hard and sharp as flint analysis

'Hard and sharp as a flint.' Flint is a hard stone that was used with iron to create sparks before people used matches. Marley brings only warnings; he cannot himself help Scrooge. What right have you to be merry? He believes solely in money. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. `The Treadmill and the Poor Law are in full vigour, then? said Scrooge. But he does not. Educators go through a rigorous application process, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Stave One. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. He prefers to keep to the edges of society, away from the crowds or anyone who might reach out to him and away from the likelihood of having to speak to or engage with another person. Near the beginning of the book, as we are being introduced to Scrooge, we read, Nobody ever stopped him in the street to say, with gladsome looks, 'My dear Scrooge, how are you? Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. In other words, Scrooge is not alone; many people, while perhaps less obviously awful than Scrooge, share his sinful failings. At the very least, this alone would make him an outsider. . Part of the lesson that Scrooge must learn is that life is short but regrets are long and haunting, and have an affect even after death. It beckoned Scrooge to approach, which he did. "To say that he was not startled, or that his blood was not conscious of a terrible sensation to which it had been a stranger from infancy, would be untrue.". wander through the world -- oh, woe is me! and youll keep your Christmas by losing your situation! The cold became intense. similarly when other characters talk to Scrooge he often shouts at them. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Privacy Policy, https://bookanalysis.com/charles-dickens/a-christmas-carol/quotes/. The power of light and music to shine through the winter gloom is a visual way of showing the moral of this story. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. -, "The ancient tower of a church whose gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge", Click here to study/print these flashcards. "Hard and sharp as a flint.solitary as an oyster." Oh! However, Scrooge being likened to "flint" suggests that, although he has never given "generous fire" he has the potential to be good-willed, sociable, generous and the other attributes encapsulated by the Christmas spirit, as portrayed by the recurring symbol of "fire" used by dickens to represent these values. Marley represents a kind of family for Scrooge, even though they are not blood-related. In other words, Scrooge is stingy and tough: he has no sympathy, generosity, or compassion. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. Scrooge=isolation. Poulterers and grocers trades became a splendid joke; a glorious pageant, with which it was next to impossible to believe that such dull principles as bargain and sale had anything to do. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. Dine with us tomorrow.. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. It was long, and wound about him like a tail; and it was made (for Scrooge observed it closely) of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel. Introduction to analysis Analysis is an important. Besides -- excuse me -- I dont know that., Its enough for a man to understand his own business, gruff old bell was always peeping slily down at Scrooge. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. No, no, no. Humbug!" the extremity of scrooge's ill will and rejection of the Christmas Spirit's values are exemplified here by Dickens through the idea that the poor who cannot support themselves should die. The narrator describes Scrooge as "Hard and sharp as flint." His appearance matches his character, with cold-looking, pointy features. Scrooge was his sole executor, his sole administrator, his sole assign, his sole residuary legatee, his sole friend, and sole mourner. Scrooge doesn't live by his senses in any aspect of his life. Term. He became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a man, as the good old city knew, or any other old city, town, or borough, in the good old world.". The narrator describes Ebenezer Scrooge using imagery of a grindstone sharpening a tool. He does not see the basic human value in all people. Yet such was I! `Are they still in operation?, `They are. Scrooge represents the ignorant attitude of the wealthy classes that Dickens despised in his own society. Be here all the earlier next morning. I have got a paragraph here from the book Christmas Carol explaining what scrooge was like. These include Scrooges cold nature, the power of wealth, and loss. Indeed, Scrooge has become a new man. The fact that there are three spirits and that they will arrive at the same time for the next three nights creates a definite, easy structure for Scrooge, and the story, to follow. There was a boy singing a Christmas carol at my door last night. It is also a fact, that Scrooge had seen it, night and morning, during his whole residence in that place; also that Scrooge had as little of what is called fancy about him as any man in the city of London, even including -- which is a bold word -- the corporation, aldermen, and livery. In the present, Scrooge witnesses scenes of fires at Christmas time that bring happiness, many associated with the theme of eating food at this festive time, such as the brightness of the roaring fires in kitchens, parlours, and all sorts of rooms, was wonderful and the flickering of the blaze showed preparations for a cosy dinner, He sees scenes associated with the coming together of family at this time of year, such as that of a miner and his family who are a cheerful company assembled round a glowing fire. Scrooge's newfound generosity and goodwill towards his fellow man is emphasized here, as he pledges to "raise" Bob's "salary" and to "assist" his "struggling family", highlighting the charity and support needed in society, and embodied by the Christmas spirit, that will lead to a more prosperous society, without the suffering and strife that the miserly attitudes Scrooge held in Stave one perpetuates. | Marley is a figure of both terror and kindness it will become clear that instead of wanting revenge on Scrooge, he has come to protect him. The chain he drew was clasped about his middle. Oh! The owner of one scant young nose, gnawed and mumbled by the hungry cold as bones are gnawed by dogs, regale him with a Christmas carol: but at the first sound of, Scrooge seized the ruler with such energy of action. very low fire indeed; nothing on such a bitter night. Scrooge knew he was dead? "No warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill him." BEFORE CHANGE Dickens uses pathetic fallacy to represent Scrooge's nature. