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what is a stave in a christmas carol

by Megane Turcotte Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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The Novella is split into five staves. A stave is a set of five parallel lines on which a musical note is written. By referring to the chapters as staves Dickens' suggests that the novella will be a joyous, uplifting and moral tale.

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What is the summary of A Christmas Carol?

A Christmas Carol is a Victorian morality tale of an old and bitter miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who undergoes a profound experience of redemption over the course of one evening. Mr Scrooge is a financier/money-changer who has devoted his life to the accumulation of wealth.

How does A Christmas Carol start?

A Christmas Carol is an event arc that was available in version 1.3.2. It is also available in 1.4.1 in endless mode starting on December 18th. The following events are available in it. The arc begins with this event, which will trigger at the end of the 6th day. You have the following options...

Who is Scrooge in the story A Christmas Carol?

TV series episodes

  • Topper (1953); Henrietta reads "A Christmas Carol" to Topper and their guests. ...
  • Bewitched (1967); in the episode "Humbug not be Spoken Here". ...
  • The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967); the episode aired on 24 December 1967 included an 18-minute parody sketch in which Tommy Smothers plays Ebenezer Scrooge III and Jack Benny plays ...

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Why did Charles Dickens write A Christmas Carol?

Why Did Dickens Write A Christmas Carol. When Charles wrote A Christmas Carol, he wrote it as a form of protest because he was very bothered with the aspect, healing, and the prosperity of adolescents, continually amid the most defenseless components in the general public. As well as Dickens exclusive comprehensions for writing A Christmas Carol, he felt that he needed to expose the vast rift between higher and lower working classes in Victorian Britain.Dickens cared about changing things ...

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What is the meaning of stave in Christmas carol?

This is an unusual structure that mimics the way a musical piece is put together. The Staves follow the action of the story with the first stave setting the scene, the middle stave showing the turning point for Scrooge and the final stave concluding the story by presenting him as a changed man.

WHY DOES A Christmas Carol have 5 staves?

A Christmas Carol is divided into five chapters, and Dickens called each chapter a 'stave'. Staves are the five lines on which musical notes are written, which may explain why there are five chapters. The word 'stave' is also another word for a verse of a song.

What does stave mean literature?

a verse or stanza of a poem or song. the alliterating sound in a line of verse, as the w-sound in wind in the willows.

What are the last 5 words of a Christmas carol?

Scrooge brings a little of the Christmas spirit into every day, respecting the lessons of Christmas more than any man alive. The narrator concludes the story by saying that Scrooge's words and thoughts should be shared by of all of us ... "and so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless us, Every one!"

Why is Dickens called staves?

A stave is a set of five parallel lines on which a musical note is written. By referring to the chapters as staves Dickens' suggests that the novella will be a joyous, uplifting and moral tale.

What is the purpose of a stave?

A stave is a narrow length of wood with a slightly bevelled edge to form the sides of barrels, tanks, tubs, vats and pipelines, originally handmade by coopers. They have been used in the construction of large holding tanks and penstocks at hydro power developments.

What does a stave look like?

A stave is made up of five horizontal lines on top of each other. What is this? Each note in a space or on a line represents a different letter note and a different pitch. We call these different letter notes the musical alphabet.

What does a stave consist of?

Put simply, a stave (also known as a staff) is the collection of lines onto which notes are placed on a musical score. Each stave comprises five lines, creating four spaces in between them.

How long is a stave?

The term is generally accepted to refer to a shaft of hardwood from 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 m) long, sometimes with a metal tip, ferrule, or spike at one or both ends. The term "short staff" compares this to the "long staff" based on the pike with a length in excess of 10 to 12 feet (3.0 to 3.7 m).

What is the most famous line from A Christmas Carol?

Words of Inspiration: Quotes from 'A Christmas Carol'Scrooge: “Bah, humbug!”Narrator: “Oh! but he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge!More items...•

What is Scrooge's ex called?

