A Christmas Carol - Lesson 3 - Dickens' Technique Worksheet

The opening lines of "A Christmas Carol" immediately set the tone for the story, with Charles Dickens employing his masterful technique to draw readers into the narrative. The emphatic declaration that "Marley was dead, to begin with," leaves no room for ambiguity and establishes a critical fact that underpins the entire tale. Dickens' use of repetition and insistence on the veracity of Marley's death is further evidenced by the list of dignitaries who signed the burial register, including the clergyman and Scrooge himself, whose signature held considerable weight in the business community.

Dickens also showcases his flair for the dramatic and the use of traditional similes with the statement "Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail." This comparison, while curious to the narrator who muses about the comparative deadness of ironmongery, is a nod to the wisdom of ancestors and the lasting nature of such expressions. The narrator's playful pondering over the simile and the insistence that it not be disturbed adds a touch of humor and personality to the text, inviting readers to engage with the narrative on a deeper level. The repetition of Marley's unequivocal death serves as a prelude to the supernatural elements that will soon unfold in the first chapter, titled "Marley's Ghost."