The Ghost of Christmas Present - Characters - Eduqas - GCSE English Literature Revision - Eduqas (2024)

The Ghost of Christmas Present in A Christmas Carol

  • Jolly
  • Welcoming

The Ghost of Christmas Present is a huge and vibrant character who appears as the bell, once again, strikes one. It appears in Scrooge's room, surrounded by a feast. The generous nature of this ghost is reflected in the abundant vision of food.

Scrooge is more humble in the presence of this second spirit and is willing to learn any lessons the ghost will show.

It shows Scrooge visions of the world on Christmas Day, including heart-warming scenes of celebration at the homes of Bob Cratchit and Scrooge's nephew, Fred.

Before it leaves Scrooge, the Ghost shows him two 'yellow, meagre' children who are hiding under its cloak. These are called Ignorance and Want and are a warning to Scrooge to change his ways.

How is the Ghost like this?EvidenceAnalysis
JollyDickens describes the ghost as open and cheerful - in actions and appearance.Its dark brown curls were long and free; free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air.The adjectives that Dickens uses are positive and present a solid big and 'joyful' character, in contrast to the indistinct spirit of Christmas Past.
WelcomingThe Ghost invites Scrooge to join him in a welcoming manner."Come in!" exclaimed the Ghost. "Come in! and know me better, man!"The word 'exclaimed' makes the Ghost seem excited to see Scrooge. His invitation to 'know me better' is generous and open-hearted.
HonestWhen Scrooge asks whether Tiny Tim will live, the Ghost answers with the words Scrooge had previously spoken to the portly gentlemen who were collecting for charity."If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."The Ghost of Christmas Present uses Scrooge's own words against him. In his honest response, that Tiny Tim is likely to die, he holds a mirror up to Scrooge and his behaviour.
PropheticThe Ghost predicts that Mankind, Scrooge included, will suffer unless the lessons of generosity and tolerance are learned."Most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased."He presents two children called 'Ignorance' and 'Want' hiding under his cloak. He warns that 'Doom' awaits Scrooge unless a change is made.
Jolly
How is the Ghost like this?Dickens describes the ghost as open and cheerful - in actions and appearance.
EvidenceIts dark brown curls were long and free; free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air.
AnalysisThe adjectives that Dickens uses are positive and present a solid big and 'joyful' character, in contrast to the indistinct spirit of Christmas Past.
Welcoming
How is the Ghost like this?The Ghost invites Scrooge to join him in a welcoming manner.
Evidence"Come in!" exclaimed the Ghost. "Come in! and know me better, man!"
AnalysisThe word 'exclaimed' makes the Ghost seem excited to see Scrooge. His invitation to 'know me better' is generous and open-hearted.
Honest
How is the Ghost like this?When Scrooge asks whether Tiny Tim will live, the Ghost answers with the words Scrooge had previously spoken to the portly gentlemen who were collecting for charity.
Evidence"If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."
AnalysisThe Ghost of Christmas Present uses Scrooge's own words against him. In his honest response, that Tiny Tim is likely to die, he holds a mirror up to Scrooge and his behaviour.
Prophetic
How is the Ghost like this?The Ghost predicts that Mankind, Scrooge included, will suffer unless the lessons of generosity and tolerance are learned.
Evidence"Most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased."
AnalysisHe presents two children called 'Ignorance' and 'Want' hiding under his cloak. He warns that 'Doom' awaits Scrooge unless a change is made.

I'm a literature enthusiast with a deep understanding of Charles Dickens' works, including "A Christmas Carol." Now, let's delve into the concepts related to the Ghost of Christmas Present in the article you provided.

Jolly and Welcoming: The Ghost of Christmas Present is vividly described as a jolly and welcoming character. Dickens uses positive adjectives such as "genial," "cheery," and "joyful" to paint a lively picture of the ghost. This portrayal creates a stark contrast to the more ambiguous spirit of Christmas Past.

Evidence: "Its dark brown curls were long and free; free as its genial face, its sparkling eye, its open hand, its cheery voice, its unconstrained demeanour, and its joyful air."

Analysis: The adjectives employed by Dickens emphasize the open and cheerful nature of the Ghost. The character is presented as solid, big, and exuding joy, setting it apart from the enigmatic Christmas Past.

Welcoming: The Ghost extends a warm invitation to Scrooge, expressing excitement at his presence and encouraging him to know the spirit better.

Evidence: "Come in!" exclaimed the Ghost. "Come in! and know me better, man!"

Analysis: The use of the word "exclaimed" suggests the Ghost's excitement upon encountering Scrooge. The invitation to "know me better" reflects a generous and open-hearted demeanor.

Honest: When Scrooge inquires about Tiny Tim's fate, the Ghost responds with Scrooge's own callous words, holding up a mirror to his behavior.

Evidence: "If he be like to die, he had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."

Analysis: The Ghost's honest response, using Scrooge's words against him, serves as a powerful reflection of Scrooge's callousness and lack of empathy.

Prophetic: The Ghost foretells a grim future for mankind, including Scrooge, unless lessons of generosity and tolerance are learned.

Evidence: "Most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased."

Analysis: The Ghost's prophetic warning, symbolized by the children named Ignorance and Want, emphasizes the consequences of not embracing generosity and tolerance.

In summary, the Ghost of Christmas Present embodies qualities of jolliness, welcoming nature, honesty, and a prophetic warning, all of which play crucial roles in guiding Scrooge toward redemption and transformation.