Belle is Ebenezer Scrooge's neglected girlfriend from his past in Charles Dickens' novel A Christmas Carol.

What is Scrooge's favorite line?

“I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge. “Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry.” “A poor excuse for picking a man's pocket every twenty-fifth of December!” said Scrooge, buttoning his great-coat to the chin.

What makes this stave 5 different from the other staves in its overall mood and atmosphere?

Dickens uses different atmospheres to show Scrooges emotions at the time; in Stave one the atmosphere is cold and melancholy but in Stave 5 the atmosphere is bright and jovial. This helps to add contrast along with Scrooges character changes. Scrooge is a very different person in Stave five than he is in Stave one.

What does Scrooge fold over his arm stave 5?

He had been sobbing violently in his conflict with the Spirit, and his face was wet with tears. "They are not torn down!" cried Scrooge, folding one of his bed-curtains in his arms, "they are not torn down, rings and all.

How does Scrooge describe stave 5 quotes?

Scrooge has became generous, and is now going out of his way to help the Cratchits. Description of Scrooge, which is a contrast to before as now he smiles at everyone even if they are poor or rich. "Not a farthing less. A great many back payments are included in it."

How does Scrooge feel about Christmas stave 5?

Lesson Summary Stave 5 of Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol finds Scrooge giddy with happiness. He is so relieved to not only be alive but also to have another chance at life. He sets about changing his ways immediately as he has a large turkey sent anonymously to the home of his clerk, Bob Cratchit.

Why does Scrooge say Marley is a good man of business?

Scrooge doesn’t understand, because Marley was a “good man of business”. Marley is affronted at this phrase. He says business is nothing in comparison to the trade of human woes that he deals in. He says it’s even worse at Christmas, seeing all the poor folks that he did not help when he was alive.

What is the stave 1 in A Christmas Carol?

A Christmas Carol: Stave 1. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Christmas Carol, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The narrator states that there was no doubt about Marley ’s death. Scrooge, Marley’s business partner, signed the register of his burial.

What does Scrooge look like?

Since the firm’s name has always been Scrooge and Marley, Scrooge has taken to answering to both names. The narrator describes Scrooge as “Hard and sharp as flint.” His appearance matches his character, with cold-looking, pointy features. He keeps his office cold, not even heating it at Christmas time. Consequently, everybody who comes into contact with Scrooge avoids him. Even the beggars in the street are silent when he passes. But this is exactly the way Scrooge likes it, says the narrator.

What does Scrooge mean by "good"?

Scrooge sees "good" as referring solely to profits. Fred knows this, and counters that "good" means something else entirely. For characters like Fred and Bob Cratchit, Christmas represents the Christian ideal of goodness and moral prosperity, but Scrooge is at his most miserly when Christmas is mentioned. As we will later learn, his bitterness originates at Christmas time and has warped his perspective of it.

What does the narrator describe Scrooge as?

The narrator describes Scrooge as “Hard and sharp as flint.”. His appearance matches his character, with cold-looking, pointy features. He keeps his office cold, not even heating it at Christmas time. Consequently, everybody who comes into contact with Scrooge avoids him.

What does Scrooge wish Cratchit?

Fred leaves kindly and on his way out wishes Cratchit a Merry Christmas. Scrooge mutters that Cratchit, with a wife and family and nothing to live on, can’t possibly be merry. Despite Scrooge's ill temper Fred generously and authentically invites him over. Scrooge could have family, if only he would allow himself to.

Why does Scrooge turn to Bob Cratchit?

At closing time, Scrooge turns to Bob Cratchit and taunts him for wanting the day off for Christmas day. He doesn’t understand why he should pay a day’s wages for no work, but he lets Cratchit leave on the condition that he will arrive early on Boxing Day.

What is a stave in music?

