Dickensian Expressions
“A poor relation” — In Dickens’s time, what kind of person did this phrase describe?
A family member of lower status or income, often pitied or overlooked.
The word comfort in the story refers not only to warmth but also to what emotional quality?
Emotional safety — feeling loved and accepted.
The word humble usually carries a positive or negative connotation?
Positive — it suggests modesty.
Use dreary in a new sentence describing a winter morning.
“The dreary light of dawn crept over the frosted glass.”
“A Castle in the Air” — What does this symbolize in the story?
The narrator’s dream life — his imagined world of happiness and success.
Dickens often uses devoted to describe faithful love. What virtue does it emphasize?
Loyalty and selflessness.
The word mercenary has what kind of connotation in the story?
Negative — greedy or motivated by money.
Replace poor with a more Dickensian synonym in this line: “He lived in a poor room.”
“He lived in a humble lodging.”
“Nobody’s enemy but his own” — What does this expression reveal about the narrator’s character?
He is gentle and harmless but hurts himself through his own weakness.
The narrator finds “welcome” in his imaginary family. What does this tell us about his real life?
That he feels unseen and longs for genuine belonging.
When Dickens describes the uncle as “snarling,” what connotation does this word carry?
Harsh, animal-like anger.
Create your own modern “castle in the air” metaphor — what would yours be?
e.g., “a dream of success I chase but never reach.”
“Our esteemed host” — Dickens often used exaggerated politeness ironically. What feeling hides behind this phrase?
Subtle sarcasm — respect shown outwardly but mixed with social tension.
Blessing appears in his reflections. What does it represent beyond religion?
Gratitude for small joys — even in poverty or solitude.
Dreamer in this story — does it sound more like praise or pity? Explain briefly.
Pity — he’s gentle but trapped in his imagination
Combine three Dickensian words — faithful, humble, dreary — into a single original sentence.
In his humble home, she waited faithfully through many dreary nights.
“My Castle is in the Air” — What is Dickens suggesting about imagination and reality here?
That dreams may bring emotional comfort even if they exist only in the imagination.
Dickens often wrote about children and family love. What deeper message about society is hidden here?
That love and kindness are greater social healers than wealth or hierarchy.
Compare dreary and melancholy. How do their connotations differ in Dickens’s mood-building?
Dreary is physical and gloomy; melancholy is emotional and reflective.
Rewrite one line from the story in modern English, keeping its emotional tone. e.g. My castle is in the air
My dreams exist only in my imagination, but they keep me alive.