What does the light from the top of the Spirit of Christmas Past represent and why does Scrooge try to extinguish the light?

What does the light from the top of the Spirit of Christmas Past represent and why does Scrooge try to extinguish the light?

The light is a symbol of remembrance. It springs from the head of the First Spirit, the spirit of the past. Scrooge attempts to put it out by means of a cap that the Spirit also carries, but the light continues to flood out from under it. He does not succeed, therefore, but merely falls into an exhausted sleep.

What does the light symbolize in stave 2?

Light is a common symbol in literature, often used to represent enlightenment or knowledge. As the story continues, Scrooge begins to literally and figuratively “see the light.” He learns more about those around him, becomes more aware of his own actions, and changes as a result.

How does the bright clear jet of light coming from the Ghost’s head make Scrooge feel?

Key language: Dickens’s use of light The Ghost has a very strange ‘bright clear jet of light’ (p. 23) springing from its head which Scrooge can’t bear; he actually asks the Ghost to put its hat on. Dickens uses Scrooge’s response to the light to show us that he is uncomfortable in the presence of this being.

What does the first Spirit’s light represent a Christmas carol?

The Ghost of Christmas Past: The first ghost to visit Scrooge symbolizes the experiences and memories that have made him into the callous person he is today. The spirit’s glowing head suggests the location of the memories Scrooge holds.

What does Ghost of Christmas Present represent?

The Ghost of Christmas Present serves as the central symbol of the Christmas ideal–generosity, goodwill, and celebration. Appearing on a throne made of food, the spirit evokes thoughts of prosperity, satiety, and merriment.

What can light symbolize?

Across cultures, light is an ancient symbol of understanding and intellectual thought: it is the opposite of ignorance, or darkness. Almost universally, the dark is considered to be frightening and sinister, associated with things we cannot understand. Light is said to conquer darkness and to bring order out of chaos.

Which spirit has a glowing head?

Ghost of Christmas Past
Ghost of Christmas Past The first spirit to visit Scrooge, a curiously childlike apparition with a glowing head. He takes Scrooge on a tour of Christmases in his past, viewing himself as a lonely schoolboy, a young apprentice to the generous Fezziwig and finally to see his former fiancée, Belle.

How does Dickens use light in a Christmas carol?

How does Dickens use Light in ‘A Christmas Carol’? Dickens uses light to portray happiness and understanding. Dickens makes out as if Scrooge is a changed man and he shows this by his description. For example he writes, ‘he was so fluttered and so glowing with his good intentions.

Why does the Ghost of Christmas Past have a glowing head?

The Ghost of Christmas Past, with his glowing head symbolizing the mind, represents memory; the Ghost of Christmas Present represents generosity, empathy, and the Chri stmas spirit; and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come represents the fear of death and moral reckoning.

What does extinguish mean in psychology?

Extinction is one explanation. In psychology, extinction refers to the gradual weakening of a conditioned response that results in the behavior decreasing or disappearing. In other words, the conditioned behavior eventually stops. You stop rewarding the behavior and eventually stop asking your dog to shake.

What does the ghost of Christmas Past’s light represent?

Each ghost represents a different time of his life, and their appearance further symbolizes their purpose. A “bright clear jet of light” bursts from the head of the Ghost of Christmas Past, symbolizing torturous revelation and self-discovery. The events of the past “are but shadows,” according to the Ghost of Christmas Past.

What does the first ghost do in A Christmas Carol?

The first ghost’s head casts a bright light, making visible those things that might not otherwise be seen. However, note that the ghost carries a cap that can act as an “extinguisher” for the light. The ghost holds the power to decide what is seen and unseen, shedding light on something or keeping it hidden.

What does the glowing head mean in A Christmas Carol?

The spirit’s glowing head suggests the location of the memories Scrooge holds. The Ghost of Christmas Present: The second apparition brings with him visions of feasts and a transformed room in Scrooge’s house, which contrasts Scrooge’s cold home with the abundance of other families.

What does the gravestone represent in A Christmas Carol?

Scrooge’s Gravestone: Shown to him by the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, the gravestone symbolizes Scrooge’s potential fate if he does not change: a lonely death, inconsequential to those who know him. Ignorance and Want: These two children, who cling to The Ghost of Christmas Present, represent the rich and the poor’s struggles.