5.1.2
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.
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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
2Key Characters & Quotes
2.1Ebenezer Scrooge
2.2Other Characters
2.2.1Bob Cratchit2.2.2Tiny Tim2.2.3Fred2.2.4The Ghosts Pt 12.2.5The Ghosts Pt 22.2.6End of Topic Test - Other Characters2.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Bob Marley2.2.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Two Ghosts2.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ghost of Christmas2.2.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Cratchits
2.3Grade 9 - Key Characters
3Key Ideas
4Context
5Authorial Method
6Recap: Main Quotes
Jump to other topics
1Plot Summary
2Key Characters & Quotes
2.1Ebenezer Scrooge
2.2Other Characters
2.2.1Bob Cratchit2.2.2Tiny Tim2.2.3Fred2.2.4The Ghosts Pt 12.2.5The Ghosts Pt 22.2.6End of Topic Test - Other Characters2.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Bob Marley2.2.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Two Ghosts2.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ghost of Christmas2.2.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Cratchits
2.3Grade 9 - Key Characters
3Key Ideas
4Context
5Authorial Method
6Recap: Main Quotes
Practice questions on Time Frame & Pace
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1Ways in which the present time is irregular:True / false
- 2The ghosts cover which time frames?Fill in the list
- 3When is the main story set?Multiple choice
- 4Quotes showing the Ghost of Christmas Past's franticness:Fill in the list
- 5Which of the 3 Ghosts does NOT appear in Stave 3?Multiple choice
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