A brief look at how Dickens uses diction and imagery in A Christmas Carol

1. A Christmas Carol
by Charles Dickens
A look into the diction and imagery used by
Dickens and the effect he creates.

2. What is diction?

3. What is diction?
› According to Dr. L. Kip Wheeler, diction is
– “The choice of a particular word as opposed to others. A writer
could call a rock formation by many words--a stone, a boulder,
an outcropping, a pile of rocks, a cairn, a mound, or even an
„anomalous geological feature.‟”
– A reader must ask himself,
› “Why that particular choice of words? What is the effect of that diction?
› The word choice a writer makes determines the reader's reaction to the
object of description, and contributes to the author's style and tone.
› Compare with concrete diction and abstract diction, above.”

4. What is imagery?
› “A common term of variable meaning, imagery
includes the „mental pictures‟ that readers experience
with a passage of literature” (Wheeler).
› “It signifies all the sensory perceptions referred to in a
poem, whether by literal description, allusion, simile, or
metaphor. Imagery is not limited to visual imagery; it
also includes auditory (sound), tactile (touch), thermal
(heat and cold), olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste), and
kinesthetic sensation (movement)” (Wheeler).

5. Target
› Now we will see examples from Dickens‟s text to try to
identify the effect he is trying to achieve concerning
diction.
› The next slide will present you with a portion of the text
from page 6.
› Please locate that page and prepare to practice
annotating for purpose of diction in A Christmas Carol
› For this exercise, we will highlight diction in yellow.

6. Diction in A Christmas Carol
› Meanwhile the fog and darkness
thickened so, that people ran about
with flaring links, proffering their services
to go before horses in carriages, and
conduct them on their way. The
ancient tower of a church, whose gruff
old bell was always peeping slily down
at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in
the wall, became invisible, and struck
the hours and quarters in the clouds,
with tremulous vibrations afterwards as
if its teeth were chattering in its frozen
head up there.

7. Diction in A Christmas Carol
› Identify any words that jump out at you to › Meanwhile the fog and darkness
help see Dickens‟s clever usage. thickened so, that people ran about
› Once you make a selection, identify your with flaring links, proffering their services
reason and the effect it has on the text. to go before horses in carriages, and
conduct them on their way. The
The gloominess of the fog is ancient tower of a church, whose gruff
intensified with the usage of old bell was always peeping slily down
thickened.
at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in
› Then continue to look for more examples to the wall, became invisible, and struck
help improve our close reading skills. the hours and quarters in the clouds,
with tremulous vibrations afterwards as
The personification given to if its teeth were chattering in its frozen
the old bell adds to its head up there.
suspicious nature and treats it
as a spy-like creature

8. Target
› Now we will see examples from Dickens‟s text to try to
identify the effect he is trying to achieve concerning
imagery.
› The next slide will present you with a portion of the text
from page 6.
› Please locate that page and prepare to practice
annotating for purpose of diction in A Christmas Carol
› For this exercise, we will highlight imagery in red.

9. Imagery in A Christmas Carol
› Identify groups of words that create a › Meanwhile the fog and darkness
lasting image and highlight them. thickened so, that people ran about
› Once you make a selection, identify your with flaring links, proffering their services
reason and the effect it has on the text. to go before horses in carriages, and
conduct them on their way. The
Outside is gloomy and depressing – ancient tower of a church, whose gruff
ancient tower and bell are old bell was always peeping slily down
personified and add to
at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in
gloom, darkness and cold
the wall, became invisible, and struck
the hours and quarters in the clouds,
Adversarial tower – peeps slily, like with tremulous vibrations afterwards as
spying, above all, loud and forceful if its teeth were chattering in its frozen
head up there.
Very cold imagery – emphasizes cold
– instant freezing – ice does harm to
people “misanthropic”

10. What is the mood of this passage based
upon our selection?
› Meanwhile the fog and darkness › Meanwhile the fog and darkness
thickened so, that people ran about thickened so, that people ran about
with flaring links, proffering their services with flaring links, proffering their services
to go before horses in carriages, and to go before horses in carriages, and
conduct them on their way. The conduct them on their way. The
ancient tower of a church, whose gruff ancient tower of a church, whose gruff
old bell was always peeping slily down old bell was always peeping slily down
at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in
the wall, became invisible, and struck the wall, became invisible, and struck
the hours and quarters in the clouds, the hours and quarters in the clouds,
with tremulous vibrations afterwards as with tremulous vibrations afterwards as
if its teeth were chattering in its frozen if its teeth were chattering in its frozen
head up there. head up there.

11. The mood of the passage is:
› Despite the extreme cold and fog, most of the
Londoners allow the holiday spirit to warm their spirits.

12. What is the setting of this passage based
upon our selection?
› Meanwhile the fog and darkness › Meanwhile the fog and darkness
thickened so, that people ran about thickened so, that people ran about
with flaring links, proffering their services with flaring links, proffering their services
to go before horses in carriages, and to go before horses in carriages, and
conduct them on their way. The conduct them on their way. The
ancient tower of a church, whose gruff ancient tower of a church, whose gruff
old bell was always peeping slily down old bell was always peeping slily down
at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in at Scrooge out of a Gothic window in
the wall, became invisible, and struck the wall, became invisible, and struck
the hours and quarters in the clouds, the hours and quarters in the
with tremulous vibrations afterwards as clouds, with tremulous vibrations
if its teeth were chattering in its frozen afterwards as if its teeth were
head up there. chattering in its frozen head up there.

13. The setting of the passage is:
› London street
› Afternoon
› near Scrooge‟s office
› Christmas Eve
› 1840s
› Intensely cold and foggy

14. Conclusion
› Now that we have taken a closer look at the choices
made by the author, we are able to infer many of the
outcomes that Dickens intended for us as readers to
have. You will be more in tuned with what he is writing
and what the story offers us.

15. References
› Reetzr45. “Introducing Diction.” YouTube. 20 Jun 2012.
Web. 10 Dec 2012.
› Wheeler, L. Kip. "Literary Terms and Definitions
D." Literary Terms and Definitions. cn.edu, 10 Sept.
2012. Web. 10 Dec. 2012.
› Wheeler, L. Kip. "Literary Terms and Definitions
I." Literary Terms and Definitions. cn.edu, 10 Sept. 2012.
Web. 10 Dec. 2012.