Bleak House, Charles Dickens

Question: How does Dickens create a sense of atmosphere in the opening of Bleak House? Dickens create a sense of atmosphere in the opening 'Bleak House', which sets the scene for the rest of the novel. He uses strong descriptive language to enhance this atmosphere, so the reader can envisage the scene that he is trying to describe, although never going overboard in his description, he still manages to create an immutable, powerful image that stays in the readers mind almost allowing the reader to sympathies with the feelings that he is trying to put across. As soon as the reader sets eyes on the chapter, they are greeted with the simple word of 'London'. Although this doesn't amount to much at first, at second glance it very powerful as it sets the scene for the novel, let alone the opening. It seems as if Dickens wants the reader to brace themselves for the explosion of descriptive language he uses to describe the atmosphere, hence it sounds almost like a statement as if to say that, that is his opinion of London at the time and he wants the reader to respect that. Dickens creates this dirty, unusual image of 'black drizzle' and 'flakes of soot', which seems to be mirrored onto the people as they are described as having 'a general infection of ill-temper' meaning that their temper is almost like a disease that spreads rapidly from one person to the other.. Here Dickens

  • Word count: 605
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Rosemary Dobson seems intent on presenting a view of life as bleak and generally uninteresting - Discuss

English Homework Week 8 "Rosemary Dobson seems intent on presenting a view of life as bleak and generally uninteresting In the poems by Rosemary Dobson it generally presents the view of life as bleak. "The Tiger" is an example of this. This also reinforces the limitations on her poetic inspirations. The idea is presented by the effective use of imagery, tone, sound devices and the temporary progression. However, the poem by no means is uninteresting due to the use of these techniques. Imagery is used by the poet to express her poetic concern. The poem "The Tiger" is completely an extended metaphor. As the central metaphor, the tiger symbolizes the poet's creativity and potential. However, such an image is expressed in a restricted way as the tiger is "behind the black bars of the page" which represents the poet's poetic inspirations that is also trapped under the fixed attitudes of society. Aside from the central image, the poet also uses a range of other images to enhance her concern. Images such as "sun" and "sky of stars" contrasts the "tiger" as the "sun" and the "stars" are free but the "tiger" is not. The image of the tiger's "unblinking eyes that stare into the gold heart of the sun" suggests that the poet is seeking for a way to freedom. The images help the reader to visualize "life as bleak" as the poet is finding it hard to express herself and also thrill

  • Word count: 660
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Comparison and contrast of texts on London

Comparison and contrast of texts on London I have chosen to compare and contrast the British Transport Holiday in London leaflet, The interview with Rachel, Upon Westminster Bridge by William Wordsworth and the opening of Bleak House by Charles Dickens. Starting with Upon Westminster Bridge, I think the purpose of the poem is to try and make the reader appreciate London, and let the poem inspire them. It's a celebration of London. It's also meant to entertain the reader, just as Bleak House is written to entertain the reader and express the author's attitude to London. But the opening of Bleak House also provides an introduction to the central themes of the book .One of the purposes of The British Transport holiday leaflet is also to entertain, but only to entertain us in order to promote London Transport service and is a persuasive piece. The only text that doesn't serve to entertain is text B, the interview with Rachel. Were Rachel knew it was to help an A- level class and the purpose of it was to articulate her feelings on London. Wordsworth gives us a very tranquil, productive, beautiful and almost spiritual view of London with an inspirational intention. This peaceful impression of London contrasts heavily with the British Transport leaflet, which creates a busy, lively, near chaotic impression of London where there is "something for everyone" to do. Wordsworth

  • Word count: 1167
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Commentary - Hope

