A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Thread

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If anything, I HIGHLY recommend that everyone looks about ACC book critiques. I've talked to past students and that is key to knowledge of the text.
Just throwing that out there.

[Yacoubb]

If anything, I HIGHLY recommend that everyone looks about ACC book critiques. I've talked to past students and that is key to knowledge of the text.
Just throwing that out there.

The best form of analysis. I think Dickens thoroughly appreciates literature and the delivery of message through rich adjectives, and vivid illustrations!! Thoughts?

[katiesaliba]

What does the Crachit family represent?
Deatailed and in-depth responses appreciated 

They starkly contrast Scrooge's demeanour and worldly ignorance. The Cratchit's truly epitomise "joy, and gratitude, and ecstasy"-the very qualities that Scrooge missed out on acquiring due to his greed. Thus, the family serve as a reminder of what comes as a result of kindness. They also personify poverty so that Scrooge can actually visualise the casualties that will "decrease the surplus population" due to his miserliness. Guilt and remorse-things that Scrooge had previously suppressed- will consequently surface. Of course, as the juxtaposition between the family and Scrooge is so very obvious, it's all rather sentimentalised (to enthral readers with the poignancy...*ahem*, I sense a rhetoric device here!)

[Rishi97]

Hey everyone

Could someone please help me re-word this sentence so it sounds more sophisticated and "yr 12" standard? 
I'm talking about what role the ghost of Christmas past has in changing scrooge

The ghost of Christmas Past enables Scrooge to re-experience his “solitary” past and allow him to realise how he was treated which hopefully allows him to change his ways towards others.

Thanks

[Yacoubb]

Hey everyone

Could someone please help me re-word this sentence so it sounds more sophisticated and "yr 12" standard? 
I'm talking about what role the ghost of Christmas past has in changing scrooge

The ghost of Christmas Past enables Scrooge to re-experience his “solitary” past and allow him to realise how he was treated which hopefully allows him to change his ways towards others.

Thanks

The Spirit of Christmas Past presents Scrooge with the shadows of his 'solitary' life, in the hope of the 'scraping' Scrooge rekindling the memories he shares with others. In doing so, the spectral being enables Scrooge to recognise the importance of mending his apathetic ways.

[Rishi97]

The Spirit of Christmas Past presents Scrooge with the shadows of his 'solitary' life, in the hope of the 'scraping' Scrooge rekindling the memories he shares with others. In doing so, the spectral being enables Scrooge to recognise the importance of mending his apathetic ways.

Thanks Yacoubb!!! Sounds much better now
just out of interest, roughly how many words are your introductions?

[Yacoubb]

Thanks Yacoubb!!! Sounds much better now
just out of interest, roughly how many words are your introductions?

My pleasure
No more than 150 words, generally speaking.

[Rishi97]

I'm finding this topic pretty difficult:
‘A Christmas Carol is as much a story about the human cost of social inequality as it is about the capacity of people to do good.’

Anyone have any ideas of what I could include in the body paragraphs?

Much appreciated

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I'm finding this topic pretty difficult:
‘A Christmas Carol is as much a story about the human cost of social inequality as it is about the capacity of people to do good.’

Anyone have any ideas of what I could include in the body paragraphs?

Well basically the overarching contention from Dickens with the novella is the first concept, being a political pamphlet, and the later is the general story.
However looking at the prompt, I believe you have to use the two sentiments concurrently.

The big idea from this is Want and Ignorance. This scene concluding the third stave is pivotal to answer this prompt. You can juxtapose this with the scene of the forth stave when the ghost shows Scrooge the "cesspools" of the lower class area. Hence you must relate this to the final stave for Scrooge going about the streets being merry and giving money.

A pertinent example is Bob Cratchit. There is a plethora of examples to his low social inequality, however being the ideal citizen, yet still living in the lower class area. Thus again juxtaposing to the final stave for Scrooge to help him out and such.

Now thinking about it. You can also flip the prompt on it's head and go against it by saying either of the sentiments precedes the other. In a way I personally believe the first precedes it as well, again, the intention of the novella is the message of redemption for the Victorian society. So you can point to how Dickens does this subtly by instead of making it obvious by bluntly stating "oh yeah redemption or children will and blah blah", which would be awkward, he does this in a 'smarter' way. He rebukes Scrooge's comments.

