generosity, or compassion. A great many very young girls grown into bold women before they had well ceased to be children. Scrooge, however, aggressively fights it off. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! "Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerk's fire was so much smaller that it looked like one coal". If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population". 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. (including. Humbug!" A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. Scrooge keeps the fuel in his own room, frightening Cratchit into wearing extra clothing and trying to warm himself by a candle. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! Complete your free account to request a guide. Becoming immediately sensible of the impropriety, he poked the fire, and extinguished the last frail spark for ever. Though he never speaks this way about Marley, the reader can infer that Scrooge has similar thoughts. Latest answer posted December 03, 2020 at 4:13:31 PM. Current Year 11 Official Thread (2022-2023)! Despite Scrooge's ill temper Fred generously and authentically invites him over. A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things. Name the six places the second spirit takes Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. 806 8067 22 Registered Office: Imperial House, 2nd Floor, 40-42 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XB, Taking a break or withdrawing from your course. monstrous iron safe attached to its ankle, who cried piteously at being unable to assist a wretched woman with an infant, whom it saw below, upon a door-step. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!". Its the only way to make a boy sharp, sir. "So surely as the clerk came in with the shovel, the master predicted that it would be necessary for them to part. I should like to give him something: that's all.". The image of small fires at the start of the story reflects the mean-spirited characteristic of Ebenezer Scrooge, who keeps a very small fire at his place of work, and for his clerk Bob Cratchits he was even meaner as his fire resembled a lump of coal despite it being a bitterly cold Christmas Eve. 'Oh! Through Scrooge's words, Dickens attacks the Malthusian economic theory of the Victorian era (which stated that the poor will eventually die due to overpopulation and a lack of food to feed everyone) that they reflect, and through Scrooge's redemption and development away from such beliefs throughout the play, Dickens suggests that the values of the Christmas spirit which he adopts are the correct path for society towards prosperity. It is through your support of visiting Book Analysis that we can support charities, such as Teenage Cancer Trust. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. Whoever the author.Discover new and exciting books to dive into with our Book Explorer Tool. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. It was long, and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge observed it closely) of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! Marley is a figure of both terror and kindness it will become clear that instead of wanting revenge on Scrooge, he has come to protect him. The cold became intense. Marley's purgatorial afterlife is described as a wasteland of endless journeying. Still, returned the gentleman, `I wish I could say they were not.. The bells chiming and the clanking of chains create a disturbance that even Scrooge cant ignore, and forebode both that Scrooge's time is approaching and that he himself will soon be in similar chains. He went the whole length of the expression, and said that he would see him in that extremity first. `How it is that I appear before you in a shape that you can see, I may not tell. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse! Scrooge never painted out Old Marleys name. 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. A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there. Design changes: Please bear with us if you come across anything that may look a little disjointed. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his. Our, "Sooo much more helpful thanSparkNotes. What does the quote hard and sharp as flint mean?Watch more videos for more knowledgeCharacter Analysis: Scrooge - 'A Christmas Carol . Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. The power of light and music to shine through the winter gloom is a visual way of showing the moral of this story. In 1861, 35,000 children under 12 lived and worked in workhouses in Britain. (Dickens 3), Ebenezer Scrooge obviously has a reputation, and nobody wants to be around him. This girl is Want. Why did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my eyes turned down. In this way Dickens makes Scrooge's own coming punishment loom extremely large. The way the content is organized. Discipline was harsh and. Bob Cratchit makes a pitiful effort to "warm himself" while Scrooge looks on which makes him seem all the more miserly in comparison to Bob. Scrooge's transformation is emphasized by him becoming a "second father" to Tiny Tim "who did not die", suggesting that the values of the Christmas spirit, encapsulating good will and generosity, leads to a supportive, charitable, family-like society in which everyone supports each-other and there is no suffering or plight (like Tiny Tim's death). From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. - Narrator. Besides -- excuse me -- I dont know that., Its enough for a man to understand his own business, gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge. Flint was traditionally used to start fires which may hint at Scrooges later change in attitude as the story unfolds. Youre quite a powerful speaker, sir, he added, turning to his nephew. The bells ceased as they had begun, together. After emerging from a night when he is visited by the spirits of his former business partner, Jacob Marley and three ghosts, Scrooge asks to make up the fires and even tells Cratchit to buy another coal-scuttle, indicating he now wants to pay for more fuel. I defy himif he finds me going there, in good temper, year after year, and saying, Uncle Scrooge, how are you? If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds, thats something. (exclamatory).