ACC – Key Quotes & Analysis
Scrooge: Start
“Hard and sharp as flint”
Scrooge: Simile. Shows how Scrooge is tough and hard especially after living most of
his life alone, however hard could also show how he’s stubborn and can become
easily stuck on a single purpose. It may show how he isn’t capable of fully changing
due to flints inflexibility. The sharpness suggests that he can be dangerous however
also quick witted and intelligent. Cold and tough. – Stave 1
“Solitary as an oyster.”
Scrooge: Simile. Like an oyster he keeps himself to himself, hidden beneath a hard-
shell that he uses to protect himself from the world. However, just like an oyster he
is soft and vulnerable on the inside. Scrooge also holds on to a great change,
whereas just like how oysters can turn sand into a pearl, Scrooge has great potential
to become a better person. – Stave 1
“If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population.”
Scrooge: Metaphor. Scrooge references a famous essay by Thomas Malthus, who
argued that at some point there would simply be too many people for society to
support. He has acting very harsh demonstrating his lack of care for others especially
those in poverty. Dickens is also referencing the rich’s lack of care as a whole.
Scrooge: End
“I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy”
Scrooge: 3 consecutive similes that reference different parts of the play. Being light
refers to the chain he felt is no longer weighing him down. He is no longer a
“covetous old sinner” but happy now, drawing a correlation between being good and
being happy as dickens believed being good is the happiest you will be. Dickens
wants to reference the playfulness of youth even though Scrooge didn’t have a good
childhood. – Stave 5
“I’m quite a baby. Never mind. I’d rather be a baby.”
Scrooge: This is the quintessential image of Scrooge being reborn as a new person. In
many ways the book is really a coming-of-age story, he starts as an embittered old
man and becomes filled with the wonder of youth by the end. He unlearns what he’s
learnt during his life, the knowledge that he once thought was wisdom is now what
he would be happier without. – Stave 5
Scrooge: Start
“Hard and sharp as flint”
Scrooge: Simile. Shows how Scrooge is tough and hard especially after living most of
his life alone, however hard could also show how he’s stubborn and can become
easily stuck on a single purpose. It may show how he isn’t capable of fully changing
due to flints inflexibility. The sharpness suggests that he can be dangerous however
also quick witted and intelligent. Cold and tough. – Stave 1
“Solitary as an oyster.”
Scrooge: Simile. Like an oyster he keeps himself to himself, hidden beneath a hard-
shell that he uses to protect himself from the world. However, just like an oyster he
is soft and vulnerable on the inside. Scrooge also holds on to a great change,
whereas just like how oysters can turn sand into a pearl, Scrooge has great potential
to become a better person. – Stave 1
“If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population.”
Scrooge: Metaphor. Scrooge references a famous essay by Thomas Malthus, who
argued that at some point there would simply be too many people for society to
support. He has acting very harsh demonstrating his lack of care for others especially
those in poverty. Dickens is also referencing the rich’s lack of care as a whole.
Scrooge: End
“I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a schoolboy”
Scrooge: 3 consecutive similes that reference different parts of the play. Being light
refers to the chain he felt is no longer weighing him down. He is no longer a
“covetous old sinner” but happy now, drawing a correlation between being good and
being happy as dickens believed being good is the happiest you will be. Dickens
wants to reference the playfulness of youth even though Scrooge didn’t have a good
childhood. – Stave 5
“I’m quite a baby. Never mind. I’d rather be a baby.”
Scrooge: This is the quintessential image of Scrooge being reborn as a new person. In
many ways the book is really a coming-of-age story, he starts as an embittered old
man and becomes filled with the wonder of youth by the end. He unlearns what he’s
learnt during his life, the knowledge that he once thought was wisdom is now what
he would be happier without. – Stave 5
