Scrooge Quotes

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Scrooge: Key Quotes

Here are some key quotes about Scrooge from Staves 1-3:

Stave 1

“Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone”.
- Scrooge begins the story as a money-grabbing, selfish old man. His only concern (and his obsession) is making money, and he works hard for it – he also makes other people work hard for him in an attempt to gain even more money.

Stave 2

“A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there still”.
- This quote makes us feel some sympathy for young Scrooge. The adjective “solitary” and the verb “neglected” show that Scrooge began his life with few friends and began his life alone.
- This makes us wonder if he has chosen a lonely life because he was lonely as a child. It also makes the reader wonder why he would want to be alone as an adult, especially after being alone so much as a child.

Stave 3

“Though the Spirit’s eyes were clear and kind, he did not like to meet them”.
- After his encounter with the first Ghost, Scrooge has begun to see that he has made some bad choices in life.
- Therefore, when he meets the second Ghost, he can’t even look it in the eye because he feels so guilty.
- He also knows that this Ghost will likely give him more information to feel guilty about, and is not looking forward to seeing the consequences of his actions.

Scrooge: Key Quotes

Here are key quotes about Scrooge from Staves 4-5:

Stave 4

“I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been”.
- The verb “must” suggests that Scrooge was not really aware of what he had become, or the consequences of it, before the Ghosts showed him.
- He feels that he has definitely learnt a valuable lesson and, because of this, has completely changed. He will no longer live a solitary, miserable, selfish, uncaring life, but is determined to change and treat people better.

Stave 5

“Scrooge was better than his word. He did it all”.
- Dickens wanted to be clear at the end that Scrooge did not just claim he had changed, but proved it through his actions.
- He actively strove to become a good man, and worked every day to be better.
- This shows that it was not just a ghost story for Scrooge, but something which changed his life.
- Dickens also wanted to tell Victorian England that they needed to take action and do something to help, not just sit back complacently.

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

1.1.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - Belle

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

2.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - 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

2.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Bob Marley

2.2.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Two Ghosts

2.2.9Diagnostic Misconceptions - Ghost of Christmas

2.2.10Diagnostic Misconceptions - The Cratchits

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

4.1.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Dickens & Socialism

4.1.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Misanthropy

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

6Recap: Main Quotes

6.1Recap: Main Quotes

6.1.1Scrooge Quotes

6.1.2Bob & Tiny Tim Quotes

6.1.3Fred & Ghosts Quotes

6.1.4Ignorance & Want Quotes

6.1.5Other Quotes

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