1 In this paragraph I will prove that Mr. Dickens uses imagery in his book A Christmas Carol to create an atmosphere by using vivid and descriptive adjectives to describe the setting and create a scene in the reader’s mind that reflects the one he’s written. 2 Imagery: the literary term used for language and description that appeals to our five senses (taste, touch, smell, hearing and most of all, sight). Throughout this paper I will use three quoted examples from the text in order to support my opinion; Firstly, the portrayal of Scrooge’s quarters and yard in stave one, secondly, the description of Scrooge’s old boarding school in stave two, and lastly, the depiction of the run down pawn shop and surrounding neighbourhood in the fourth stave.
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. The yard was so dark that even Scrooge, who knew its every stone, was fain to grope with his hands. The fog and frost hung about the black old gateway of the house, that it seemed the genius of the weather sat in mournful meditation on the threshold.” (pg. 8). 4a In this quote Dickens uses the words dark and foggy which convey uncertainty and the possibility of the unknown to create a mysterious and suspenseful atmosphere. This happens because in the reader’s mental picture they cannot see what is in the dark and foggy yard or around them. Dickens also uses the words gloomy, dreary and mournful to add a serious and spooky tone to the atmosphere of the scene. These adjectives add a spooky and serious tone because the words mournful and dreary are very rarely used in lighthearted ways and are associated with serious events in most people’s schema and the words gloomy and dreary will change how the reader imagines the scene in their mind because these adjectives are commonly associated with spooky scenarios in people’s schema. 3b My second example of Mr. Dickens using imagery to create an atmosphere occurs when the spirit of Christmas past brings Scrooge to his old boarding school. “They [Scrooge and the spirit of Christmas past]
. The yard was so dark that even Scrooge, who knew its every stone, was fain to grope with his hands. The fog and frost hung about the black old gateway of the house, that it seemed the genius of the weather sat in mournful meditation on the threshold.” (pg. 8). 4a In this quote Dickens uses the words dark and foggy which convey uncertainty and the possibility of the unknown to create a mysterious and suspenseful atmosphere. This happens because in the reader’s mental picture they cannot see what is in the dark and foggy yard or around them. Dickens also uses the words gloomy, dreary and mournful to add a serious and spooky tone to the atmosphere of the scene. These adjectives add a spooky and serious tone because the words mournful and dreary are very rarely used in lighthearted ways and are associated with serious events in most people’s schema and the words gloomy and dreary will change how the reader imagines the scene in their mind because these adjectives are commonly associated with spooky scenarios in people’s schema. 3b My second example of Mr. Dickens using imagery to create an atmosphere occurs when the spirit of Christmas past brings Scrooge to his old boarding school. “They [Scrooge and the spirit of Christmas past]