Christmas Carol
Ebenezer Scrooge: Relationships and Redemption
Few stories have been retold or achieved such great cultural familiarity as has Charles Dickens' 1843 novel A Christmas Carol. Perhaps the reason for its success and permanence is its thematic universality. In its central character, readers are given a figure with a dramatically stunted way of relating to other human begins and yet one who is destined for redemption. This is the narrative thrust that drives A Christmas Carol, with the evolution of Ebenezer Scrooge from wealthy, miserly hermit to enlightened giver centering entirely on the way that he perceived other people and the way that other people perceived him. More than any other matter, the Dickens novel seems to center on the relationships that persist between human beings and how our approach to these relationships can bring great fullness or emptiness. As Scrooge's experience shows, this outcome will be dependent upon what one…...
mlaWorks Cited:
Dickens, C. (1843). The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Christmas Carol. Project Gutenberg.
Moncrieff, A. (2007). Literary Analysis: Scrooge's Redemption in A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. Helium.com.
Novel Guide. (2010). A Christmas Carol: Theme Analysis. Novelguide.com.
Men met as men, and as comrades-in-arms. They exchanged addresses for post-war visits and letters. Christmas carols rang out that brought the two sides even closer. They played soccer games. And, of course, some commanders protested against the frivolity and celebration. They were, for the most part, disregarded. Weintraub notes that this truce, ignored in history as an anomaly of little importance, was so emotionally consequential for those who participated that their letters home were filled with their disbelief that it happened.
The author gives a chronological account, from small events in December to Christmas Eve and following to the end of the truce, which in some cases, did not really end until sometime after Christmas. It is a moving book, especially when Weintraub, a former Penn State professor emeritus, biographer, and historian, uses the soldiers' own words to tell the story.
Weintraub never really discusses why the truce happened, though…...
mlaBibliography
Weintraub, S. (2002). Silent Night: The Story of the World War I Christmas Truce. New York: Plume.
Christmas Trees
The shiny green cone lit up our living room. It seemed to give off a light of its own, independent of the strands of tiny bulbs and streamers of tinsel that crowned its natural beauty. A dozen strategically placed red balls blossomed like fruit from its branches, which lingered languidly in the living room air. Perfectly bowed and perpendicular to the trunk, the needled arms of our Christmas tree extended themselves to us as friends would, delighted to grace our home with their joy, their abundance, and their fragrant gifts. The life still coursing through its trunk and veins, our tree stood strongly over the strewn wrapped presents at its base. Like a security guard, it kept an eye out for impatient children and unruly dogs that sniffed and questioned the boxes' contents.
Presiding over the entire living room, the foot-high white-and-gold angel blinked and waved her magic wand. Her…...
Christmas is a time that brings us together and while there are many movies and books that depict crazy times when families do get together, I love being around my family. Yes, we have our quirks, but being together with family is something that cannot be matched by anything. A few years ago, all of my family was able to get together for the holiday. That included all of my aunts and uncles and their children as well. It was great seeing everyone and hearing about what was going on with them. Christmas would not be nearly as special to me if I did not have the opportunity to share it with the people I love.
Finally, I love Christmas because it allows me to decorate and spread Christmas cheer. Decorating the house and the yard is refreshing to me because I get to move things around and have a…...
This is everywhere in windows with the Apple iPad for example, where the device is showing up in 1960s retro windows as the futuristic toy of choice. It is an interesting strategy to juxtapose these images, but it works really well to bring attention to the iPad and get customers thinking about it. The best holiday window displays do this interweaving of storytelling and product imagery so well it is not noticeable. The holiday window displays are very adept at painting these visual images, bringing in products to support the messaging and tying it all together with a holiday theme.
One of the other factors about the windows is the amount of traffic they receive over time. Most of the viewing is done when people are going to and from work, Sundays, evening and during the holidays (Su, Myra, 1992). The permanence of the window displays through the holidays is…...
mlaReferences
Edwards, Su, & Shackley, Myra. (1992). Measuring the Effectiveness of Retail Window Display as an Element of the Marketing Mix. International Journal of Advertising, 11(3), 193.