In musical notation, a stave (or staff) is a set of five lines separated by four spaces. Each one of those lines and spaces represents a different musical pitch. Dickens calls the chapters in A Christmas Carol staves because each individual stave is a stand-alone story with its own distinctive mood. When taken together, all five staves combine to form a harmonious whole. This is important to Dickens. He wants to convey a picture of Christmas in which disparate characters ultimately come together to celebrate the true meaning of the holiday season.

How many staves are there in A Christmas Carol?

There are five staves in total within the text of A Christmas Carol. One chronicles the meeting with Marley's Ghost, Staves 2-4 detail Scrooge's encounters with each of the three ghosts, and the final stave details what happens thereafter -- how Scrooge's life changes as a result of his encounters with Marley and with the three ghosts.

How many lines are in a stave?

In musical notation, a stave (or staff) is a set of five lines separated by four spaces. Each one of those lines and spaces represents a different musical pitch. Dickens calls the chapters in A Christmas Carol staves because each individual stave is a stand-alone story with its own...

What does the word "stave" mean in Dickens's text?

Dickens use of the word stave refers to chapters in the text. This is a common concept for him given that he uses similar musical terms for other texts ("quarters" in The Chimes and "chirps" in The Cricket on the Hearth ). Here are the names of the five staves in the novella.

What does "stave" mean in a poem?

The word "stave" means a verse or stanza of a poem. While A Christmas Carol is not a poem, Dickens' titled the work after a song (a carol is a traditional Christmas song). Thus, he divided his "song" or work into staves or verses, as many songs are divided into verses.

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What does the Fezziwigs represent?

By connecting them to the sensations of warmth and color and music, Dickens makes them synonymous with Christmas itself, meaning that they also represent the values of goodness and generosity that Scrooge has lost.

What does the ghost of Christmas Past tell Scrooge?

The ghost of Christmas Past leads Scrooge to the window. Scrooge tries to resist, thinking he will fall out of the window, but the ghost tells him to merely touch his hand and he won’t fall. They fly through the wall and are suddenly passing over the scenes of Scrooge’s boyhood.

Why does Scrooge not want to face his past?

That Scrooge does not want to face his past suggests that there is sadness in that past he finds painful, which has the effect of humanizing Scrooge a bit . Scrooge tries to avoid this past by begging or apologizing, but the ghost—not in an unfriendly way—ensures that he cannot avoid what he must see.

Why does Scrooge take Scrooge to the Christmases of the Past?

Taking Scrooge to the Christmases of the past unlocks a side of the old miser that he seems to have forgotten. It takes him back to his younger self, who had an excitement for Christmas and its traditions. Because Scrooge has changed so much and buried his younger self so deeply, the feeling of excitement seems very foreign to him. At the same time, note how he "feels" these scenes of the past, how he gives in to sensation and emotion.

What does Scrooge think about Marley?

Scrooge goes back to bed and thinks, but the more he thinks that the episode with Marley was all in his head, the more the visions spring up in his mind and convince him otherwise. Then he remembers that Marley’s ghost had said one o’clock was the hour to expect the first spirit.

What is the theme of The Ghost of Christmas Past?

Active Themes. The ghost of Christmas Past brings forth other visions. Scrooge is now older, alone for another Christmas holiday, but this time a young girl comes into the schoolroom. She is Scrooge’s sister, Fan, and she announces that she is taking him home. Home, for good, she says happily.

What does the ghost of Scrooge look like?

This ghost has a beautiful aura, and makes the past seem like a shining beacon compared to Scrooge’s dark, cold present. Childhood is connected to light and nature, but there is also something unnatural about this ghost – his aged, faraway look and his angelic presence tell us how distant and different the past is.

What is the game called that Scrooge begs the Ghost of Christmas to let him stay for one more?

He begs the Ghost of Christmas Present to let him stay for one more game. It is called “Yes and No”. Fred thinks of something and the players have to guess what it is. After a barrage of questions, they find out that the thing is an animal, who grunts and growls. It turns out to be Uncle Scrooge. They all laugh hysterically, and say a toast to Scrooge for giving them so much fun.

