‘secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster’

Define the term ‘adjective’. Define the term ‘noun’. Highlight the adjectives. Highlight the nouns.

‘secret, and self contained, ‘secret, and self-contained,

and solitary as an oyster.’ and solitary as an oyster.’

Highlight the sibilance. Define the term ‘sibilance’. Define the language device. What language device is this
an example of?
‘secret, and self-contained,
and solitary as an oyster.’

Explain the significance of the sibilance. In the 19th century, oysters were plentiful, cheap and popular with the lower classes. Why compare Scrooge to an
Why does Dickens include it? Consider With this in mind, how can the quotation take on new meaning? oyster?
how it sounds.

Complete single word analysis on any word How can you connect this quotation to other areas of the text?
from the quotation apart from ‘oyster’.
 ‘his clerk, who in a dismal little cell beyond, a sort of tank, was copying letters.’

What is happening at this point in the Define the term ‘noun’. Define the term ‘adjective’. Highlight the nouns.
novel?
‘his clerk, who in a dismal little
cell beyond, a sort of tank, was
copying letters.’

Complete single word analysis on the Highlight the subordinate clause Define the term ‘subordinate clause’. Highlight the adjectives.
word ‘cell’.
‘his clerk, who in a dismal little ‘his clerk, who in a dismal little
cell beyond, a sort of tank, was cell beyond, a sort of tank, was
copying letters.’ copying letters.’

How does the subordinate clause reinforce the poor working conditions of the lower classes Why is Bob’s place of work ‘beyond’ How can you connect this quotation to
in Victorian London? Scrooge’s? Why are they not together? other areas of the text?

Define the word ‘destitute’ and link it to this Why does Dickens bring Bob’s plight to our attention? What is he hoping to achieve?
quotation.
 ‘The chain he drew was clasped about his middle. It was long,
and… made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks, ledgers, deeds, and
heavy purses wrought in steel.’
What is happening at this point in the Define the term ‘noun’. Highlight the nouns. Define the term ‘semantic field’.
novel?
‘The chain he drew was clasped about his
middle. It was long,
and… made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks,
ledgers, deeds, and
heavy purses wrought in steel.’

Explain what Marley’s chain is a metaphor Define the term ‘metaphor’. What does this tell us about Marley’s What semantic field do your highlighted
for. Why choose a chain to act as a priorities in life? nouns belong to?
metaphor? What are its connotations?

Marley adopts the appearance of a Victorian prisoner. What does this tell us about society Define the term ‘verb’.
during this time?

How can you connect this quotation to other areas of the text? Complete single word analysis on the verbs Highlight the verbs.
in the first sentence.
‘The chain he drew was clasped about his
middle. It was long,
and… made of cash-boxes, keys, padlocks,
ledgers, deeds, and
heavy purses wrought in steel.’
 ‘Would you so soon put out, with worldly hands, the light I give?
Is it not enough that you are one of those whose passions made this cap?’
What is happening at this point in the Define the term ‘noun’. Define the term ‘abstract noun’. Highlight the abstract noun:
novel? Who is saying this?
‘Would you so soon put out, with
worldly hands, the light I give?
Is it not enough that you are one of
those whose passions made this
cap?’

What is the cap a metaphor for? Define the term ‘metaphor’. What is the ‘cap’ mentioned? Look at the word you have highlighted.
What are Scrooge’s?

What does light represent in the novella? What can we infer about Scrooge the fact he is so Complete single word analysis on the How can you connect this quotation to other
eager to put out the light offered by the ghost? adjective ‘worldly.’ areas of the text?

What other device is used in this quotation? What are the consequences of extinguishing this light for Scrooge? What are the consequences
What is the impact of this? for the rest of society? Link your ideas to the context of the novel.
 ‘I have seen your nobler aspirations fall off one by one, until the
master-passion, Gain, engrosses you.’
What is happening at this point in the Define the term ‘noun’. Define the term ‘abstract noun’. Highlight the abstract nouns.
novel? Who is saying this?
‘I have seen your nobler aspirations
fall off one by one, until the
master-passion, Gain, engrosses
you.’

What is Dickens’ intention here? What Consider Scrooge’s passion: ‘Gain’. What was society like in Victorian London to What can we infer about Scrooge’s
message is he trying to convey to his cause ‘Gain’ to be his sole focus? original aspirations?
readers through this quotation?

Complete single word analysis on the word ‘Aspirations’ is a plural and ‘Gain’ is How can you connect this quotation to
‘engrosses’. singular. What does this suggest to you? other areas of the text?