Grinch Stole Christmas
There are tried and true methods of style in most classical and romantic literature, even back into the epics of Egypt and Babylon, and most certainly throughout Greek and oman mythology. One such method is for the hero to stand or represent the author's conception of a significant paradigmatic individual and theme for that work. Typically, the hero, while perhaps slightly flawed like the rest of humanity, possesses something special -- a deep and ominous understanding of the inner world and inner self, and the ability to employ that understanding to complete a set of tasks that often have parabolic meaning to the reader.
This hero seems to teach us the value of humanity, while helping us strive for excellence by understanding the value of the experiences rendered through intuition, emotions, and often feelings that are special to the hero -- often rather beyond that of logical reasoning.…...
mlaReferences:
Abrams, N, Bell, I, & Udris, J. (2001). Studying Film. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Print.
Fabe, M. (2004). Closely Watched Films: An Introduction to the Art of Narrative Film Technique. Berkeley & Los Angeles: University of California Press, Print.
Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C.P. (2011). Film: From Watching to Seeing. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc., Print.
Hayward, S. (2000). Cinema Studies -- The Key Concepts. London & New York: Routledge, Print.
John Grisham's Skipping Christmas.
Discussed are the strengths and weaknesses from my view and a published critic. Compare this book to other books by Grisham or other Christmas books.
Also examined is why I think this book became a best seller. Seven sources are used, including notes taken from a speech given this month by Jane Janke Johnson to the class session 2 of English 352. APA.
Skipping Christmas
John Grisham's "Skipping Christmas" could be called a Christmas story for the new millennium. It's the story of Luther Krank, his wife Nora, and their daughter Blaire. hen Blaire leaves for the Peace Corps at the beginning of the Christmas season, Luther sees it as a wonderful opportunity to skip the holiday hullabaloo and take a cruise with Nora. However, they quickly become outcasts by local merchants, the Boy Scouts selling trees, the firemen with their fruit cakes, the police selling calendars, and just…...
mlaWorks Cited
Fretts, Bruce. "Yule Primers John Grisham, Jan Karon, and Jimmy Carter earn holiday cheers (and jeers) with Christmas stories." Entertainment Weekly. November 23, 2001; pp 72+.
Grisham, John. Skipping Christmas. Doubleday & Company, Incorporated.
Johnson, Jane Janke. Speaker: English 352,Class Session 2. July 8, 2002.
The figure to the right shows the current promotional materials used throughout the Starbucks locations to promote the Christmas Blend.
In addition, Starbucks is offering coupons on Christ Blend bundles with coffee mugs and discount pricing on the combination of these two items. The promotion strategy is aimed at sustaining the pricing and margins on bundles with the brand loyalty that the Christmas Blend evokes (Starbucks Investor elations). Finally, the promotional strategy is specifically focused on uniting and strengthening the experience of visiting a Starbucks, getting a fresh, hot cup of Christmas Bland and enjoying the holidays with friends. This approach to experience-based marketing built around the Christmas Blend continues to be one of the most effective differentiator the company has against competitors, both national and regional in scope (Dobnik, 23, 24).
Place or Distribution
The experience of having a fresh, hot cup of Christmas Blend is at the center of the…...
mlaReferences
Melissa Allison. (8 November 2007). Ho, ho, Howard Schultz, it's Christmas Blend time. McClatchy - Tribune Business News.