Why does Scrooge apologize to the Ghost of Christmas Present?

Scrooge apologizes. He tells the ghost that he learned a valuable lesson from the previous spirit and to show him whatever he needs to.

What is the stave 3 of A Christmas Carol?

A Christmas Carol: Stave 3. LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in A Christmas Carol, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Scrooge wakes up the following night, ready to be greeted by the second spirit. He does not wish to be taken by surprise this time and opens the curtains.

What does Scrooge tell Scrooge about Christmas?

He tells Scrooge that the incense is a particular flavor, and is best given to a poor dinner. This street is the stereotypical image of Christmas, full of treats and spices and happy, musical voices. The church bells join in and remind us that Christmas is also a time for Christian reflection and prayer.

What does the ghost say about his brothers?

The ghost's comment about his brothers refers to each of the Christmases that has occurred since the birth of Christ—essentially the ghost is commenting on how Scrooge seems never to have really encountered a true Christmas.Scro oge, meanwhile, has stopped resisting the lessons of the spirits and now invites the spirit to teach him what he wants. He is polite and apologetic to the spirit and tells him that the previous spirit’s lesson is “working now”, which suggests that he is finding some value to these visions, even though they are painful. His definition of “profit” is beginning to change.

What does the ghost's power to fit into any room symbolize?

The ghost’s special power to fit into any room symbolizes how Christmas can be found in any situation —rich or poor, big room or small. Though Cratchit’s means are small, he manages to fill his home with the spirit of Christmas, making it seem large and glorious, compared to Scrooge’s bleak, dark rooms. Compare how Mrs. Cratchit decorates her old dress with ribbons, while Scrooge leaves his house bare.

What do the spirits teach Scrooge?

One of the things that the spirits are determined to teach Scrooge is the value of knowledge and conscience over ignorance.

What is Scrooge's selfish world?

Scrooge has been in such a small, selfish world that he doesn’t even realize that these businessmen are talking about him. He is disturbed by their callous lack of care for the dead man, but doesn’t realize that they are echoing his own cruel phrases and opinions. This might remind you of the little child Ignorance that stepped out from under the Ghost of Christmas Present’s robe – Scrooge is, in a sense, protecting himself with his ignorance. But he is also hurting both himself and the world.

What does Scrooge hear about the ghost of Christmas?

Scrooge stops by a group of businessmen and hears them gossip about the long-awaited death of one of their contemporaries, whom they say is bound to have a cheap funeral.

What does Scrooge see of the last ghost?

Analysis. The last ghost approaches, but is shrouded in a black garment so that all Scrooge can see of it is an outstretched hand and a mass of black. This figure fills him with greater dread than the other ghosts. It does not speak to him and beckons mysteriously with its hand. Scrooge guesses aloud that it is the Ghost ...

What does Scrooge vow to do in the Christmas story?

He vows to honor Christmas and learn all his lessons. He catches the spirit’s hand, and squeezes, and the spirit floats down into the ground and disappears. This is the climax of the story –finally, Scrooge is forced to discard his ignorance and fully face that the dead man is him.

What does the ghost of Christmas yet to come teach us?

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come points ominously towards the head but Scrooge finds he can't make himself remove the cloth. The narrator recites a lesson about death—that the good-natured body cannot suffer from death and will instead “sow the world with life immortal.”.

What does Scrooge think of himself?

But he is still thinking of himself, feeling sorry for himself, instead of feeling remorse for his cruelty to others.

What plot did the Cratchits pick for the boy?

The Cratchits have picked a green, fragrant plot for the boy, and have promised to visit him every Sunday. The child is given religious significance, as a kind of savior. But the body of the miserly man is left alone, in a godless place.

How many nights did Scrooge spend with the ghosts?

Though Scrooge spent three nights with the Ghosts he nonetheless wakes up on Christmas Day, and he is reminded of how wonderful waking up on Christmas Day was as a child. He turns this knowledge into action, and passes his joy on, to a poor boy, whose grateful face repays him immediately.

