A Christmas Carol Group

Question:

localseabird
localseabird
Student
High School - 12th Grade

What is the climax in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol ?

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Posted by localseabird on Monday November 9, 2009 at 1:51 PM and tagged with a christmas carol climax, dickens, literature.

Answers:

  1. thewritingteacher
    thewritingteacher Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The climax of any piece of literture is the highest point of interest (not action) wherein the reader understands how the story will resolve (and to what extent the beginning balance is either regained or destroyed.)

    In order to determine the climax, then, for A Christmas Carol, the reader must define the main, dominating idea or theme of the work. What is Dickens' message? The notes linked below offer three thematic ideas that work together to provide Dickens' most probable dominant theme: reconciliation and restoration to relationship are always possible, as long as life endures.

    Knowing this, the climax of the story occurs when Scrooge reveals to the final spectre that the shadows of Christmas yet-to-come are only shadows, and not certainties. The reader understands at that point that Scrooge is a changed (or at least changing) man. The remainder of the book illustrates this conversion in a light and entertaining way. Even the mood of the text works to demostrates the truth of Scrooge's transformation.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/christmas-carol/conversion-scrooge-...
    http://www.enotes.com/christmas-carol/themes

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    Posted by thewritingteacher on Monday November 9, 2009 at 2:51 PM