Why Does Marley Come Back From the Dead?

LO: to be explain to explain the significance of Marley coming back from the dead

‘I wear the chains I

DO NOW:
forged in life’
‘Mankind was my Look at this image of Marley’s Ghost.
business’ From memory, answer the following
questions.
1. What is his message for Scrooge?
2. How does he try to make an impact on
Scrooge?
3. Why is he dressed in chains?
4. Challenge: use as many of the key
words below to describe Marley

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Feedback
Dickens uses the character of Marley’s ghost as a warning to the Victorian elite: his
character exposes the consequences of social negligence as he is shackled with the
guilt of not using his position of privilege to help others in need.

Marley’s ghost is used to deliver a clear warning: it is important to not be ignorant

and insular. His message (‘charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence’) is one
Dickens states in the preface he wants his readers to be ‘haunted pleasantly’ with.
Understanding - What does Marley mean in this quotation? Why is he in chains?

What does the chain represent?

What does
What does ‘forged’ suggest? Was it his choice?
the present
tense ‘I wear’
"I wear the chain I forged in life," replied the Ghost. "I
suggest about
made it link by link, and yard by yard; I girded it on of my
the
own free will, and of my own free will I wore it. Is its
consequences
pattern strange to you?"
of actions in
Scrooge trembled more and more.
life?
Forged = creating something strong
Why does Scrooge tremble? (often with metal)
Why is ‘more’ repeated? Girded = making something in a
circle; surrounding

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Scrooge tries to talk to Marley about ‘Business’; Marley rebukes him.

Why does the

ghost cry out?

Why is he "Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again.

"Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my What does
annoyed about
business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, the ghost
Scrooge
were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a mean here?
mentioning
business? drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

Benevolence =
What do these nouns suggest about what Marley has learnt / kindness
what his message is? Forbearance =
Consider the direct contrast to Scrooge’s words to the charity tolerance /patience
workers ‘It’s not my business’

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Scrooge watches Marley go and join the other ghosts

What does ‘lamentation’ suggest?

What does ‘wailings’ make you think about the other ghosts?
Dirge = song for
‘He [Scrooge] became sensible of confused noises in the air; the dead
incoherent sounds of lamentation and regret; wailings Lamentation =
inexpressibly sorrowful and self-accusatory. The spectre, passionate
after listening for a moment, joined in the mournful dirge; expression of
grief or sorrow
and floated out upon the bleak, dark night.’

What impression does the setting create What sounds do all the other people make?
here? What does ‘sorrowful and self accusatory’
emphasise?
How does the weather set the mood?

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 Why Does Marley Come Back From the Dead?
TASK: Imagine that you are Marley's ghost. How can you explain the reason why you
come back from the dead?

SUGGESTED SENTENCE STEMS TO GO CONSIDER:

HERE
- The physical description of Marley.
- The way Marley speaks to Scrooge
and what his message is.
- What Dickens is trying to show the
readers through Marley’s character
(e.g. repercussions of living a lonely
and selfish existence).

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 Consolidation
Why does Marley show Scrooge all of the other ghosts floating around at the
end?

‘The air was filled with phantoms,

wandering hither and thither in restless
haste, and moaning as they went. Every
one of them wore chains like Marley's
Ghost; some few (they might be guilty
governments) were linked together;
none were free. Many had been
personally known to Scrooge in their
lives.’