What do you think Belle’s aspirations Which themes does this quotation relate Complete single word analysis on ‘master-
are? to? passion’.
 ‘there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see,
who bore a glowing torch… to shed its light on Scrooge.’
What is happening at this Define the term ‘adjective’. Define the term ‘noun’. Highlight the adjectives.
point in the novel?
‘there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see,
who bore a glowing torch… to shed its
light on Scrooge.’

Explain the effect of the alliteration. Why

does Dickens include it? Consider the sound
Highlight the alliteration. Define the term ‘alliteration’. Highlight the nouns.
it makes.
‘there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see, ‘there sat a jolly Giant, glorious to see,
who bore a glowing torch… to shed its who bore a glowing torch… to shed its
light on Scrooge.’ light on Scrooge.’

Pick the ONE word that shifts the tone of the Why is this ghost ‘glorious to see’? What can What is the significance of light in the novel? Why is it important that this light is
novella from melancholy to something else. we infer from the word ‘glorious’? ‘shed… on Scrooge’?
Discuss its significance.

How can you connect this quotation to other areas of the text? What similarities does this ghost share with Christmas time? Consider each part of
the quotation carefully.
 ‘two smaller Cratchits, boy and girl, came tearing in, screaming
that outside the baker's they had smelt the goose’

What is happening at this Define the term ‘adjective’. Define the term ‘noun’. Define the term ‘verb’.
point in the novel?

Highlight the present Highlight the nouns. Highlight the adjectives. Define ‘present participle
participle verbs. verb’.
‘two smaller Cratchits, boy and ‘two smaller Cratchits, boy and ‘two smaller Cratchits, boy and
girl, came tearing in, screaming girl, came tearing in, screaming girl, came tearing in, screaming
that outside the baker's they that outside the baker's they that outside the baker's they
had smelt the goose’ had smelt the goose’ had smelt the goose’

What impression do ‘tearing’ and ‘screaming’ give us of the younger Cratchits? Turkey was an exotic bird, too expensive for the common person to purchase. The Cratchits
are excited about a humble ‘goose’. What do we learn about them from this?

How does this quotation link to the theme of What role do the Cratchits play in the novella? How can you connect this quotation to other areas of the text?
‘family’? Why are they there?
 ‘Scrooge… beheld a solemn Phantom, draped and hooded, coming,
like a mist along the ground, towards him.’
What is happening at this Define the term ‘adjective’. Define the term ‘noun’. Define the term ‘simile’.
point in the novel?

Define ‘solemn’. Highlight the simile. Highlight the nouns. Highlight the adjectives.

‘Scrooge… beheld a solemn ‘Scrooge… beheld a solemn ‘Scrooge… beheld a solemn

Phantom, draped and hooded, Phantom, draped and hooded, Phantom, draped and hooded,
coming, like a mist along the coming, like a mist along the coming, like a mist along the
ground, towards him.’ ground, towards him.’ ground, towards him.’

Where else does the idea of mist appear in the novella? Why does it appear then? Why is the ghost described as a ‘Phantom’ This reaper-like figure could represent fear of
Why is it referenced here? How do these two moments link? here instead of a ‘spirit’ like the others? death. Why is it important that Scrooge
experiences fear of death? Link your ideas to
the plight of the lower classes in Victorian
London.

How can you connect this quotation to other How does this quotation link to the theme of Complete single word analysis on
areas of the text? ‘the threat of time’? ‘draped’ or ‘hooded’.
 ‘I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel,
I am as merry as a schoolboy.’
What is happening at this point in Define the term ‘simile’. Highlight the examples of a simile. Complete single word analysis on
the novel? ‘feather’.
‘I am as light as a feather, I am as
happy as an angel,
I am as merry as a schoolboy.’

Based on these adjectives, how has Highlight the adjectives. Define the term ‘adjective’. Complete single word analysis on
Scrooge changed? ‘angel’.
‘I am as light as a feather, I am as
happy as an angel,
I am as merry as a schoolboy.’

Why is ‘I am as light as a feather’ significant? Focus on ‘light’. How can you connect Why is ‘I am as merry as a schoolboy’ significant? Focus on ‘schoolboy’. How can you
this quotation to another area of the text? connect this quotation to another area of the text?

What is Dickens’ intention with this quotation? What does he want his readers to learn at What are the similes used to describe Scrooge on Stave One? How are they different?
this point in the novella?
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