Supernatural

• “Marley was as dead as a door-nail.”

  • Simile: A very blunt and unusual comparison – “dead as a door-nail” – establishes firmly that Marley is truly, unquestionably dead
  • Repetition throughout Stave 1: Reinforces Marley’s death to make his later ghostly return more dramatic and unsettling
  • Comic tone: The odd phrasing makes the supernatural more digestible for the reader, blending horror with humour
  • Effect: Dickens prepares the reader for the supernatural by making the unbelievable seem oddly believable – a hallmark of the novella's style
• “You will be haunted... by Three Spirits.”

  • Passive voice “will be haunted”: Emphasises Scrooge’s lack of control – the supernatural is imposing itself on him
  • “Haunted”: A word with ghostly connotations, but here it means more than fear – he is being guided, watched, and changed
  • Trio of spirits: The number three is often symbolic in literature – representing balance, completeness, and spiritual progression
  • Effect: Dickens introduces the supernatural as purposeful and structured – it's a force for moral guidance rather than random terror
• “The Phantom slowly, gravely, silently approached.”

  • Tricolon (three descriptive adverbs): Builds suspense and fear through a slow, creeping rhythm
  • Tone: Unlike the other spirits, this ghost is silent – its power comes from mystery and dread, not speech
  • Gothic imagery: Classic features of supernatural horror — darkness, silence, and a sense of doom
  • Effect: Dickens uses the supernatural here to frighten Scrooge into change — silence becomes more terrifying than any words
• “It thrilled him with a vague uncertain horror.”

  • “Vague uncertain horror”: Highlights the fear of the unknown — this ghost represents death, loss, and consequences yet unseen
  • Verb “thrilled”: Suggests a physical, involuntary reaction — fear taking over his body
  • Supernatural fear as a motivator: Dickens shows that the unknown can be a powerful force for reflection and change
  • Effect: The supernatural is used here to unsettle and humble Scrooge, confronting him with his own mortality