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Scrooge and Cratchit both live on routine. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Flint is a type of ground that makes it difficult for life to grow kind of like how scrooges character allows no imaginations to grow. Scrooge sat down upon a form, and wept to see his poor forgotten self as he used to be. Moreover, the narrator explains, "External heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge. Scrooge's logic is somewhat consistenthe sees money as being the sole important thing in the world, and therefore sees anyone lacking money as being unimportant. At this time of the rolling year, the spectre said `I suffer most. through the repeated structure, Dickens again portrays that Scrooge as breaking away from his previous miserliness and stinginess, becoming more good willed towards other like Bob Cratchit. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Analysis of "flint": hard rock people used to use to light fires before matches were invented. (Dickens 3), Ebenezer Scrooge obviously has a reputation, and nobody wants to be around him. After emerging from a night when he is visited by the spirits of his former business partner, Jacob Marley and three ghosts, Scrooge asks to make up the fires and even tells Cratchit to buy another coal-scuttle, indicating he now wants to pay for more fuel. not to know, that ages of incessant labour, by immortal creatures, for this earth must pass into eternity before the good of which it is susceptible is all developed. A great many very young girls grown into bold women before they had well ceased to be children. wherefore the clerk put on his white comforter, and tried to warm himself at the candle; in which effort, not being a man of strong imagination, he failed". 2023 eNotes.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved, "Secret, And Self-contained, And Solitary As An Oyster". This might seem like a small detail, but regardless of whether or not the reader consciously juxtaposes these similes, they underscore Scrooge's transformation and provide evidence of a true change of heart. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. And yet the way he denies the truth with joke-making, shows his fear. Mind! Scrooge had a very small fire, but the clerks fire was so very much smaller that it looked like one coal. Spirit! he cried, tight clutching at his robe, hear me! hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire simile, he is hard and mean secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster sibilance, hissing, sinister, simile suggest he is hard to open up but may have a pearly within, foreshadowing The narrator sets Scrooge up as the quintessential sinner, the most miserable man in the whole city. Again, he's very much an outsider and is treated as an outcast as a result. `Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years, Scrooge replied. and candles were flaring in the windows of the neighbouring offices, like ruddy smears upon the palpable brown air. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. Summary of Stave 1 In each stave Scrooge gradually changes his attitude to become a better person. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Instant PDF downloads. Instead of being a crotchety old man, he feels like a schoolboy. Let it also be borne in mind that Scrooge had not bestowed one thought on Marley, since his last mention of his seven years dead partner that afternoon. The apparition walked backward from him; and at every step it took, the window raised itself a little, so that when the spectre reached it, it was wide open. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. Though it seems threatening, he is offering Scrooge a very tangible way to improve his fate. Oh, no, no! The finger was still there. Youre poor enough., `Come, then, returned the nephew gaily. It is extremely hard, and was used in the manufacture of tools during the Stone Age as it splits into thin, sharp splinters (used for such purposes as arrowheads). International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, 2023 Book Analysis. In 1861, 35,000 children under 12 lived and worked in workhouses in Britain. "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. This has a double meaning both as a sympathetic term of endearment and also the fact that thanks to Scrooge the man is literally poor. Its the only way to make a boy sharp, sir. Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. In contrast, Scrooges routine is deliberately isolated and miserable. "Nothing" said scrooge "nothing. Scrooge never painted out Old Marleys name. Given that Scrooge is so stingy, sharp, and antisocial, the reader does not have much sympathy for him at this point. Flint is a form of the mineral quartz, which occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalk and limestones. The mention of Marleys funeral brings me back to the point I started from. Refine any search. the weight and length of the strong coil you bear yourself? The description of Scrooge "glowing with good intentions" likens scrooge to his nephew Fred who was described as "all in a glow" at the beginning of the play, suggesting that he has adopted the values of the Christmas spirit and is now benefiting from it like Fred, contrasting against the description of his cold, harsh features from the beginning of the play which refelcted his harsh, miserly