Time Frame & Pace

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Manipulation of Time

The novella doesn't have a normal time sequence.

Main story

The main story happens in the present, but the three middle staves journey into different time zones:
- Scrooge's past.
- Scrooge's present (but a different present to the main story).
- Scrooge's future.

Journeys with the Ghosts

The Ghosts take Scrooge on journeys in time. But even when they are in different time zones (e.g past) they jump between different scenes in Scrooge's life within the overarching time frames of past, present and future.

Present time

Even present time (in between the Ghosts' visits) doesn't flow as expected.
- Scrooge falls asleep at 2am.
- He awakes at 1am when the first ghost arrives.
- All 3 Ghosts appear to Scrooge in 1 night.

Pace

With each ghostly visit, the pace of the narrative speeds up. This gives the sense that time is running out for Scrooge, and he needs to learn his lessons and change his ways very quickly.

Ghost of Christmas Past

The Ghost asks Scrooge to hurry and makes Scrooge aware that time is running out (for both of them): "My time grows short... Quick!"
The Ghost becomes more and more frantic, emphasised by the repetition of "let us":
- "Let us go on... Let us see another Christmas!"

Ghost of Christmas Present

Like the previous Ghost, the Ghost of Christmas Present emphasises to Scrooge that he has limited time with him: "My life upon this globe, is very brief".
The Ghost speeds through scenes: as well as visiting the Cratchit's house and Fred's party, they whiz through other Christmas parties.

Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

Again, this ghost rushes Scrooge through many different scenes before making him confront his gravestone.
You could argue that the Ghost is in such a rush to get through many things that he appears in Stave 3 ahead of the expected time.

Scrooge

Scrooge helps to quicken the pace of the narrative in Stave 4.
- While in Stave 2, Scrooge tried to avoid learning the Ghost's lessons (“I am a mortal and liable to fall”), but in Stave 4 he asks the final ghost to "lead on!"
- The fact that Scrooge tries to quicken the pace shows how much he has changed: he desperately wants to speed towards redemption.

1Plot Summary

1.1Plot Summary

1.1.1Outline

1.1.2Introducing Scrooge & Marley

1.1.3Stave 1

1.1.4Stave 2

1.1.5Stave 3

1.1.6End of Topic Test - Staves 1-3

1.1.7Stave 4

1.1.8Stave 5

1.1.9End of Topic Test - Staves 4-5

2Key Characters & Quotes

2.1Ebenezer Scrooge

2.1.1Outline & Stave 1

2.1.2Stave 2

2.1.3Stave 3

2.1.4Stave 4

2.1.5Stave 5 & Key Quotes

2.1.6End of Topic Test - Ebeneezer Scrooge

2.2Other Characters

2.2.1Bob Cratchit

2.2.2Tiny Tim

2.2.3Fred

2.2.4The Ghosts Pt 1

2.2.5The Ghosts Pt 2

2.2.6End of Topic Test - Other Characters

2.3Grade 9 - Key Characters

2.3.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

2.3.2Grade 9 - Extract Analysis

3Key Ideas

3.1Key Ideas

3.1.1Inequality, Ignorance & Want

3.1.2Duality, Family & Love

3.1.3Christianity & Redemption

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Key Ideas

3.1.5Grade 9 - Key Themes

4Context

4.1Context

4.1.1Dickens & Victorian England

4.1.2Poverty & Victorian Christmas

4.1.3Exam-Style Questions - Poverty

4.1.4Gothic Fiction

4.1.5Gothic Fiction & Victorian England

4.1.6End of Topic Test - Context

5Authorial Method

5.1Structure & Techniques

5.1.1Structure & Time

5.1.2Time Frame & Pace

5.1.3Narrative Voice & Tone

5.1.4Settings, Similes & Metaphors

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Authorial Method

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