I can go on for a while but if that doesn't help to get ideas running then get back to me.

[Yacoubb]

Hi guys so another potential question I believe they may ask, which they haven't in VCAA exams, is:

How plausible/believable is Scrooge's transformation?

Now I'd argue that to a certain extent, Scrooge's redemption is plausible.
* The dramatic transformation from a 'covetous, old sinner' to a giving philanthropist in a single night may undermine the plausibility of Scrooge's transformation. However, the redeemed man he becomes embodies the same character that he once lived through, that he has repressed due to becoming engrossed by the 'master passion, Gain'. This indicates that his true generosity of spirit is not foreign, and thus the practice of this generosity is plausible/believable.
* Mediating Scrooge's journey to redemption are supernatural figures capable of creating temporal inconsistencies. Such a medium to employ for the recluse's transformation can diminish the credibility of his transformation. Notwithstanding, the spirits help Scrooge through the tri-temporal process of healing that involves a pilgrimage into 'the Past, the Present and the Future'. In this way, Scrooge is able to articulate his own, acknowledged failings, and mend his avaricious ways accordingly, exemplifying his desire to change as opposed to it being forced.

Does anyone have any other arguments to add to what I've got above? ^ I mean I could perhaps break them up into four paragraphs, but I think I'd like one more argument for a sense of fulfilment, haha! happy studying everybody!

[nhmn0301]

Hi guys so another potential question I believe they may ask, which they haven't in VCAA exams, is:

How plausible/believable is Scrooge's transformation?

Now I'd argue that to a certain extent, Scrooge's redemption is plausible.
* The dramatic transformation from a 'covetous, old sinner' to a giving philanthropist in a single night may undermine the plausibility of Scrooge's transformation. However, the redeemed man he becomes embodies the same character that he once lived through, that he has repressed due to becoming engrossed by the 'master passion, Gain'. This indicates that his true generosity of spirit is not foreign, and thus the practice of this generosity is plausible/believable.
* Mediating Scrooge's journey to redemption are supernatural figures capable of creating temporal inconsistencies. Such a medium to employ for the recluse's transformation can diminish the credibility of his transformation. Notwithstanding, the spirits help Scrooge through the tri-temporal process of healing that involves a pilgrimage into 'the Past, the Present and the Future'. In this way, Scrooge is able to articulate his own, acknowledged failings, and mend his avaricious ways accordingly, exemplifying his desire to change as opposed to it being forced.

Does anyone have any other arguments to add to what I've got above? ^ I mean I could perhaps break them up into four paragraphs, but I think I'd like one more argument for a sense of fulfilment, haha! happy studying everybody!

I think the above arguments sound pretty good . I think I would make 1 more base on the connection between imaginative landscape and Scrooge's real emotions towards it.
*Throughout the novella, the places Scrooge visits play a significant role in shaping the miser emotions and compassion towards the sufferings of others. Though the enlightening trip through time can be purely imaginative and unconceivable, it is the miser's sincere emotion towards the familiar scenes and love warmth that resonates in readers mind and reinforce their certainty of Scrooge's transformation.
My phrasing might not be very good but hope that helps !

[Yacoubb]

I think the above arguments sound pretty good . I think I would make 1 more base on the connection between imaginative landscape and Scrooge's real emotions towards it.
*Throughout the novella, the places Scrooge visits play a significant role in shaping the miser emotions and compassion towards the sufferings of others. Though the enlightening trip through time can be purely imaginative and unconceivable, it is the miser's sincere emotion towards the familiar scenes and love warmth that resonates in readers mind and reinforce their certainty of Scrooge's transformation.
My phrasing might not be very good but hope that helps !

Excellent point! I think that the sincere emotion he displays when he visits various locations, and observes the true characters of individuals, reinstates that he is genuine in the acknowledgment of his failings. Thus, his redemption is plausible as it demonstrates that his transformation is not based entirely on self-preservation.

