A Christmas Carol

[calda49]

Over Xmas I read Dickens Christmas Carol, and wondered if anyone could tell me why the chapters are called staves. I have not come across this in any other literature. Thanks.

[bhg481]

How interesting - a large print version is one of the first books I got about 70 years ago and I've never noticed that. I've just looked at it and, indeed, they are staves. It doesn't answer your question but it's a new piece of information for me.

[naomi24]

//A stave is a set of five parallel lines on which a musical note is written. By referring to the chapters as staves Dickens' suggests that the novella will be a joyous, uplifting and moral tale.//

 

https://revisionworld.com/a2-level-level-revision/english-literature-gcse-level/christmas-carol-charles-dickens/structure-and-language-christmas-carol#:~:text=A%20stave%20is%20a%20set,joyous%2C%20uplifting%20and%20moral%20tale.

 

[naomi24]

I'll ask the Ed to move this question to Literature.   

[bhg481]

I've just Googled it and this is what I got:

How important is the overall structure of this novella?

the structure links to the theme of Christmas by reflecting the shape of a typical carol

it has a clear beginning, middle and end through which we see a character's transformation

the structure of three ghosts, showing the past, present and future, appeals to readers

Scrooge's redemption in the final stave leaves the reader with a sense of both completion and possibility