Ghosts q’s
Questions: 1) What is the symbolic significance of the fact that the Ghost of Christmas Past is
associated with light?
The ghosts, excluding Jacob Marley, are incarnations of Christmas. The jet of light that comes from
the ghost of Christmas past symbolises knowledge by reflecting upon the past Scrooge will
understand himself better and become a wiser person. Light is usually connotated with hope this
implies that this ghost will not be frightening but is there to help Scrooge with his transformation.
Allowing scrooge to reflect upon his past he may understand himself and the impact of the choices
in life he has made.
2) How does Dickens use colour imagery when describing the Ghost of Christmas Past?
‘a tunic of the purest white’. White symbolises the purity and innocence of the ghost associated with
childhood; it may also associated with the ghosts positive intentions towards scrooge. Just before
the end of this part of the novella scrooge seized the extinguisher and places it on the ghosts head.
This could symbolise that scrooge has been able to ignore the painful memories of his past by
blocking them out or extinguishing them. However, Scrooge is unable to extinguish the light
completely this suggests that the memories and lessons that the ghost has taught him will remain
with him for the rest of his life.
3) How does the reader know that the Ghost of Christmas Present is non-threatening?
‘a jolly giant’ is positioned in the sentence as being non-threatening to both the reader/audience
and Scrooge. This is a spirit that’s physical presence and jolliness fills the room perhaps conveying
Dickens’s desire for good will in all forms. The ‘horn’ is the horn of plenty and could symbolise
abundance and fertility. Sematic field of light. Light further symbolises knowledge. The spirit has
literally and metaphorically shed light on Scrooges misdemeanours. To show hoe others are
celebrating Christmas there is a sense of community and togetherness in all of the different classes
Christmas celebrations symbolising the similarities between the poor and the wealthy.
4) What kind of imagery is used to describe the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come? Give two examples.
Using death imagery: he looks like the grim reaper. Personification of the ghost ‘shrouded in a black
garment’. Grim reaper is to collect soles of the dead and this character is to warn scrooge that he is
facing a lonely demise if he doesn’t change his ways. Dickens employs a pun ‘shrouded’ which is a
length of cloth that is used to wrap around someone who is being buried and is also something that
is used to cover something up making it difficult to see. ‘black’ connotes strength, power, mystery,
and death. By depicting this character as wearing a garment dickens is aligning this character with
fear.
5) How does the tone change at this moment: ‘“Are there no prisons?” said the Spirit, turning on him
for the last time with his own words. “Are there no workhouses?”
The utilisation of the change in tone gives a sarcastic demeanour that surrounds the ghost of
Christmas past almost mocking scrooge. Dickens may deploy this sarcasm to present to the reader
the foolishness of scrooges ways placing a negative impetus upon Scrooge and his ways perhaps
conveying that the Victorian audience should embrace the Christmas spirit and giving to the poor
which scrooge does not.
Questions: 1) What is the symbolic significance of the fact that the Ghost of Christmas Past is
associated with light?
The ghosts, excluding Jacob Marley, are incarnations of Christmas. The jet of light that comes from
the ghost of Christmas past symbolises knowledge by reflecting upon the past Scrooge will
understand himself better and become a wiser person. Light is usually connotated with hope this
implies that this ghost will not be frightening but is there to help Scrooge with his transformation.
Allowing scrooge to reflect upon his past he may understand himself and the impact of the choices
in life he has made.
2) How does Dickens use colour imagery when describing the Ghost of Christmas Past?
‘a tunic of the purest white’. White symbolises the purity and innocence of the ghost associated with
childhood; it may also associated with the ghosts positive intentions towards scrooge. Just before
the end of this part of the novella scrooge seized the extinguisher and places it on the ghosts head.
This could symbolise that scrooge has been able to ignore the painful memories of his past by
blocking them out or extinguishing them. However, Scrooge is unable to extinguish the light
completely this suggests that the memories and lessons that the ghost has taught him will remain
with him for the rest of his life.
3) How does the reader know that the Ghost of Christmas Present is non-threatening?
‘a jolly giant’ is positioned in the sentence as being non-threatening to both the reader/audience
and Scrooge. This is a spirit that’s physical presence and jolliness fills the room perhaps conveying
Dickens’s desire for good will in all forms. The ‘horn’ is the horn of plenty and could symbolise
abundance and fertility. Sematic field of light. Light further symbolises knowledge. The spirit has
literally and metaphorically shed light on Scrooges misdemeanours. To show hoe others are
celebrating Christmas there is a sense of community and togetherness in all of the different classes
Christmas celebrations symbolising the similarities between the poor and the wealthy.
4) What kind of imagery is used to describe the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come? Give two examples.
Using death imagery: he looks like the grim reaper. Personification of the ghost ‘shrouded in a black
garment’. Grim reaper is to collect soles of the dead and this character is to warn scrooge that he is
facing a lonely demise if he doesn’t change his ways. Dickens employs a pun ‘shrouded’ which is a
length of cloth that is used to wrap around someone who is being buried and is also something that
is used to cover something up making it difficult to see. ‘black’ connotes strength, power, mystery,
and death. By depicting this character as wearing a garment dickens is aligning this character with
fear.
5) How does the tone change at this moment: ‘“Are there no prisons?” said the Spirit, turning on him
for the last time with his own words. “Are there no workhouses?”
The utilisation of the change in tone gives a sarcastic demeanour that surrounds the ghost of
Christmas past almost mocking scrooge. Dickens may deploy this sarcasm to present to the reader
the foolishness of scrooges ways placing a negative impetus upon Scrooge and his ways perhaps
conveying that the Victorian audience should embrace the Christmas spirit and giving to the poor
which scrooge does not.