What is the ghost's fate in Stave One?

In Stave One, Marley’s ghost described his awful fate to walk the earth, enchained, for eternity, and Scrooge’s fate loomed ahead of him. Now, Scrooge has the chance to make amends for all his bad deeds – one by one he apologizes to the virtuous characters he has met and scorned.

What does Scrooge do in the morning?

All morning, Scrooge walks through the town, greeting and talking to people. Then he goes to his nephew ’s house and summons up the courage to knock. He is met by the housekeeper and asks kindly to come upstairs. He stuns everyone when he arrives and announces he has come to dinner, but they rapidly make him feel at home, and he enjoys an evening that is just as wonderful as it was in the spirit ’s vision.

What does Scrooge say when he wakes up?

He jumps out of bed and puts on his clothes and declares that he is “happy as an angel.” He laughs like he hasn’t laughed in years. He doesn’t even know how long he has been asleep or what has occurred here, but he feels like a baby.

What does Scrooge ask the boy to do on Christmas Day?

He asks the boy to go to the nearby shop with the huge prize turkey in the window and to buy it, and offers him half a crown if he comes back quickly. The grateful boy dashes off.

What is the lesson of Scrooge?

The transformation of Scrooge’s life hinges on forgiveness, which is at the heart of Christian doctrine. Scrooge was so far down the path toward damnation, but all he needs to do is transform himself, to accept and internalize the spirit of Christmas, and forgiveness will be given.

What is Scrooge's Christmas spirit?

Scrooge is so full of Christmas spirit that he even thanks his door knocker! Active Themes. The turkey arrives and Scrooge delights in sending it to the Cratchit house, paying everyone handsomely for the job. He can’t stop chuckling, so much so that he has trouble shaving and dressing.

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1.What is the actual definition of "stave" in the novel A …

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10 hours ago A stave is a chapter in A Christmas Carol. If you look at the title of the book, you can see the significance of the chapters being called "staves." Dickens is acting as if the book is a...

2.A Christmas Carol Stave 1 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts

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24 hours ago  · 1 : one of the narrow strips of wood or iron plates that form the sides, covering, or lining of something (as a barrel) 2 : a wooden stick : staff. stave. verb. How many staves are in …

3.What Is A Stave - eNotes.com

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13 hours ago Dickens fills this first Stave with superlative and vivid descriptions of Scrooge’s miserly character and in so doing sets him up for quite a transformation. Already, the poor townsfolk are elevated …

4.A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens: Stave 1 | Summary …

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10 hours ago If used as a noun. stave refers to a wooden plank used in the construction of a building or a musical staff (symbol). If used as a verb, stave refers to breaking something by force or …

5.Videos of What Is A Stave In A Christmas Carol

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32 hours ago  · Stave 1 opens on a foggy, frigid Christmas Eve. Ebenezer Scrooge's counting house is open for business, and he sits at his desk keeping an eye on his clerk, Bob Cratchitt. …

6.A Christmas Carol Stave 2 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts

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11 hours ago A Christmas Carol: Stave 2 Summary & Analysis Next Stave 3 Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis Scrooge awakes and finds his room as dark as when he fell asleep at two o’clock. He …

7.A Christmas Carol Stave 3 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts

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25 hours ago Scrooge, as a man of business, a man who is cold and relies solely on his mind (not feelings) to be prepared for all business situations, tries to be prepared again. But the ghosts do not follow …

8.A Christmas Carol Stave 4 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts

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11 hours ago A Christmas Carol: Stave 4 Summary & Analysis Next Stave 5 Themes and Colors Key Summary Analysis The last ghost approaches, but is shrouded in a black garment so that all Scrooge can …

9.A Christmas Carol Stave 5 Summary & Analysis | LitCharts

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27 hours ago A stave is a chapter in A Christmas Carol. If you look at the title of the book, you can see the significance of the chapters being called "staves." Dickens is acting as if the book is a …

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