Question

Which two elements does this excerpt from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens contain?

"A small matter," said the Ghost, “to make these silly folks so full of gratitude."

"Small!" echoed Scrooge.

The Spirit signed to him to listen to the two apprentices, who were pouring out their hearts in praise of Fezziwig: and when he had done so, said,

"Why! Is it not? He has spent but a few pounds of your mortal money: three or four perhaps. Is that so much that he deserves this praise?"

"It isn’t that," said Scrooge, heated by the remark, and speaking unconsciously like his former, not his latter, self. "It isn't that, Spirit. He has the power to render us happy or unhappy; to make our service light or burdensome; a pleasure or a toil. Say that his power lies in words and looks; in things so slight and insignificant that it is impossible to add and count ’em up: what then? The happiness he gives, is quite as great as if it cost a fortune."

He felt the Spirit's glance, and stopped.

"What is the matter?" asked the Ghost.

"Nothing particular," said Scrooge.

"Something, I think?" the Ghost insisted.

"No," said Scrooge, "No. I should like to be able to say a word or two to my clerk just now. That's all."

1. developing characterization
2. highlighting setting
3. establishing tone
4. building theme
5. creating humor

Answer 1

It isn't the setting. From this quotation, we hardly know where we are other than listening to two employees talking about their boss.

It isn't creating humor. A Christmas Carol contains very little humor, and that which it does is mostly in the Alistair Sim movie at the end. I think you can find that on U tube and if you can, be sure and watch it. You can't study Scrooge and not know about the 1951 production.

One of your choices has to be about theme. This is the story of redemention of what was a very fine young man to a crotchety somewhat ugly old man. But the spirits saw something in him and decided to revamp that good young man.

Having said that, I think you are developing tone or dealing with characterization. It's very hard to pick. Those two are so intertwined you don't know which one to pick.

Answer

Building Theme. Scrooge is almost entirely about theme.

Developing Character: Scrooge, by the end of this is saying that he would like to have a word with his Clerk. He's learned something!!!

Note

Don't be surprised if it is tone. There is plenty of that going on in a Christmas Carol as well. The point though is that we are looking at the Transformation of Scrooge.