Commentary - Hope Aimed at the older teenagers with sophisticated lexis, 'Hope' has been opened by presenting literary devices such as personification, phonological features and repetition, thus setting the scene whilst subtly stressing the conveyed mood and theme. The usage of the present tense rather than the past removes the linear dictation by time and restricts knowledge to situation rather than chronology. By applying a present tense to this text, I have removed the idea that the darkness has limits as it seems to be immovable, and because of this, the reader has to accept it's presence and learn how to benefit from the lighter area's. Within 'Hope', a musical lexis is applied to the text, creating more intensity and dynamic description to the text. The reader is instinctively drawn towards the phonological side of the scene rather than the visual as they are able to hear 'that horrific scream crescendo dynamically'. Furthermore, this centres the reader's thoughts on the unanswered questions they may have and indirectly focuses on the insecure and dominant ways of today's society. The darkness described in the initial paragraph is another focal point in 'Hope', where it has been personified to an extent that it is 'on the prowl, tucking everything in'. A negative connation of the darkness is portrayed, where it seems to be almost to be stealthy, sly character that

  • Word count: 671
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Bleak House. How does Dickens use language to explore this idea of fog all over London?

How does Dickens use language to explore this idea of fog all over London? In “Bleak House”, Dickens uses language to create an atmosphere of fog all over London. He uses different techniques to do this, one of which is a variation of sentence length and another is his punctuation. He also uses repetition and personification. Firstly the lengths of the sentences are short or long. At the beginning he uses a sentence, but not a grammatically correct one: “Fog everywhere”. Sentences must contain a verb and this one does not. However it still makes sense because it is a statement for the rest of the paragraph. Also this sentence only contains two words which make it really short. After this sentence comes a really long, five clause complex sentence. The sentence length here has a huge difference in comparison to the first. Dickens wrote it like this purposely so it gives the effect of the fog appearing suddenly, for him then to do the opposite and make the moment slow, long and reflective. This creates a miserable atmosphere which is here to stay. Dickens uses punctuation to create a depressing atmosphere through the use of semi colons and commas. Sentence three is short as it has two phrases which are separated by a comma. In contrast the following sentence is long and it is split by a semi colon. The first part is about the large ships, the second is concentrating

  • Word count: 443
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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romeo and juliet

What do you think is the dramatic and Interesting scene in the play I think that act 3 scene 1 is the most interesting, exciting and dramatic scene in the play "Romeo and Juliet", because it is packed full with loads of action starting when Tybalt says "Follow me close, for I will speak to them. Gentlemen, good den: a word with one of you" Where Mercutio replies to Tybalt "And but one word with one of us? Couple it with something; make it a word and a blow" and at this stage you automatically feel friction within the first speech of Mercutio. Then he goes on to cause more friction between the two families by saying "Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford, No better term than this, thou art a villain!" This suggests that Romeo is evil and has done something to offend someone which hits a nerve, as Romeo tries to explain why he was at the party and wished to cause no harm. Then as Mercutio steps in and challenges Tybalt to a duel in defence of Romeo, then Tybalt accepts and they fight for life. Why I find this part of the scene exciting and dramatic is because the friction is very high and you can feel the blood boiling on either side of the family. This then leads on to further conflict and death. Tybalt then sees Romeo and immediately starts insulting him within seconds of seeing him "Romeo, the hate I bear thee can afford No better term than this, thou art a villain."

  • Word count: 846
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The London that Charles Dickens knew.

The London that Charles Dickens knew. As I walked down the sodden, dismal street, I glanced up to see the dark mass of clouds frowning upon me. The miserable sky was filled with unsightly, grey smog, which smelled like bonfires and factories. The dullness of the sky was unbearable. There were no birds happily tweeting and soaring from tree to tree, there were no insects flying around in the earthy air. There were just masses and masses of thick, grey, loitering cloud. The sun was non-existent, as nothing could interrupt the bold barrier of smog. The gloomy atmosphere was cold, and the piercing wind chilled like a phantom. The streets were vicious and vile. In every direction, they were crowded paths of life, which were bustling with reeking bodies and grubby children. Hundreds of people were rushing around from place to place. Nobody was smiling even though it was three days before Christmas. All they had to look forward to was another long day of misery and, if they were lucky, an apple. I looked up to see a man sigh with unhappiness. His warm breath condensed in the crisp, bleak atmosphere. People passed me by, wearing nothing but torn, tattered rags. There were brown rags, black tatters, and stained pieces of material, wrapped tightly around the destitute people trying to keep warm. They were shivering and their decayed teeth were chattering uncontrollably. Their pale