The Ghost of Christmas Present - Characters - Eduqas - GCSE English Literature Revision - Eduqas (2024)

FAQs

The Ghost of Christmas Present - Characters - Eduqas - GCSE English Literature Revision - Eduqas? ›

Characters - EduqasThe Ghost of Christmas Present. Three ghosts take Scrooge through Christmases past, present and future. Characters Bob Cratchit

Bob Cratchit
Bob Cratchit is a fictional character in the Charles Dickens 1843 novel A Christmas Carol. The overworked, underpaid clerk of Ebenezer Scrooge, Cratchit has come to symbolise the poor working conditions, especially long working hours and low pay, endured by many working-class people in the early Victorian era.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Bob_Cratchit
, his son Tiny Tim
Tiny Tim
Tiny Tim is one of Bob Cratchit's sons. He walks with a crutch and has 'his limbs supported by an iron frame'. Despite his physical difficulties, he is a positive and generous child. He thinks of others and is well-loved by his family.
https://www.bbc.co.uk › bitesize › guides › zcmhcwx › revision
, and Scrooge's nephew Fred
, all influence Scrooge in his journey of transformation.

What is the character profile of the Ghost of Christmas Present? ›

The Ghost of Christmas Present is jovial, a manifestation of everyone's Christmas celebrations, and his power grows with the festivities. He's also youthful, personifying the here and now, and appears to Scrooge as a majestic giant clad in green robes, with a booming voice.

Who are the children in the Ghost of Christmas Present? ›

Ignorance and Want are two street urchin spirits that show up underneath The Ghost of Christmas Present's robes in Disney's A Christmas Carol. Ignorance snarls at Ebenezer Scrooge while Want cowers, a sign that they are ruthless.

What lesson does the Ghost of Christmas Present teach? ›

The Ghost of Christmas Present represents generosity and good will. He shows Scrooge scenes of people sharing what they have with each other, even if they have very little.

What is the presentation of the Ghost of Christmas Present? ›

The Ghost of Christmas Present is often seen as the personification​of Christmas spirit, a representation which is furthered by the scenes he chooses to show Scrooge. The Spirit takes Scrooge to see the different ways Christmas is celebrated, from the humble Cratchit celebration to the lively party at Fred's house.

Who are the main characters in the Ghost Tale for Christmas Time? ›

Join Jack, Annie and the Magic Tree House in this historical holiday story that puts a twist on Charles Dicken's classic The Christmas Carol--from the #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time! Jack and Annie must help the famous writer Charles Dickens!

Who is the boy that clings to the Ghost of Christmas Present? ›

When Scrooge meets the Ghost of Christmas Present, he is shocked when two wild and ragged children tumble out from the giant's robes. He thinks they must belong to the giant, but he tells Scrooge that they are Man's. He tells him the boy is called Ignorance and the girl Want.

Who are the two children hidden under the robes of the Ghost of Christmas Present? ›

The spirit tells Scrooge that he only lives for one day and has more than 1,800 brothers, hinting that he is Father Christmas. Scrooge expresses concern and a desire to help two sickly children, named Ignorance and Want, hiding in the spirit's robes.

Is the Ghost of Christmas Present male or female? ›

While the Ghost of Christmas Present is usually illustrated and acted as a male character, the original text actually refers to all the "spirits" who visit Scrooge with the gender-neutral pronoun "it".

How many brothers and sisters does the Ghost of Christmas Present have? ›

Following this, he mentions his near 1800 siblings; a reference to the 1800 other Christmas Presents who have come, past, and are now in fact Ghosts of Christmas Present. So when the questions is asked, although Scrooge is quite confused, he has in fact walked with a sibling of the Spirit...

What was the biggest lesson the Ghost of Christmas Present taught Scrooge? ›

The ghost of Christmas present, overall, gave Scrooge the most. The ghost showed Scrooge that there is love in the world, best represented by the Cratchits. Scrooge grew the greatest as a person with the ghost of Christmas present and learned the earth is a kind place; one just has to know where to look.

What does Marley's chain represent? ›

When Jacob Marley appears to Scrooge, he is weighed down by a chain made up of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and heavy purses wrought in steel—that is, the chain around his middle consists of things he valued while he was alive, and now serves as a means of eternal punishment.

Why did Scrooge not marry his sweetheart? ›

In Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol, the Ghost of Christmas past shows us the young Ebenezer engaged to be married to Belle. Troubled over the cost of the wedding, he repeatedly delays it, which leads Belle eventually to call off the engagement and marry another. The older Scrooge grievingly rues his mistake.

How does Bob describe Tiny Tim's Behaviour in church? ›

Cratchit is pleased with Tiny Tim's behavior at church. Then Bob reveals that Tiny Tim ''hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see.

How does Scrooge change as a result of his visit with the Ghost of Christmas Present? ›

When the Ghost of Christmas Present visits Scrooge, he sees how his actions are hurting others, getting glimpses into the lives, feelings, hopes, and struggles of people he had dismissed. In short, he begins to learn empathy, and empathy opens his heart.

What does each of the Ghost of Christmas Present's 1800 siblings represent? ›

What does each of the Ghost of Christmas Presents' 1,800 siblings represent? The siblings represent Christmas spirits every year.

What type of character is the Ghost of Christmas Past? ›

A Christmas Carol is an allegory, and the compassionate, soft-spoken Ghost of Christmas Past represents memory. His appearance is strange, and most notably fluid, indicating the constantly shifting nature of remembering.

What type of character is the Ghost of Christmas Future? ›

The Ghost of Christmas Yet-to-Come, also known as The Ghost of Christmas Future, is a major character in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It is the third and final spirit to visit the miser Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve. The spirit closely resembles The Ghost of The Grim Reaper.

What is the physical description of the Ghost of Christmas Future? ›

The Ghost of Christmas Future's Appearance

shrouded in a deep black garment, which concealed its head, its face, its form, and left nothing of it visible save one outstretched hand." Dressed in a black robe that is symbolic of death, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come looks similar to the Grim Reaper.

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