A Christmas Carol - Form, structure and language test questions - Edexcel - GCSE English Literature Revision

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?

Alliteration

Simile

Personification

2

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

He lists friendly adjectives to show how nice Scrooge is

He lists gentle adjectives to show how kind Scrooge is

He lists harsh adjectives to show how mean Scrooge is

3

What does his physical appearance reveal about his character?

That he is cold

That he is warm-hearted

That he is fiery

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?

Marley is a frightening ghost with rattling chains

Marley is a friendly ghost

Marley is an unconvincing ghost

5

In what way does Dickens horrify Scrooge and the reader?

In his description of Marley wrapping a bandage around his head

In his description of Marley removing the bandage and dropping his lower jaw

In his description of Marley falling in a swoon

6

How do we know that Scrooge is frightened?

He falls to his knees and hides his face

He clasps the ghost

He wraps the bandage around his head

7

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

It is from the very end and shows how Scrooge has changed

It is from the very beginning and shows how mean he is

It is from an earlier section, before he has met the ghosts

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?

Five

Three

Ten

9

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

Marley explains that Scrooge is a hopeless case

Marley explains that he is leaving Scrooge to his wicked ways

Marley explains that there is hope for Scrooge, only after he has been haunted

10

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

It is a short form and could be read in a few hours

It is a play and could be performed by all the family

It is a long form and would last several weeks