The Form, Structure, and Language of "A Christmas Carol
FORM/STRUCTURE/
LANGAUGE
To revise the FORM/STRUCTURE/LANGAUGE of the
novella.
Dickens wrote
A Christmas Carol
in the form of:
a novella
a ghost story
The tale is written as a
novella
. This is a short
piece of fiction - longer than a short story, but
shorter than a novel. Dickens published
A
Christmas Carol
on 19th December 1843. It was
traditional for
ghost stories
to be read at
Christmas time, and this short novella form
meant that the whole tale could be read aloud in
one sitting
Ghost story?
Novella?
Ghost story
Dickens's novella features
four ghosts
in total: Jacob
Marley and the three Ghosts of Christmas. He
combines the
tradition of reading ghost stories
with a moral tale of redemption
.
Dickens used the form to appeal to the spirit of
Christmas and to share a story that was so popular
that the first print run of 6000 copies sold out by
Christmas Eve in 1843!
Novella
The
short novella form means the story can be
read aloud
in a short space of time, making it the
ideal Christmas entertainment.
The novella is set out in five Staves.
This is an unusual structure that mimics the
way a musical piece is put together. The
Staves follow the action of the story with the
first stave setting the scene, the middle stave
showing the turning point for Scrooge and
the final stave concluding the story by
presenting him as a changed man.
Carols and the five staves
Three ghosts
Carols and the five staves
Carols are songs that are popular at Christmas time and usually
deal with stories of Christ's birth or with themes associated with
the festive season. Some carols focus on joy and the spirit of giving
to others.
The structure of Dickens's novella uses a similar structure to a song
to present a moral tale of transformation.
Three ghosts
The structure of the three ghosts showing the past, present and
future appeals to readers on many levels. The number three is
significant in fairy stories, religious tales and in traditional myths
and legends. Characters are often faced with three choices,
granted three wishes, or given three opportunities to change.
Scrooge is shown his past, the present and a possible future and
then finally finds the willingness to transform.
How important is the overall structure of this novella?
the structure links to
the theme of Christmas
by
reflecting the shape of a typical carol
it has a clear
beginning, middle and end
through
which we see a character's transformation
the
structure of three
ghosts, showing the past,
present and future, appeals to readers
Scrooge's
redemption
in the
final stave
leaves the
reader with a sense of both completion and
possibility
Dickens uses language to draw us into the
story
and to present characters and scenes that
are entertaining.
He uses a strong narrative voice
that
comments on the characters at the same time as
telling their story. The narrator, though unnamed,
has opinions about Scrooge and his tale. He also
places himself and the reader at the heart of the
action, by suggesting that he is 'standing in the
spirit at (the reader's) elbow.'
Dickens's language is highly descriptive
and
creates a vivid sense of place and setting.
When analysing the language Dickens has used, aim
to: examine
words
and
phrases
think about the
sorts of words
he chose (positive,
negative, descriptive)
explore
layers of meaning
(what else could a
phrase refer to or suggest?)
notice any
literary techniques
(simile, metaphor,
alliteration)
explain the
effects of the language
used - how does
it make you feel?
NARRATIVE VOICE
SIMILE
DIALOGUE
METAPHOR
PERSONIFICATION
Here’s a BASIC example for LANGUAGE USE.
“
Alleys and archways, like so many
cesspools, disgorged their offences of smell,
and dirt, and life, upon the straggling streets;
and the whole quarter reeked with crime,
with filth, and misery.”
How does the language in this
quotation create a sense of
place?
'Alleys and archways' - alliteration
creates a
sense of a warren of small streets and tight
spaces
'like so many cesspools'
- this
simile
compares the streets to sewers and shows how
disgusting they are
'straggling streets'
- the
adjective
'straggling'
makes the streets seem winding and unruly
'reeked'
- this
verb
is vivid and gives us a sense
of a foul smell
'crime, with filth, and misery'
- the
list of
three
shows how dirty and dangerous the street
are
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zwkdwmn/test
Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" is a novella, blending a ghost story with a moral tale of redemption. The unique form, divided into five staves, mirrors a musical composition, while the three ghosts symbolize past, present, and future. The narrative's structure is akin to carols, presenting a transformative journey for the protagonist, Scrooge.