Verena Dobnik, Associated Press. "Mom-and-pop coffee shops prepare for war with Goliath. " Journal Record 24 Jun 1997,
Engleman, Eric. (10 December 2010). Starbucks CEO on holiday sales and other highlights of 2010 read more: Starbucks ceo on holiday sales and other highlights of 2010. Puget Sound Business Journal, 122(122), Retrieved from http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2010/12/starbucks-ceos-end-of-year-message-to.html
Megan Rowe. "Small Price, Big Impact." Restaurant Hospitality 1 Oct. 2010:pg.s 3, 4
Music Review of Christmas on the Heights
On Sunday, December 2, 2009 the Boston College University Choral and Symphony Orchestra perform "Christmas on the Heights" on the campus of Boston College. It was night filled with joyous Christmas music directed by John Finney. The entire concert featured 18 well-known and well-loved Christmas songs. The auditorium was filled with honored guests who were eager to hear the Christmas selections.
The Boston College University Symphony Orchestra was comprised of a rich variation of musical instruments such as the violins, cellos, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, and trombones. This wide variation of instrumentation provided a musical presentation that captured the audience. "Joy to the World," "Hark! The Harold Angels Sing," and "Hallelujah" were among the songs played by the orchestra. These three particular songs were played very professionally and festively with a sound far above the quality of a typical orchestra. The balance of instrumentation, tones, chords,…...
While Lawrence can indeed provide mediation between the cultures, he cannot substitute the release that women would have provided, had they been allowed to visit the camp. Thus, the violence is further exacerbated not only by the cultural divide, but also by the denial of sexual release either by means of hetero- or homosexual affection.
Again, from the point-of-view of audiences, the film could provide a type of warning in terms of a sense of fundamental honesty. The characters in the film are unable to honestly examine their feelings as a result of the cultural, battle, and sexual divides that exist between them. They are completely unable to overcome these divides by means of any contact with the Other if this does not involve some kind of violence. Even high ideals such as honor and loyalty are peppered with violence, as if violence is the only ideal that can survive…...
mlaReferences
Jackson, E. Desire at Cross (-Cultural) Purposes: Hiroshima, Mon Amour and Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.
Studlar, G. Masochism and the Perverse Pleasures of the Cinema.
The military short circuits the normal human experience and subverts normal sex and pleasure (homosexual or heterosexual) by throwing it in the closet. The sexual energy is released, contorted in a sadomasochistic fashion that fed into the energy needed to run a military, run a war, or to conquer and administer an empire. The state has hijacked the sexual urge and put it into the service of the state. This was done in Japan as the government hijacked the bushido philosophical code. This was done wholesale with all of its elements, sexual included.
e must visit Freud again as we plumb the depths of the war and its connection with sexuality. After hopes for humanity's peaceful advancement died in the trenches of Europe, more examination was necessary as Freud reflected upon the statements of his friend, Albert Einstein. Freud posits a death instinct with humanity itself, thereby confirming the suspicion…...
mlaWorks Cited
Freud, Sigmund. An Infantile Neurosis and Other Works . XVII. London, U.K.: Hogarth Press,
1955.
179-204. Print.
Freud, Sigmund. Ed. Collected Papers. 1st. 5. New York, NY: Basic Books, 1959. 273-287. Print.
Jesus - Christianity
Christmas, the day celebrated as the birth of Jesus Christ, is the basis of one of Christianity's holiest observances and its story proclaims the advent of a Savior, the miracle of God's invasion of human history (Sheler pp). Although only Matthew and Luke mention the birth of Christ, the birth is nonetheless believed to have fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies that "a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel," and that out of Bethlehem 'one will go forth ... To be ruler in Israel'" (Sheler pp).
There are numerous religious traditions within Christianity that vary by culture, as well as thousands of diverse beliefs and sects (Christianity pp). In fact, during the past two millennia, it has been grouped into three main branches, Roman Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Protestantism (Christianity pp). Christianity is the world's largest single religion with over 2.2 billion followers…...
mlaWork Cited
Christianity. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity
Crusades. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crusades
Sheler, Jeffrey L. "The first noel."
U.S. News & World Report; 12/21/1992; pp.
2011 Christmas holiday season that Hollywood movies sales experienced a rather lackluster performance. Theaters experienced both a decline in total revenue as well as total visits despite the fact that the average ticket price saw a slight increase. It has been traditionally the case that the holiday season represents one of the industry's best seasons with a fairly steady growth curve. Despite the overall decrease in sales the author argued that it wasn't a consistent trend. That is that some movies did well during the year, especially in the summer, while others seemed to suffer much worse than expected results.
