Ghosts Question: Model Paragraph
In the extract from stave four Dickens presents the Ghost of Christmas Yet to
Come as mysterious and threatening when he describes how Scrooge “could see
nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black.” Dickens’ use of the image
of a “spectral hand” creates a sense of threat and terror as the adjective “spectral”
has connotations of the supernatural and implies that the hand is ghostly and unreal.
The fact that only the “hand” can be seen is intimidating and mysterious as the rest of
the ghost is unknown. The “hand” could also be a symbol of how the ghost guides and
directs Scrooge to think about the future and the consequences of his actions.
Furthermore, Dickens use of the image “one great heap of black” adds to the sense of
fear and intimidation. The phrase “great heap” makes the ghost seem inhuman and
shapeless, and therefore unknowable and mysterious. Dickens’ use of the colour
“black” further creates a sense of foreboding as “black” has connotations of death,
grief and despair which foreshadows the feelings that Scrooge will experience as he
sees his future death in stave four. Dickens uses Gothic imagery that would have
been very familiar to his Victorian readers who were fascinated by the supernatural
and questions related to spirits and the afterlife, as high rates of disease and infant
mortality meant the Victorians were far more familiar with death and grief than we
are today.
Ghosts Question: Model Paragraph
In the extract from stave four Dickens presents the Ghost of Christmas Yet to
Come as mysterious and threatening when he describes how Scrooge “could see
nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black.” Dickens’ use of the image
of a “spectral hand” creates a sense of threat and terror as the adjective “spectral”
has connotations of the supernatural and implies that the hand is ghostly and unreal.
The fact that only the “hand” can be seen is intimidating and mysterious as the rest of
the ghost is unknown. The “hand” could also be a symbol of how the ghost guides and
directs Scrooge to think about the future and the consequences of his actions.
Furthermore, Dickens use of the image “one great heap of black” adds to the sense of
fear and intimidation. The phrase “great heap” makes the ghost seem inhuman and
shapeless, and therefore unknowable and mysterious. Dickens’ use of the colour
“black” further creates a sense of foreboding as “black” has connotations of death,
grief and despair which foreshadows the feelings that Scrooge will experience as he
sees his future death in stave four. Dickens uses Gothic imagery that would have
been very familiar to his Victorian readers who were fascinated by the supernatural
and questions related to spirits and the afterlife, as high rates of disease and infant
mortality meant the Victorians were far more familiar with death and grief than we
are today.
In the extract from stave four Dickens presents the Ghost of Christmas Yet to
Come as mysterious and threatening when he describes how Scrooge “could see
nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black.” Dickens’ use of the image
of a “spectral hand” creates a sense of threat and terror as the adjective “spectral”
has connotations of the supernatural and implies that the hand is ghostly and unreal.
The fact that only the “hand” can be seen is intimidating and mysterious as the rest of
the ghost is unknown. The “hand” could also be a symbol of how the ghost guides and
directs Scrooge to think about the future and the consequences of his actions.
Furthermore, Dickens use of the image “one great heap of black” adds to the sense of
fear and intimidation. The phrase “great heap” makes the ghost seem inhuman and
shapeless, and therefore unknowable and mysterious. Dickens’ use of the colour
“black” further creates a sense of foreboding as “black” has connotations of death,
grief and despair which foreshadows the feelings that Scrooge will experience as he
sees his future death in stave four. Dickens uses Gothic imagery that would have
been very familiar to his Victorian readers who were fascinated by the supernatural
and questions related to spirits and the afterlife, as high rates of disease and infant
mortality meant the Victorians were far more familiar with death and grief than we
are today.
Ghosts Question: Model Paragraph
In the extract from stave four Dickens presents the Ghost of Christmas Yet to
Come as mysterious and threatening when he describes how Scrooge “could see
nothing but a spectral hand and one great heap of black.” Dickens’ use of the image
of a “spectral hand” creates a sense of threat and terror as the adjective “spectral”
has connotations of the supernatural and implies that the hand is ghostly and unreal.
The fact that only the “hand” can be seen is intimidating and mysterious as the rest of
the ghost is unknown. The “hand” could also be a symbol of how the ghost guides and
directs Scrooge to think about the future and the consequences of his actions.
Furthermore, Dickens use of the image “one great heap of black” adds to the sense of
fear and intimidation. The phrase “great heap” makes the ghost seem inhuman and
shapeless, and therefore unknowable and mysterious. Dickens’ use of the colour
“black” further creates a sense of foreboding as “black” has connotations of death,
grief and despair which foreshadows the feelings that Scrooge will experience as he
sees his future death in stave four. Dickens uses Gothic imagery that would have
been very familiar to his Victorian readers who were fascinated by the supernatural
and questions related to spirits and the afterlife, as high rates of disease and infant
mortality meant the Victorians were far more familiar with death and grief than we
are today.