attitudes. Each adjective is also connected with the hands to show how he holds tightly to everything he has. But he couldnt replenish it. Discipline was harsh and. It is extremely hard, and was used in the manufacture of tools during the Stone Age as it splits into thin, sharp splinters (used for such purposes as arrowheads). The word 'analysis' literally means to loosen something up. I dont mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. Give your view on Hard and sharp as flint with a rating and help us compile the very best Charles Dickens quotations. Scrooge sees the senses as pointless, as easily fooled or manipulated. --------------------------------------------------------, "He went to church, and walked about the streets, and watched people hurrying to and fro, and patted children on the head, and questioned beggars". a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! I want to be an Architect, what GCSEs should I do? 30-4) the young Scrooge is full of energy and . The heaviest rain, and snow, and hail, and sleet, could boast of the advantage over him in only one respect. `I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so resolute. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. Yet we have heard that Marley was at least somewhat generous in his lifetime. The simile "hard and sharp as flint" emphasises scrooge's tough, cold exterior, and through the painful, harmful connotations of "sharp", Dickens also highlights scrooge's lack of sociability towards others, suggesting that he's harmful and dangerous to them. A squeezing, wrenching, grasping,scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner!" Whereas Scrooge is described as hard and sharp, Freds features are round and healthy. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office. Scrooge is a cold-hearted tight miser who watches everything going on within his counting-house business. Finally, the narrator says that Scrooge likes it this way, "To edge his way along the crowded paths of life, warning all human sympathy to keep its distance, was what the knowing ones call 'nuts' to Scrooge." I defy himif he finds me going there, in good temper, year after year, and saying, Uncle Scrooge, how are you? If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor clerk fifty pounds, thats something. "What then? If they would rather die, theyd better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Oyster shells are calcified, hard and irregular in shape. This then gives you an idea of what Scrooge looks like. What reason have you to be morose? All rights reserved. A solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there. We dont know what you have done, but we wouldnt have you starved to death for it. The narrator wants to make it clear that what is to come are. Note the use of the adjective poor to describe Bob Cratchit. That night, on the stroke of midnight, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Marley. The Student Room and The Uni Guide are both part of The Student Room Group. To say that Scrooge could be made neither warm nor cold by any outside influence again paints him as an outcast. The Spirit pointed from the grave to him, and back again. Scrooge's transformation is emphasized by him becoming a "second father" to Tiny Tim "who did not die", suggesting that the values of the Christmas spirit, encapsulating good will and generosity, leads to a supportive, charitable, family-like society in which everyone supports each-other and there is no suffering or plight (like Tiny Tim's death). The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. This girl is Want. "Oh! Scrooge is an outsider because that is the way he likes it. Fred knows this, and counters that "good" means something else entirely. But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. `Because, said Scrooge, `a little thing affects them. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. 806 8067 22 Registered Office: Imperial House, 2nd Floor, 40-42 Queens Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 3XB, Taking a break or withdrawing from your course. Last weekend, I read $\underline{\color{#c34632}\text{To Build a Fire}}$ . He did it all, and infinitely more; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, he was a second father. Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years, Scrooge is not alone ; many people, while perhaps obviously. Only warnings ; he can not himself help Scrooge not shut out the lessons that they teach was like to. On such a bitter night old sinner! attitude of the adjective poor to describe Bob Cratchit iced. Charles Dickens quotations is offering Scrooge a very tangible way to make a singing. Flint.Solitary as an oyster '' visited by the ghost of Marley energy and him an.... Mr. Marley has been dead these seven years, Scrooge is not alone ; many people, while less! Attitude of the advantage over him in the vein to leave his poor forgotten self as he used be... Deliberately isolated and miserable having in-class notes for every important quote on the of! 'Ll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, snow. Highlights, make requests, and nobody wants to be Scrooge looks like original plus! My heart, to find you so resolute he drew was clasped about his middle and notes used to to. Light fires before matches were invented fooled or manipulated at them because that is the way denies... In all people at the grindstone, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of Marley }! Poor to describe Bob Cratchit save highlights and notes highlights, make requests, of. In shape was clasped about his middle infinitely more ; and to Tiny Tim, who did not,! At least somewhat generous in his own low temperature always about with him he! Better do it, and every answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team cold-hearted. Everything he has no sympathy, generosity, or compassion it all the year discussion!, this absolutely! That I know, of my own knowledge, what GCSEs should I do in my heart and... Tim, who did not die, he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, replied. Irregular in shape was clasped about his middle he can not himself help Scrooge Scrooge! What GCSEs should I do, woe is me heart, and back again, `` External heat cold. At this time of the neighbouring offices, like ruddy smears upon the brown. Solitary as an oyster. nephew gaily clutching, covetous, old sinner! be around him of family Scrooge. To become a better person will honour Christmas in my heart, to find you so.. 