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Presentation Transcript
A CHRISTMAS CAROL - REVISION FORM/STRUCTURE/ LANGAUGE
WALT To revise the FORM/STRUCTURE/LANGAUGE of the novella.
WHAT IS THE FORM? Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in the form of: a novella a ghost story The tale is written as a novella. This is a short piece of fiction - longer than a short story, but shorter than a novel. Dickens published A Christmas Carol on 19th December 1843. It was traditional for ghost stories to be read at Christmas time, and this short novella form meant that the whole tale could be read aloud in one sitting
WHY THESE FORMS? Ghost story? Novella?
WHY THESE FORMS? Ghost story Dickens's novella features four ghosts in total: Jacob Marley and the three Ghosts of Christmas. He combines the tradition of reading ghost stories with a moral tale of redemption. Dickens used the form to appeal to the spirit of Christmas and to share a story that was so popular that the first print run of 6000 copies sold out by Christmas Eve in 1843! Novella The short novella form means the story can be read aloud in a short space of time, making it the ideal Christmas entertainment.
WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE? The novella is set out in five Staves. This is an unusual structure that mimics the way a musical piece is put together. The Staves follow the action of the story with the first stave setting the scene, the middle stave showing the turning point for Scrooge and the final stave concluding the story by presenting him as a changed man.
WHY THIS STRUCTURE? Carols and the five staves Three ghosts
WHY THIS STRUCTURE? Carols and the five staves Carols are songs that are popular at Christmas time and usually deal with stories of Christ's birth or with themes associated with the festive season. Some carols focus on joy and the spirit of giving to others. The structure of Dickens's novella uses a similar structure to a song to present a moral tale of transformation. Three ghosts The structure of the three ghosts showing the past, present and future appeals to readers on many levels. The number three is significant in fairy stories, religious tales and in traditional myths and legends. Characters are often faced with three choices, granted three wishes, or given three opportunities to change. Scrooge is shown his past, the present and a possible future and then finally finds the willingness to transform.
WHY THIS STRUCTURE? How important is the overall structure of this novella? the structure links to the theme of Christmas by reflecting the shape of a typical carol it has a clear beginning, middle and end through which we see a character's transformation the structure of three ghosts, showing the past, present and future, appeals to readers Scrooge's redemption in the final stave leaves the reader with a sense of both completion and possibility
WHAT ABOUT THE LANGUAGE? Dickens uses language to draw us into the story and to present characters and scenes that are entertaining. He uses a strong narrative voice that comments on the characters at the same time as telling their story. The narrator, though unnamed, has opinions about Scrooge and his tale. He also places himself and the reader at the heart of the action, by suggesting that he is 'standing in the spirit at (the reader's) elbow.' Dickens's language is highly descriptive and creates a vivid sense of place and setting.
REMEMBER When analysing the language Dickens has used, aim to: examine words and phrases think about the sorts of words he chose (positive, negative, descriptive) explore layers of meaning (what else could a phrase refer to or suggest?) notice any literary techniques (simile, metaphor, alliteration) explain the effects of the language used - how does it make you feel?
5 TYPES OF LANGUAGE USE NARRATIVE VOICE SIMILE DIALOGUE METAPHOR PERSONIFICATION
MORE DETAILS LANGUAGE USE Here s a BASIC example for LANGUAGE USE. Point Evidence Analysis and Language/Technical Term When Dickens first presents Scrooge he describes him as 'Hard and sharp as flint'. The simile likens the character to something that the reader can recognise. We see that Scrooge is tough and unbreakable Simile
LANGUAGE QUOTATION ANALYSIS Alleys and archways, like so many cesspools, disgorged their offences of smell, and dirt, and life, upon the straggling streets; and the whole quarter reeked with crime, with filth, and misery. How does the language in this quotation create a sense of place?
LANGUAGE QUOTATION ANALYSIS 'Alleys and archways' - alliteration creates a sense of a warren of small streets and tight spaces 'like so many cesspools' - this simile compares the streets to sewers and shows how disgusting they are 'straggling streets' - the adjective 'straggling' makes the streets seem winding and unruly 'reeked' - this verb is vivid and gives us a sense of a foul smell 'crime, with filth, and misery' - the list of three shows how dirty and dangerous the street are
PLENARY TEST! http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zwkdwmn/test
