CHRISTMAS YET TO COME

• “slowly, gravely, silently approached“

  • triple ominous adverb shoes menacing ambience filled with dread
  • archetypal presentation of a menacing ghost - it’s a faceless figure that is there to haunt to Scrooge
• “shrouded in a deep black garment“

  • reminiscent of the description of the grim reaper; a symbol of death
  • alikeness in description is suggestive that Scrooges chances of redemption have vanished
• “outstretched hand” “steady hand was pointed to the head“

  • use of its “hand“ could be an allusion to the hand of time
  • the ghost is warning scrooge that he is losing time and is edging closer to his ironically solitary death
  • scrooge longed for a “solitary“ existence and how the ghost is solemnly showing him the repercussions of this selfish want
• “scrooge feared the silent shape so much that his legs trembled beneath him”

  • utter terror is so powerful it does not just evoke an emotional reaction from scrooge but a physical one
  • alliteration on “silent shape” draws emphasis on the mysteriousness of the ghost, its faceless figure makes scrooge lose all composure