Suggestions for your answer
You could include some of the following points in your answer.
Text A
- The writer uses diction associated with coldness and hardness to reveal the character of Scrooge 鈥 鈥渢he cold within him froze his cold features鈥, 鈥淎 frosty rimeA white crust of ice formed when water droplets freeze on contact with a solid surface. was on his head鈥, 鈥淗ard and sharp as flint鈥 (simile).
- The writer uses a simile to reveal Scrooge鈥檚 desire to be alone 鈥 鈥渟olitary as an oyster鈥.
- The extract begins with a list of onomatopoeicA word that sounds like what it is describing, eg 'crunch', 'meow', 'plop' and 'scrape'. verbs to reveal Scrooges harsh character 鈥 鈥渟queezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetousA person who is greedy for material possessions, often those that belong to other people. old sinner!鈥
- The writer opens with a metaphorAn imaginative way of describing something by associating it with something else. A metaphor differs from a 鈥榮imile鈥 as it is not a straight comparison (with the use of the words 鈥榣ike鈥 or 鈥榓s鈥). A good metaphor creates a vivid picture 鈥 for example, 鈥榤y life is a roller coaster鈥. revealing the hard nature of Scrooge鈥檚 character 鈥 鈥渉e was tight-fisted at the grindstoneA large rotating stone wheel used for sharpening knives and tools. When someone 'keeps their nose to the grindstone' it means that they work very hard.鈥.
- The writer uses pathetic fallacyWhen the mood of one of characters is reflected through the weather or inanimate objects 鈥 also when a writer gives human feelings or qualities to things in nature, for example by referring to the 鈥榮ullen sea鈥 or the 鈥榖itter wind鈥. to reveal the character of Scrooge and show the lack of influence the weather had upon his character 鈥 鈥淓xternal heat and cold had little influence on Scrooge鈥, 鈥淣o warmth could warm, no wintry weather chill鈥. No wind that blew was bitterer than he鈥.
- The writer reveals that other characters avoid Scrooge 鈥 鈥淣obody ever stopped him in the street鈥, 鈥渘o man or woman ever once ... inquired the way鈥, 鈥淓ven the blind men鈥檚 dogs ... would tug their owners into doorways鈥.
Text B
- The writer uses the contrast between his day and night to create the character of Silas.
- The writer ensures that Silas鈥 days appear dull and boring by the use of the adjectives 鈥渓ivelong鈥, 鈥渕onotony鈥 and 鈥渞epetiion鈥 and the phrase 鈥渢he slow growth of sameness in the brownish web鈥.
- The writer juxtaposeTo place two or more ideas/images close together to create further meaning for an audience. Silas鈥 evening activities to reveal how the character appears to come alive with excitement, 鈥渁t night came his revelry Noisy celebrations, often involving alcohol. 鈥.
- The writer almost personifyA type of imagery in which non-human objects, animals or ideas are given human characteristics. the money and the storage bags to reveal their importance to the character, 鈥渢he guineas shone as they came pouring out of the dark leather mouths!鈥
- The writer ensures the reader understands Silas鈥 love of his money and how the character has an emotional connection with his possession as if it was a real person 鈥 鈥渉e loved his guineas best鈥, 鈥begottenBrought into existence by one鈥檚 father. by his labour鈥, 鈥渉e loved them all鈥, 鈥渢hought fondly of his guineas ... as if they had been unborn children鈥.
- The writer uses a metaphorAn imaginative way of describing something by associating it with something else. A metaphor differs from a 鈥榮imile鈥 as it is not a straight comparison (with the use of the words 鈥榣ike鈥 or 鈥榓s鈥). A good metaphor creates a vivid picture 鈥 for example, 鈥榤y life is a roller coaster鈥. to reveal the enjoyment Silas gets from his wealth 鈥 鈥渂athed his hands in them鈥.
- The writer uses a simileA comparison using 'like' or 'as' to create a vivid image. For example, as big as a whale, float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. to show how limited Silas鈥 life was now that he was only obsessed with his wealth 鈥 鈥渉is life had shrunk away, like a rivuletA small stream. ... in the barren sand鈥.
Text A and B
- Both text A and B are solely narrative focusing on description with effective use of adjectiveA word used to describe a person or thing., adverbA word that describes a verb (an action or a doing word). For example, 'he ran quickly' - 'ran' is the verb and 'quickly' is the adverb. and descriptive phrases to create the two characters.
- Both writers use the omniscientAll knowing - an omniscient narrator is one who knows all of the thoughts and feelings of the characters in a story. narrator to reveal the characters of Scrooge and Silas through description.
- Text A uses weather (pathetic fallacyWhen the mood of one of characters is reflected through the weather or inanimate objects 鈥 also when a writer gives human feelings or qualities to things in nature, for example by referring to the 鈥榮ullen sea鈥 or the 鈥榖itter wind鈥. ) to create character 鈥 鈥渘o wintry chill could chill him鈥, 鈥渘o wind that blew was bitterer than he鈥. In addition, 鈥減elting rain鈥, 鈥渟now鈥 and 鈥渉ail鈥 are all used to create the character of Scrooge. Text B uses obsession and actions to create character - 鈥渃losed his shutters鈥, 鈥渕ade fast his doors鈥, 鈥渉e felt their rounded outline between his thumb and fingers鈥.
- Text A creates character through the use of harsh dictionThe clarity of words when spoken or sung. - 鈥渟queezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching鈥, 鈥渟harp as flint鈥 鈥渃old within him froze鈥, 鈥渟hrivelled鈥, 鈥渟tiffened鈥, 鈥渢hin鈥. Text B uses diction associated with tenderness and passion - 鈥渉e loved his guineas best鈥, 鈥 begottenBrought into existence by one鈥檚 father. by his labour鈥, 鈥渉e loved them all鈥, 鈥渢hought fondly of his guineas ... as if they had been unborn children鈥.