FORM/STRUCTURE

• Use of form in A Christmas Carol

  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.
• Evidence and explanation of the form usedGhost 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.
• Evidence and explanation of the structure used 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 to analyse 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
• Use of language in A Christmas Carol

  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.
• Clear narrative voice , Dickens uses a narrative voice that offers opinions on the characters. For example 'Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge!'The narrative voice is entertaining and instructs the reader how to feel about Scrooge.We trust the narrator and know instantly that Scrooge is a man who is miserly and unpleasant.
• Simile , 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.
• Dialogue , Dickens reveals the characters through the things they say. Scrooge famously uses the words 'Bah!' and 'Humbug!' in response to Christmas wishes.The simple words are memorable and show that Scrooge is dismissive about Christmas.Scrooge's determination to disengage with the spirit of Christmas shows him to be bad-tempered.
• Personification , When Dickens describes Scrooge's childhood, he uses personification to emphasise how 'merry' the sound of the young boys is by saying 'the crisp air laughed to hear it!'The sound of the boys playing and shouting is so delightful that even the 'air' is laughing.The effect of this personification is to show how everything is affected by the good nature of the children. This contrasts with Scrooge's adult self.
• Metaphor , The children 'Ignorance' and 'Want' are used to represent all the poor children in society: 'They were a boy and girl. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish'.The children under the Ghost of Christmas Present's cloak are a metaphor showing the effects of greed and miserliness.The reader, like Scrooge, feels pity for these 'ragged' children and this extends to a sense of responsibility for all the poor and homeless children in society.