The author took a very neutral tone in providing the information about the Hollywood movie tone. It was a similar tone that one might find in a mainstream newspaper publication. Furthermore, the author provided multiple opinions about the movie sales revenues. The author doesn't take a strong stance on any…...
Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas
Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, my parents were alcoholics, and I didn't know the difference. Until that one Christmas, when our lives came crashing down. Then, I knew what alcohol abuse could do to a family.
The strains of "Please daddy, don't get drunk this Christmas, I don't wanna see my momma cry" wound their way throughout the house. For some reason, my mom always played that song at Christmas. My dad always used to laugh uproariously as it played, singing along with the lyrics, and usually swigging a can of beer at the same time. Mom would laugh at his antics, and play the song again. Other kids could sing "Silent Night" or "O Come All Ye Faithful," but I could sing every verse of "Please Daddy" by the time I was four, it seems.
I always thought the song…...
ChristmasChristmas is a holiday that is celebrated by Christians around the world on December 25th. The holiday commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, who is considered by many to be the savior of humanity (Hope, 2013). Christmas is typically a time of family gatherings, gift giving, and feastingbut its origin is to be found in the Catholic Church, which on December 25th celebrates the Christ Mass, aka Christmasthe Holy Sacrifice of the Mass commemorating the birth of Our Lord. In recent years, however, the commercialization of Christmas has led to increased stress levels and financial strain for many people. Nevertheless, the holiday remains an important time for family and friends to gather together and celebrate their faith.eferencesHope, C. A. (2013).The Christmas Eve Conversation. AuthorHouse....
mlaReferencesHope, C. A. (2013). The Christmas Eve Conversation. AuthorHouse.
In Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," the author beautifully renders a vivid and heartwarming description of the protagonist's transformative journey, showcasing the power of compassion and redemption during the holiday season. To create a strong thesis statement on this topic, you could focus on analyzing how Dickens uses the character of Ebenezer Scrooge to demonstrate the themes of redemption and the power of Christmas spirit. You could explore how Scrooge's transformation from a cold-hearted miser to a benevolent and generous individual serves as a powerful message about the importance of empathy and kindness in one's life. By examining the various stages....
Thesis Statement:
Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol eloquently portrays the transformative power of redemption and compassion through Ebenezer Scrooge's profound journey of self-realization, illustrating that the true spirit of Christmas lies in embracing kindness, generosity, and the interconnectedness of humanity.
Introduction:
A Christmas Carol, a timeless classic by Charles Dickens, delves into the profound transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly and isolated individual, during the haunting night of Christmas Eve. Through the visitations of three spirits, Scrooge embarks on a journey of self-discovery, witnessing the consequences of his actions and gaining a newfound understanding of the true meaning of Christmas. This essay delves....
The transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" exemplifies the power of redemption and the importance of kindness and generosity in the face of personal greed and social injustice. Your thesis statement is focused and clear in identifying the central themes of redemption, kindness, generosity, and personal growth in "A Christmas Carol." It effectively sets the stage for discussing how Scrooge's transformation highlights these themes throughout the novel. One potential suggestion for improvement could be to add more specific examples or analysis that will support your thesis statement and help readers understand the significance of Scrooge's transformation in....
Original Thesis Statement:
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens explores the transformative power of redemption and the significance of empathy in fostering a compassionate and just society.
Feedback:
While your thesis statement touches on key themes in A Christmas Carol, it lacks focus and precision. It covers two broad concepts (redemption and empathy) without delving into specific aspects or examining their interplay. To strengthen your thesis, consider narrowing your focus and providing a more detailed analysis.
Revised Thesis Statement:
The Haunting Visitation: The Transformative Power of Empathy and Redemption in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
This revised thesis statement addresses a specific aspect of the novel:....
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now