A Christmas Carol Key Terms: Flashcards
Alliteration
Repetition of the same sound, usually letters in close succession.
Allusion
An indirect reference to a concept or theme without explicit mention.
[Scrooge uses Biblical allusion as he believes the Ghost of Christmas Present is God or at least related to Him in some way, “It has been done in your name, or at least in that of your family”].
Anaphora
A word which refers to a previously used word.
Antithesis
Rhetorical device where contrasting concepts are placed together in a text, typically a sentence, to highlight how opposite they are. [When Fred is introduced having a “cheerful voice” straight after Scrooge’s wickedness is described].
Asyndetic Listing
A list broken up by commas rather than conjunctions like ‘and’.
Auditory imagery
Language which appeals to the reader’s hearing.
Biblical
Relating to the bible; religious connotations.
Catalyst
A dramatic tool which is used to speed up the plot.
Colloquialism
An informal phrase common at its time of utterance.
Connotation
Using text to create implied meaning without explicitly referring to said
meaning.
Didactic
A moral message, meaning to give instructions.
Dramatic Irony
When the audience knows information which the character does not know.
Epitome
The perfect/ultimate embodiment of quality.
Foreboding
Apprehension that a bad event will occur.
Foreshadowing
An indication that an event will occur later in the narrative. [Fan says that her father is much “kinder” than before which Scrooge’s change].
Hyperbole
Use of exaggerated statements.
Interjection
Sudden remark, used often as an interruption or aside in the text. [“Bah Humbug!”]
Irony
Embedding a meaning by using language typically implying the opposite of what the writer is intending to express, often for a humorous effect.
Juxtaposition
Comparing two concepts, characters, or clauses, in close proximity in a passage for the effect of contrast.
Moral imperative
An instruction on what is right and wrong, the Ghosts provide this
Olfactory imagery
Appeals to the reader’s sense of smell.
Oxymoron
Two opposing terms are placed next to each other
Pathetic Fallacy
A kind of personification in which human emotions are projected onto nature, especially weather, often to create a mood. [In the opening pages of the novella, Dickens notes “no wind that blew was bitterer than [Scrooge], no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty.” By attributing emotions to this weather Dickens can contrast it with Scrooge to show how bitter, unflexible and uncharitable he is]
Personification
Attributing human qualities to nonhuman things, whether animate or inanimate [e.g. in Stave One, the church tower is described as having a “gruff old bell [which is] always peeping slily down at Scrooge”. This instance of personification indicates Scrooge’s attitude towards religion; he may see it as cold or unfriendly as well as having a tendency to meddle or intrude on his private affairs]
Poetic Justice
This is normally accompanied with some sort of irony, or when characters get what they deserve. [As a child Scrooge was “neglected” and then in the prolepsis, his gravestone is also “neglected”]
Polysyndetic Listing
Listing using conjunctions such as ‘and’.
Prolepsis
A flash forward. e.g the scenes that the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come shows
Scrooge.
Semantic Field
A writer uses words which are linked by a theme or topic throughout a text or passage.
Satire
Criticizing people through the use of humour or irony. [Scrooge says “every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart”].
