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Use of structure in A Christmas Carol (Evidence and explanation of the…
Use of structure in A Christmas Carol
The structure
5 staves
Unusual because it mimics the way a musical piece is put together
1st stave setting the scene, middle stave showing the turning point and the final concluding the story by presenting him as a changed man
Evidence and explanation of the structure used
Carols and the five staves
Carols are songs that are popular at Christmas and usually deal with Christ's birth or themes associated with the festive season
Structure of Dickens's novella uses a similar structure to a song to present a moral tale of transformation
Three ghosts
The structure of the three ghosts showing the past, present and future appeals to readers on many levels
The number 3 is significant in fairy stories, religious tails and myths and legends
Characters are often faced with three choices, granted three wishes, or given three opportunities to change
Scrooge is shown his past, the present and a possible future and then finally finds the willingness to transform
How to analyse structure
How important is the overall structure of this novella
The structure links to the theme of Christmas by reflecting the shape of a typical carol
It has a clear beginning, middle and end through which we see a character's transformation
The structure of the three ghosts appeals to readers
Scrooge's redemption in the final stave leaves the reader with a sense of both completion and possibility