Settings, Similes & Metaphors

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Pathetic Fallacy - Fog

Pathetic fallacy is when the weather is used to reflect the mood of the story or the characters.

Significance of fog

Throughout the novella, Charles Dickens uses pathetic fallacy to indicate that Scrooge is stuck in a “fog” of misery and despair, from which he cannot seem to escape.

Lack of enjoyment

Fog and frost hang in the air throughout Stave 1: “It was cold, bleak, biting weather: foggy withal”.
This symbolises Scrooge’s lack of enjoyment in his life: his heart is “cold” and unemotional, his life is “bleak” and joyless, and he has created a “fog” for himself out of his own unhappiness.
Scrooge cannot see the enjoyment in his life because he is metaphorically trapped in the fog of his own despair and loneliness.

Intensifies with negative actions

In Stave 1, as Scrooge rudely dismisses the men asking him for money for the poor, “the fog and darkness thickened”.
- Scrooge’s negative actions make the “fog” in his life even worse.
- Dickens presents the idea that if Scrooge continues to behave this way, and treat others so badly, he will never find a way out of the “fog” of misery and will never have a happy life.

Transformation

In Stave 5, for the first time there is “no fog” outside.
The weather is described as “clear, bright, jovial” with “golden sunlight”.
This could suggest that the metaphorical fog which had blocked the joy and goodness from his life has now been cleared away, leaving room for life and fun to sweep in and make him happy.
Scrooge has become much kinder and more generous.

Personification

Personification is when an object is given human characteristics.

Creates supernatural atmosphere

Scrooge sees the bell that announces the arrival of the Ghosts "peeping slily" at him.
- This gives a sense of unease and reflects the fact that the bell is announcing the supernatural and something somewhat ominous.

Lightens mood

In Stave 2, the narrator says the "crisp air laughed" at the boys, Scrooge and the Ghost pass.
This personification helps to set the mood - the weather reflects the happiness of the boys and young children in general. The joy at this moment later contrasts to the young, sad Scrooge in his schoolhouse.

Throughout the novella, Charles Dickens uses a number of similes and metaphors to describe Scrooge and his life. This language allows readers to draw their own conclusions about the dual meaning behind the descriptions given.

Simile

“Solitary as an oyster”.
- Suggests that Scrooge can survive on his own, that he has a hard exterior that’s tough to crack.
- But could also suggest that there is a pearl inside him – underneath all of his defences, he does have the capacity for love, generosity and kindness.

Darkness metaphor

“Darkness was cheap and Scrooge liked it”.
- Dual, metaphorical meaning – darkness itself is literally cheap because it does not cost anything (whereas lighting the room would require coal).
- Darkness is also metaphorical – it is easier for Scrooge to be unemotional and not let people get close, to be unkind and not to be generous. For him to experience metaphorical lightness, he would have to make an effort to be a good person.

Darkness metaphor (continued)

According to this metaphor, Scrooge likes the dark because he does not have to pay to light the room, but also likes to live a lonely, unhappy life because it is easier.

Chain metaphor

“I wear the chain I forged in life”.
- Jacob Marley talks about the chain he is forced to wear as a ghost – this chain is metaphorically made from all of the bad things he did, and the negative consequences of his actions, which metaphorically weigh him down and stop him moving on.

Chain metaphor (continued)

This could also suggest a “chain” of events – one nasty/negative action can lead to others, which have horrible impacts on other people.

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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