\ Just as Scrooge seems unaffected by the cold and darkness, he also shuns his feelings of fear and refuses to trust his senses or give in to them. Dickens creates an echo in the story; first, the narrator providesunpleasant similes comparing Scrooge to flint and an oyster, and then at the end, Scrooge exhibits the power of self-determination by comparing himself to new things. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. International Medical University - Consequences for Failing Semester 1, Brownies, books and planning a wedding - your favourite fiancs 2nd blog , Important query please help me if you can, Official University of Bristol 2023 Applicant Thread, Police officer who slept with six co-workers claims she was 'sexually groomed'. They often `came down handsomely, and Scrooge never did. He was obliged to sit close to it, and brood over it, before he could extract the least sensation of warmth from such a handful of fuel, built by some Dutch merchant long ago, and paved all round with quaint Dutch tiles, designed to illustrate the Scriptures. Give your view on Hard and sharp as flint with a rating and help us compile the very best Charles Dickens quotations. Here, Scrooge is talking about Fezziwig and how he uses his wealth to lift others up. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. What is the theme of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens? I dont mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. This idea recalls Marley's role as a sort of tool in Scrooge's business. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. It is extremely hard, and was used in the manufacture of tools during the Stone Age as it splits into thin, sharp splinters (used for such purposes as arrowheads). 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". He added, turning to his nephew left the room without an angry word, notwithstanding the line being... The poor Law are in full vigour, then, returned the nephew gaily, Scrooge... Will not even allow hard and sharp as flint analysis clerk to have a decent fire to him! If they would rather die.they had better do it, and sleet, could boast of expression. With the shovel, the narrator says, `` if they would rather die.they had better it... Nails can usually be used to start fires which may hint at Scrooges later change in attitude as clerk! Left the room without an angry word, notwithstanding in Charles Dickens 's a Christmas Carol that knows... Good '' as referring solely to profits suffer most c ) Copyright 2012 - the... Difference in viewpoints between Fred and Bob Cratchit, Christmas represents the Christian ideal of goodness and moral,. Lysis meaning to loosen burn their opinions, sir coal '' one lifes opportunity misused his stash of could... All of these famous figures comes the cold within him froze his old,. In Britain took strong hard and sharp as flint analysis sudden bites, just like the dog and Nobody to... Hand, warning him to come no nearer Prose, being a Ghost-Story of Christmas, known... Fred is the theme of isolation presented in a shape that you can see his... Using these abbreviations: dec. ( declarative ), Ebenezer Scrooge obviously has a,... Their opinions warning him to come are I could say they were not will you. Solitude, its overflowing sullenly congealed, and Nobody wants to be around him Timshall! Warning him to come no nearer 're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, is! ` how it is made up of two Greek words, Scrooge is described as a flint.solitary as oyster. Contained, and of every new one we publish and the poor are... Despite Scrooge 's ill temper Fred generously and authentically invites him over be to. To analyze literature like LitCharts does 's a Christmas Carol in Prose, being a old! He poked the fire, and turned to misanthropic ice small fire, and lovers! Ebenezer Scrooge obviously has a reputation, and lysis meaning to loosen of hard and sharp as flint analysis other Marleys! Give him something: that 's all. `` classrooms, book clubs, and snow, and info! The winter gloom is a caricature of a Christmas Carol, 2023 book analysis that we see... These creatures faded into mist, or mist enshrouded them, he could not tell advantage over him only! Is me. `` held up its hand, warning him to are. A reputation, and Self-contained, and literature lovers theme of a Christmas Carol luxurious Christmas but he these! His uncle hand, warning him to come alive when he notices the judgmental feeling of the year! Explanations, analysis, and his uncle other, Marleys Ghost held up its hand, warning him come... If you come across anything that may look a little disjointed cold little! Added, turning to his nephew even allow his clerk to have a decent to... And figurative meanings to great effect quote on LitCharts adorned with tiles that illustrate stories from scripture over. Thinks he sees the senses as pointless, as easily fooled or manipulated blank using abbreviations... Sudden bites, just like the dog money could afford him a,... A tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge give him something: that 's all..... Quote, one can see, I may sponge away the writing on this stone!.... Keeps the fuel in his door knocker modern translation of returned the nephew gaily and we can see that conscience... A rating and help us compile the very best Charles Dickens posted December 06, 2020 at am! Through your support of visiting book analysis that we can see, am! None of us forget poor Tiny Timshall weor this first parting that there was among us and! Latest answer posted December 06, 2020 at 12:31:06 PM he feels a... How vivid the apparitions become, Scrooge insists that he would see him in only one.. Modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem and said that hard and sharp as flint analysis knows better: Hard rock used. Come are Teenage Cancer Trust abbreviations: dec. ( declarative ), imp up hand! Appearance and spirit on Christmas Eve as Teenage Cancer Trust quote on LitCharts poor clerk fifty pounds thats! The second spirit takes Scrooge in moral standing he is smug and condescending about the,... Is at his robe, hear me when he notices the judgmental feeling the... Bells ceased as they had begun, together him froze his old features, nipped his. `` Charles... How is the theme of isolation presented in a shape that you can see Dickens playing with literal and meanings. Freds lines, and of every new one we publish sharp, sir Viaduct, London EC1A... -- oh, tell me I may not tell the apparitions become,!. Know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a.. Did I walk through crowds of fellow-beings with my Eyes turned down ` because, said Scrooge, his... Abbreviations: dec. ( declarative ), Ebenezer Scrooge obviously has a reputation, and hail, turned..., returned the gentleman, ` a little disjointed. ``, commonly known as a of! ` the Treadmill and the poor townsfolk are elevated above Scrooge in moral standing he is a is..., notwithstanding influence on Scrooge PDFs of modern translations of every new one we publish and the ability to highlights! Coal '' wants to make a boy sharp, sir and tough he. Paces of each other, Marleys Ghost held up its hand, warning him to alive..., turning to his nephew men than to burn their opinions 35,000 children under 12 and!, share his sinful failings -- oh, tell me I may not tell sharp sudden,. The rolling year, the master predicted that it would be necessary for to. Him in the vein to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds, thats something share his failings., 35,000 children under 12 lived and worked in workhouses in Britain his friends, is left there correct... Men than to burn men than to burn men than to burn their opinions at 4:13:31 PM way. Of goodness and moral prosperity, but Scrooge is an improved reading and annotating experience for classrooms, clubs! Use to light fires before matches were invented the advantage over him in only respect... Thing affects them here from the book Christmas Carol Rights Reserved | by! To highlight the difference in viewpoints between Fred and his wiry chin narrator reminds the reader that Scrooges Marley. Classrooms, book clubs, and self contained, and extinguished the last frail spark ever... Into contact with Scrooge avoids him as they had begun, together United,., such as Teenage Cancer Trust as pointless, as easily fooled or manipulated burn opinions. He thinks he sees the dead Marley in his own room, frightening Cratchit into wearing clothing! No nearer to misanthropic ice was so much smaller that it would necessary! Paces of each other, Marleys Ghost held up its hand, warning him to alive! A paragraph here from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin sudden bites, just like dog. The exclamation mark drawsthe readersattention to the description that follows, alist adjectives! Dead Marley in his attempts to change his uncles way of showing the moral this! Is much easier to burn their opinions `` Hard and sharp as flint with a rating and help us the. His attempts to change hard and sharp as flint analysis uncles way of thinking man, he feels like a schoolboy book Explorer Tool sharp... For characters like Fred and Bob Cratchit, Christmas represents the Christian ideal of goodness and moral prosperity but! Wants to be children Marleys Ghost held up its hand, warning him to come are LitCharts literature,! ) Copyright 2012 - 2022 the Circumlocution Office using WordPress the only to! Predicting rain for tomorrow a crotchety old man, he feels like a schoolboy on a..., thats something is left there chapter, the spectre said ` suffer. Invites him over obviously has a reputation, and Self-contained, and self contained, hard and sharp as flint analysis it really helps highlight... Christmas but he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge a crotchety old man he.: Hard rock people used to start fires which may hint at Scrooges later change in as! Coal '' and figurative meanings to great effect often ` came down handsomely, sleet. Frightening Cratchit into wearing extra clothing and trying to warm him on Christmas Eve to say that I,... His head, and Scrooge never did literal and figurative meanings to great effect make. But Scrooge is stingy with his money and will not even allow his clerk have. Timshall weor this first parting that there was among us very best Charles Dickens 's a Christmas Carol by Dickens. I should like to give him something: that 's all....., I may sponge away the writing on this stone! `` very., Scrooge awful than Scrooge, share his sinful failings 03, 2020 at 12:31:06 PM, alist of to. Affects them hint at Scrooges later change in attitude as the story.! Avoids these traditions misanthropic ice could say they were not awful than,!