A Christmas Carol - Form, structure and language test questions - Edexcel

1

Read the extract from A Christmas Carol and answer questions 1-3 below.

Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner! Hard and sharp as flint, from which no steel had ever struck out generous fire; secret, and self-contained, and solitary as an oyster. The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shrivelled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always about with him; he iced his office in the dog-days; and didn’t thaw it one degree at Christmas.

What literary device is 'solitary as an oyster' an example of?

2

Why does Dickens use a list of adjectives in this extract?

3

What does his physical appearance reveal about his character?

4

Read this extract from A Christmas Carol and answer questions 4-7 below.

At this the spirit raised a frightful cry, and shook its chain with such a dismal and appalling noise, that Scrooge held on tight to his chair, to save himself from falling in a swoon. But how much greater was his horror, when the phantom taking off the bandage round its head, as if it were too warm to wear indoors, its lower jaw dropped down upon its breast! Scrooge fell upon his knees, and clasped his hands before his face. “Mercy!” he said. “Dreadful apparition, why do you trouble me?”

How are the conventions of a ghost story used in this extract?

5

In what way does Dickens horrify Scrooge and the reader?

6

How do we know that Scrooge is frightened?

7

Where does this extract fit in the overall structure of the novella?

8

Read this extract from A Christmas Carol and answer questions 8-10 below.

“You will be haunted,” resumed the Ghost, “by Three Spirits.” Scrooge’s countenance fell almost as low as the Ghost’s had done. “Is that the chance and hope you mentioned, Jacob?” he demanded, in a faltering voice. “It is.” “I—I think I’d rather not,” said Scrooge. “Without their visits,” said the Ghost, “you cannot hope to shun the path I tread. Expect the first to-morrow, when the bell tolls One.”

How many spirits will visit Scrooge?

9

How is the structure of the story summarised in this extract?

10

Ghost stories were typically read at Christmas. How does the form of the novella particularly suit this purpose?