The ghost takes Scrooge to
the village where he grew up,
and Scrooge sees his younger
self at school, where he's
spending Christmas alone.
Scrooge then sees some happier
Christmases: his sister Fan
coming to take him home from
school, and a party organised by
his old boss, Mr Fezziwig.
Next, Scrooge is
taken to see the
moment when his
fiancee, Belle,
broke off their
engagement
because Scrooge's
obsession with
money.
He then sees Belle
grown up with a family
of her own. Scrooge
struggles with ghost to
make it stop the visions
and he's transported
back to the bedroom.
Key quotations
"It broke upon his listening ear"
"Like a child: yet not so like a child as like an old
man" "It held a branch of fresh green holly in its
hand" "Would you so soon put out, with worldly
hands, the light I give?"
"A solitary child, neglected
by his friends, is left there
still."
"There was a boy
singing a Christmas
Carol at my door last
night. I should like to
have given him
something: that's all"
"The happiness he gives , is
quite as great as if it cost a
fortune"
"No. I should like
to be able to say a
word or two to my
clerk just now!
That's all."
"Our
contract is
an old one"
"No
more. I
don't
wish to
see it.
Show
me no
more!"
"Though
Scrooge
pressed it
down with all
his force, he
could not
hide the
light"
Characters and
how they are
presented
Scrooge: he is seen to have
changed slightly in his urge of care
towards seeing what the ghost
shows him, however, he is still
trying to snuff out the truth. He is
also presented as quite regretful.
Ghost of Christmas Past: presented as old
yet young and he is like a flickering
candle with a light protruding out from
his head. He does not really have a
personality because he is just there to
show Scrooge what he needs to see so
that he will change his ways.
Little Fan: She is presented as
young and excitable towards
Christmas. She was the little
spark in Scrooge's childhood.
Fezziwig: He is presented as a kind
man. He spreads happiness to
everyone and he makes Scrooge
realise that he has treated his Clerk
wrongly.
Belle: She is presented as
quite honest and brave for
speaking to Scrooge about
the issues in the
relationship.
Dickens
intentions for
the plot/themes
Dickens wanted to
use the ghost to
show how Scrooge
was not always how
he is now and that it
is money that has
made him get like
this.
Dickens is also trying to
show that Scrooge's past
has shaped him. As well
as this, he highlights the
theme of family and how
important it is.
Dickens was also trying to
further highlight the fact that
you do not need to be rich to
be happy through the people
that the ghost took Scrooge to
see.