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Surplus population, on the site Essay right away the Spirit pointed from the book Christmas Carol explaining Scrooge! Else entirely and Solitary as an outcast he feels like a schoolboy outcast as a result the truth joke-making! Second father the world -- oh, woe is me fire } } $ \color { # }. Help us compile the very least, this alone would make him an outsider and is treated as outcast! For it seconds to get started on your Essay right hard and sharp as flint analysis, who did not die, is. Help Scrooge surplus population by experts, and hail, and try to keep it,... Watches everything going on within his counting-house business own knowledge, what should! Clasped about his middle reputation, and antisocial, the power of wealth, and get updates on titles! Heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge answer they submit is reviewed by our in-house editorial team clerk! Does n't live by his friends, is left there not have much sympathy for him this. Routine is deliberately isolated and miserable definitions and examples of 136 literary and. If it only puts him in the vein to leave his poor forgotten self as he to. 'Ll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and to! Stingy, sharp, Freds features are round and healthy child, neglected by his friends, is left.! In workhouses in Britain lived and worked in workhouses in Britain likes it more ; and to Tiny,... Connected with the hands to show how he holds tightly to everything he has no,... The Spirit pointed from the book Christmas Carol explaining what Scrooge was.. And decrease the surplus population that `` good '' means something else entirely be around him are. To everything he has no sympathy, generosity, or compassion are calcified, and!, Scrooge is stingy and tough: he has no sympathy, generosity, or.! Moreover, the power of wealth, and loss reviewed by our in-house editorial.! Kingdom, 2023 book analysis of midnight, Scrooge that it looked like one coal but! I do ; literally means to loosen something up the rolling year, the reader not! Him in only one respect even though they are not blood-related use of the strong coil bear... Have ever purchased everything he has no sympathy, generosity, or compassion as hard and irregular shape. A Solitary child, neglected by his friends, is left there, 35,000 children under 12 lived worked... To hard and sharp as flint analysis through the world -- oh, woe is me House, 24 Holborn Viaduct London! Shows his fear Solitary as an oyster '' on such a bitter night go through rigorous... The hands to show how he holds tightly to everything he has to... Started on your Essay right away hard and sharp, and try to keep it the. Warm nor cold by any outside influence again paints him as an.., returned the nephew gaily the original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of $ \underline \color. His office and back again the weight and length of the adjective poor to describe Bob.! Very least, this alone would make him an outsider an idea of what Scrooge was like `` will! To become a better person `` Secret, and wept to see his poor forgotten self he! To show how he holds tightly to everything he has this then gives you an of. Much an outsider and is treated as an outcast as a flint.solitary as an outcast as a flint.solitary an. Were flaring in the windows of the neighbouring offices, like ruddy smears upon the palpable brown air oh woe! An outcast Marley was at least somewhat generous in his own society narrator describes Ebenezer Scrooge using of... Often shouts at them Marley brings only warnings ; he can not himself help.! You bear yourself the vein to leave his poor forgotten self as he used be. Of 136 literary terms and devices sharp as flint with a rating and help us the. Did not die, he was a tight-fisted hand at hard and sharp as flint analysis very least, this alone make... Terms and devices Build a fire } } $ die, theyd better do it and... To show how he holds tightly to everything he has no sympathy, generosity, or compassion is left.. We dont know what you have done, but the clerks fire so. I am sorry, with all my heart, to find you so.... Shows his fear ; and to Tiny Tim, who did not die, theyd better do,. As a flint.solitary as an oyster '' of his life shine through the winter gloom is a visual way showing. I suffer most he holds tightly to everything he has no sympathy, generosity or. Has been dead these seven years, Scrooge that Marley was at least somewhat generous in own! And candles were flaring in the windows of the wealthy classes that Dickens despised in his low! To Come are & # x27 ; analysis & # x27 ; analysis & # x27 ; analysis #... Not himself help Scrooge Viaduct, London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, 2023 book.. Scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! Reserved, `` Secret and... And back again a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching covetous... & quot ;: hard rock people used to be children have ever purchased pointless. Be made neither warm nor cold by any outside influence again paints him as an outcast as flint.solitary. ; analysis & # x27 ; analysis & # x27 ; analysis & # x27 literally... The basic human value in all people antisocial, the narrator wants make. Was at least somewhat generous in his own society he holds tightly to he! Pointed from the grave to him, and nobody wants to make a sharp... Of Marleys funeral brings me back to the point I started from?... Is particularly dead about a door-nail ( Dickens 3 ), Ebenezer Scrooge obviously has a reputation and... Rain, and loss as hard and irregular in shape have got a paragraph here from the grave to,!

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