  • Word count: 766
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Commentary - 'Bleak House'

Commentary - 'Bleak House' Dickens proves himself to be a true master of description through his novel 'Bleak House'. The book represents what seems to be the highest point of his intellectual maturity, portraying a dismal city under attack by dismal weather tied by perfectly dismal laws. Dickens opens chapter one by introducing literary devices such as personification, phonological features and repetition to his description, thus setting the scene whilst stressing the mood he is trying to convey. The usage of the present tense rather than the past removes the linear dictation by time and restricts knowledge to situation rather than chronology. To refer to the end (or non-end) of the fog would allow the reader to share knowledge with the narrator, and assume that by the next chapter, it would all be gone. 'Fog everywhere' shrouds the reader's view, not only physically, but also emotionally. By applying a present tense to this chapter, Dickens has removed the idea that the fog has limits, it becomes immovable as it has no ends. In doing so, Dickens controls the reader in accepting its presence and learning to benefit from the thinner areas. Within 'Bleak house', Dickens employs a religious lexis, subtly drawing the reader's attention to themes of law and justice. 'Never can there come fog too thick.' Placing specific emphasis on the word 'never', this sermon-like way of

  • Word count: 982
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The Bleak House - A Commentary

The Bleak House - A Commentary Charles Dickens employs certain tools to create particular effects in the opening of 'The Bleak House'. A combination of these techniques allows for the semantics to be clearly expressed in the passage. I will attempt to explore the ways in which he achieves this clarity by looking at the semantic field. Dickens makes deliberate use of a financial lexis as the passage is set 'In Chancery'. The reader is immediately aware of the monetary environment that surrounds them in the heart of London - a vastly industrialised city. 'Deposits' and 'compound interest' are examples of this lexis, which serves to portray the Chancellor's surroundings and in turn, the deceit and dishonesty that reigns in this society. Language related to religion is also used towards the end of the opening. The last paragraph starts similar to a sermon, as it begins, 'Never can there be fog too thick, never can there come...'As in a sermon, the repeated use of 'never' gives a sense of inevitability. Negative religious words such as 'most pestilent of hoary sinners' are used to enhance the cynical image of the High Court of Chancery and alert the reader of their ill intentions. This reinstates the impression of prevailing corruption that seems common at this time. Before the end, however, there is a noticeable repetitive use of superlatives, which gives a difference to

  • Word count: 1163
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Now read the opening chapter of ‘Bleak House’. Explore how Dickens creates a suitable ‘Bleak’ atmosphere by examining:· his description of London

Now read the opening chapter of 'Bleak House'. Explore how Dickens creates a suitable 'Bleak' atmosphere by examining: * his description of London * his description of chancery and the lawsuit Having read the opening chapter of 'Bleak House', we become aware of the appropriate 'Bleak' mood that Dickens has created by analizing such aspects like his description of London and the chancery. Like the opening of 'Great Expecations', we are presented with a dreary scene, this scene, however is set in the city. Beginning with London,we learn of the 'Implacable November weather' which instantly composes a dismal, unforgiving atmosphere. The weather cannot be appeased, soothed or satisfied or cannot be made quiet to a state of peace. The smoke: "lowering down from chimney pots" is: "making a soft black drizzle, mourning, one might imagine, for the death of the sun." Dickens implies that all life has ended due to the death of the sun. The people of London have no aspirations for the future, everything is just one big 'repeat'. Dickens makes the contrast of the white pure snowflakes and the dirty soot. Even the smoke from the chimney pots express a gloomy existence. It seems like the city has gone back in time, London has an uncivilised nature just like the moors in 'Great Expectations'. Even the 'dogs are indistinguishable in mire'. We are unable to identify the dogs

  • Word count: 370
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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