Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in his usual melancholy tavern; beguiled the rest of the evening with his bankers-book, He lived in chambers which had once belonged to his deceased partner, it must have run there when it was a young house, playing at hide-and-seek with other houses, and forgotten the way out again. Characters of Martin Chuzzlewit: The Pecksniffs. It was double-locked, as he had locked it with his own hands, and the bolts were undisturbed. 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. secret, and self contained, and solitary as an oyster. Oh, no, no! The finger was still there. Youre rich enough., Scrooge having no better answer ready on the spur of the moment. Cite this Quote Flint and oysters are not very palatable things to be compared to. The best poem I have ever read is _____________________________________________ . Scrooge represents the ignorant attitude of the wealthy classes that Dickens despised in his own society. a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Scrooge is especially disgruntled when Fred mentions his wife, for example. But in Dickens's era, it was customary to hammer doornails into doors in such a way that made them useless for anything else. -, "The ancient tower of a church whose gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge", Click here to study/print these flashcards. Spirit! he cried, tight clutching at his robe, hear me! Scrooge=isolation. `The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then? said Scrooge. Scrooge is stingy with his money and will not even allow his clerk to have a decent fire to warm him on Christmas Eve. `What right have you to be dismal? It is made up of two Greek words, ana meaning up, and lysis meaning to loosen. The narrator describes Scrooge as "Hard and sharp as flint." His appearance matches his character, with cold-looking, pointy features. By contrast, scenes of happiness and generosity are represented by large fires, such as that of a party in a scene from the past held by Fezziwig, where fuel was heaped upon the fire, so much so that the generous host had a positive light appeared to issue from Fezziwigs calves which shone like moons. Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend, and sole mourner. There is no doubt whatever about that. 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. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his. The fact that there are three spirits and that they will arrive at the same time for the next three nights creates a definite, easy structure for Scrooge, and the story, to follow. Struggling with distance learning? To say that Scrooge could be made neither warm nor cold by any outside influence again paints him as an outcast. Hot and Cold Extensive imagery describes Scrooge as cold because of his cold heart; in contrast, his nephew is described as warm because he is merry and loving. At the very least, this alone would make him an outsider. I'll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family, and we will discuss you affairs this very afternoon". Scrooge! Instant PDF downloads. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping,scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! But the wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Countrys done for. Oh! Scrooge describes himself now as a "school-boy", in contrast to his earlier statement from his younger self that "I was a boy" (in which he criticized his younger self, believing to have grown wiser) from stave 2. 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, "Secret, And Self-contained, And Solitary As An Oyster". Even the blind men's dogs appeared to know him, and when they saw him coming on would tug their owners into doorways and up courts, and then would wag their tails as though they said, 'No eye at all is better than an evil eye, dark master!'" "Oh! But alongside this caricature of Scrooge, through the wailings of the multitude he also paints a picture of a spirit realm thats full to bursting with chained-up repentors. "Hard and sharp as a flint.solitary as an oyster." His business partner, the equally mean Jacob Marley, died seven years previous and he lives alone, having never married. Discover more quotations from A Christmas Carol. "suggests that even the narrator is overwhelmed by how outrageously unpleasant 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. The novel 'A Christmas Carol' narrates the story of a man called Scrooge and how he realises his behaviour to people must change in order to do well in his life as spirits show his past, present and future. Whatever the genre. Fred is unrelenting in his attempts to change his uncles way of thinking. "What then? This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. He believes solely in money. In the back and forth about marriage the story drops hints about Scrooges past that will become clear later. This is one of Freds lines, and it really helps to highlight the difference in viewpoints between Fred and his uncle. Click the card to flip . I was too cowardly to do what I knew to be right, as I had been too cowardly to avoid doing what I knew to be wrong. This self-description provides evidence of his transformation. Early in the chapter, the narrator says, "Oh! To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call `nuts to Scrooge. Marleys ghost is a terrifying figure - his huge clanking chain makes him look like an exaggeration of a typical Victorian prisoner. The exclamation mark in "Oh! Not to know that no space of regret can make amends for one lifes opportunity misused! Mind! Refine any search. "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). They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good. Marley really makes things clear for Scrooge. Download. A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! 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. 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. Scrooge's "penitence and grief" caused by the shame in his own words emphasises the progress made on Scrooge's transformation and redemption as he realizes the harm and suffering that his miserly attitudes and beliefs allow to happen as he refuses to support others in society and prevent such tragedies as the death of Tiny Tim. Name the six places the second spirit takes Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. "Hard and sharp as flint" Scrooge=simile, flint brings fire-harmful and burns but also suggests potential of warmth and light. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. Home Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol Best Quotes. Let us know your assignment type and we'll make sure to get you exactly the kind of answer you need. Term. Here in this quote, one can see Dickens playing with literal and figurative meanings to great effect. Scrooge, however, aggressively fights it off. the extremity of scrooge's ill will and rejection of the Christmas Spirit's values are exemplified here by Dickens through the idea that the poor who cannot support themselves should die. Stave One. 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. Analysis, Pages 4 (801 words) Views. Scrooge is Hard and sharp as flint (p. 2). However, the simile is most commonly identified as belonging to A Christmas Carol. - Narrator. 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". You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. The Spirits of all three shall strive within me. Scrooge had often heard it said that Marley had no bowels, but he had never believed it until now. Flint is a form of the mineral quartz, which occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalk and limestones. Indeed, Scrooge has become a new man. 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. I should like to give him something: that's all.". This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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. (meaning rubbish or nonsense) suggesting that scrooge is dismissive of Christmas and the values that come with it, and the animalistic onomatopoeia of "bah!" Its the only way to make a boy sharp, sir. a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Whoever the author.Discover new and exciting books to dive into with our Book Explorer Tool. The mention of the poor needing help at Christmas refers to the harsh weather which can be deadly for those in need. 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. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. The owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs, regale him with a Christmas carol: but at the first sound of, Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action. Come! Whereas the line about being solitary as an oyster suggests that Scrooge refuses to let anybody into his life. Flint is a form of the mineral quartz, which occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalk and limestones. A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas, commonly known as A Christmas Carol. The happiness he gives is quite as great as if it costs a fortune. Before telling us the incident with the door knocker, In order to make this night stand out as a unique milestone in Scrooges routine existence, the narrator focuses first on Scrooge's sanity and the usual normality of his world. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster." 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