Form, Structure and Language

• What type of text is A Christmas Carol?

  Novella
• What is the length of a novella compared to other forms of fiction?

  Longer than a short story, shorter than a novel
• When was A Christmas Carol published?

  19th December 1843
• Why was A Christmas Carol traditionally read at Christmas time?

  It is a ghost story
• What is a key fact about the novella's reading time?

  It can be read aloud in one sitting
• What elements does Dickens use in A Christmas Carol?

  • Vivid language
  • Elements of classic ghost stories
  • Clear five-part structure
• How many ghosts are featured in A Christmas Carol?

  Four ghosts
• Who are the main ghosts in A Christmas Carol?

  Jacob Marley and the three Ghosts of Christmas
• What moral theme does Dickens combine with the ghost story?

  A moral tale of redemption
• How did Dickens use the form of A Christmas Carol to appeal to readers?

  To appeal to the spirit of Christmas
• What was significant about the first print run of A Christmas Carol?

  It sold out by Christmas Eve 1843
• Why is the novella form ideal for Christmas entertainment?

  It can be read in a short time
• What aspects can be analyzed in the form of A Christmas Carol?

  • Type of text
  • Style of writing
  • Genre
• What is the structure of A Christmas Carol?

  It is set out in five Staves.
• How does the structure of A Christmas Carol mimic music?

  It uses a five-part structure like a musical piece.
• What does the first stave of A Christmas Carol do?

  It sets the scene for the story.
• What is significant about the middle stave of A Christmas Carol?

  It shows the turning point for Scrooge.
• How does the final stave of A Christmas Carol conclude the story?

  It presents Scrooge as a changed man.
• What should you consider when analyzing the structure of A Christmas Carol?

  • How is the text put together?
  • What is significant about this?
  • How does it reflect the themes of the text?
  • What is the overall effect of the structure?
• What are carols typically about?

  They deal with Christ's birth or festive themes.
• How does the structure of A Christmas Carol relate to carols?

  It presents a moral tale of transformation.
• What is the significance of the number three in A Christmas Carol?

  It relates to the three ghosts showing past, present, future.
• How do the three ghosts affect Scrooge's character?

  They show him his past, present, and future.
• How does the structure of the three ghosts appeal to readers?

  • It resonates with fairy tales and myths.
  • Characters often face three choices or opportunities.
  • It emphasizes the theme of transformation.
• How does the overall structure of A Christmas Carol link to its themes?

  • Reflects the shape of a typical carol.
  • Has a clear beginning, middle, and end.
  • Shows Scrooge's transformation and redemption.
• What feeling does Scrooge's redemption in the final stave evoke in readers?

  It leaves a sense of completion and possibility.
• What type of language does Dickens use in A Christmas Carol?

  Vivid language
• How does Dickens structure A Christmas Carol?

  It has a clear five-part structure
• What is the role of the narrative voice in A Christmas Carol?

  It comments on characters while telling the story
• How does the narrator engage the reader in A Christmas Carol?

  By suggesting he is 'standing in the spirit'
• What effect does Dickens's descriptive language have?

  It creates a vivid sense of place and setting
• What should you examine when analyzing Dickens's language?

  • Words and phrases
  • Types of words (positive, negative)
  • Layers of meaning
  • Literary techniques (simile, metaphor)
  • Effects of the language used
• What does the narrative voice in A Christmas Carol convey about Scrooge?

  Scrooge is miserly and unpleasant
• What simile does Dickens use to describe Scrooge?

  'Hard and sharp as flint'
• How does dialogue reveal Scrooge's character?

  He uses dismissive words like 'Bah!' and 'Humbug!'
• What does the personification of the air in Scrooge's childhood signify?

  It shows the joy of children affects everything
• What do the children 'Ignorance' and 'Want' symbolize?

  They represent all poor children in society
• How does Dickens describe the alleyways in A Christmas Carol?

  As cesspools that reek with crime and misery
• What literary technique is used in the description of the alleyways?

  Alliteration and simile
• What effect does the list of 'crime, with filth, and misery' have?

  It emphasizes the danger and dirtiness of the streets