How does Dickens use the Ghost of Christmas Present in this extract to show the meaning of true Christmas spirit? DICKENS’ LESSON: HOW TO KEEP CHRISTMAS The Ghost shows Scrooge a number of scenes from the present on how those less fortunate than himself celebrates Christmas. The lesson seems to be that you do not have to be rich to possess a richness of spirit and concern for your fellow man. Scrooge seems the loser here. Christmas Quotations & analysis Message celebrations / tableaux shown to Scrooge London streets “The house fronts looked black enough... This use of colour shows that contrasting with the smooth white sheet of snow not all is as it seems (e.g. upon the roofs, and with the dirtier snow upon the black = evil) and that good can ground” – Dickens uses the weather here to hint at be found anywhere. deprivation of community, contrast between black and white. “the people who were shovelling away on the housetops were jovial and full of glee; calling out to one another”- Dickens shows us that food is “blended scents of tea and coffee were so grateful plentiful if you have means to to the nose, or even that the raisins were so pay for it. Seems harsh then plentiful” –grocers shops seem full and jolly that so many are starving? The Cratchitts
How does Dickens use the Ghost of Christmas Present in this extract to show the meaning of true Christmas spirit? DICKENS’ LESSON: HOW TO KEEP CHRISTMAS The Ghost shows Scrooge a number of scenes from the present on how those less fortunate than himself celebrates Christmas. The lesson seems to be that you do not have to be rich to possess a richness of spirit and concern for your fellow man. Scrooge seems the loser here. Christmas celebrations / tableaux shown to Scrooge Quotations & analysis Message London streets “The house fronts looked black enough... contrasting with the smooth white sheet of snow upon the roofs, and with the dirtier snow upon the ground” – Dickens uses the weather here to hint at deprivation of community, contrast between black and white. “the people who were shovelling away on the housetops were jovial and full of glee; calling out to one another”- “blended scents of tea and coffee were so grateful to the nose, or even that the raisins were so plentiful” –grocers shops seem full and jolly This use of colour shows that not all is as it seems (e.g. black = evil) and that good can be found anywhere. Dickens shows us that food is plentiful if you have means to pay for it. Seems harsh then that so many are starving? The Cratchitts
study_guide_christmas_carol.docx