I think my body paragraph order:
*The dramatic transformation from a 'covetous, old sinner' to a giving philanthropist in a single night may undermine the plausibility of Scrooge's transformation. However, the redeemed man he becomes embodies the same character that he once lived through, that he has repressed due to becoming engrossed by the 'master passion, Gain'. This indicates that his true generosity of spirit is not foreign, and thus the practice of this generosity is plausible/believable.
*Mediating Scrooge's journey to redemption are supernatural figures capable of creating temporal inconsistencies. Such a medium to employ for the recluse's transformation can diminish the credibility of his transformation. Notwithstanding, the spirits help Scrooge through the tri-temporal process of healing that involves a pilgrimage into 'the Past, the Present and the Future'. In this way, Scrooge is able to articulate his own, acknowledged failings, and mend his avaricious ways accordingly, exemplifying his desire to change as opposed to it being forced.
*The sincere emotion he displays when he visits various locations, and observes the true characters of individuals, reinstates that he is genuine in the acknowledgment of his failings. Thus, his redemption is plausible as it demonstrates that his transformation is not based entirely on self-preservation.

[Yacoubb]

Something I thought of is coming up with the social norms of Victorian England during Dickens' time. This is because I found the following question for 'A Christmas Carol':

‘Dickens challenges social norms through his portrayal of the attitudes of the wealthy and behaviour of the impoverished’. Discuss.

So Dickens challenges social norms:
* Was a social norm that the wealthy, who rigidly adhered to their Malthusian theories of economics and social-utilitarianism, were not disposed towards the neediest in their midst.
* Was a social norm that employers were exploited by their employees during the time of social injustice and rampant industrialism?
* Was a social norm that generosity was practised exclusively during the Yuletide season? Does Dickens challenge this by explaining how the 'even-handed dealings of the world exist' irrespective of the season throughout the 'long calendar of the year'? Does he not say that we must maintain the Christmas spirit, by depicting the state of the poor and indicating that the generosity espoused by Christmas should be maintained throughout the year to soothe the conditions of the poor?

Could someone perhaps validate my arguments, and please feel free to add anything you wish.

[Yacoubb]

I'm finding this topic pretty difficult:
‘A Christmas Carol is as much a story about the human cost of social inequality as it is about the capacity of people to do good.’

Anyone have any ideas of what I could include in the body paragraphs?

Much appreciated

I know this is an ancient post, but thought I'd tackle the question in case others want to discuss it or have queries about it. I would approach this essay by having each paragraph how Dickens describes the cost of social inequality, and through that, how he discusses the capacity to do good.

E.g. Tiny Tim is marginalised socio-economically and as a result of his physical disability. Belonging to the under-class dichotomy, which in the Victorian era are in dire circumstances, Tiny Tim has very little hope of surviving with limited healthcare. By portraying the redoubtable protagonist, Ebenezer Scrooge, as becoming a second father to Tiny Tim following his reclamation, Dickens reinstates the notion that the wealthy must become disposed towards the neediest in their midst, particularly those suffering at the hands of their social-utilitarian society.

E.g. During the pilgrimage to 'the Future' with the ominous and anonymous Spirit of Christmas Yet to Come, Scrooge witnesses the appalling living conditions of the 'obcure part of town' of 'bad repute'. It is within this microcosm of the slums that Dickens exemplifies the dire circumstances of the poor and destitute, who are depicted as being 'slipshod, ugly'. Moreover, the revelation that institutions such as the Poor Laws and the Treadmill 'scarcely furnish Christian cheer of mind' epitomises the suffering the poor and destitute, who are undermined by their position in society. Notwithstanding, it is through this depiction and Scrooge's subsequent transformaion that Dickens reiterates the essence of making a 'many-back payments' to soothe the suffering of the less fortunate, and attain a world where the needs of the less fortunate are catered to.

That's a start so perhaps we can have a discussion about this. so glad I chose A Christmas Carol over Twelve Angry Men. I'm thoroughly enjoying preparing for the exam knowing that I enjoy the texts that I'm studying!

[faredcarsking123]

Hi guys,

‘It is the gothic elements of ghosts and time-shifts that give suspense to what is otherwise only a simple tale.’ Do you agree?

For the above question, I'm having difficulty in writing a paragraph concerning the ghosts and the gothic elements of the tale, can anyone give me a hand?