The Old Curiosity Shop

Style and Technique

Charles Dickens's novel «The Old Curiosity Shop» is distinguished by its rich and expressive language, characteristic of Victorian literature. Dickens employs numerous literary devices, such as symbolism, metaphors, and allegories, to highlight social issues and human emotions. The narrative style is filled with details and descriptions, creating a vivid and realistic portrayal of London and its inhabitants. The structure of the novel alternates between tense and calm scenes, maintaining the reader's interest. The characters' dialogues are often infused with humor and irony, adding depth and complexity to their personalities. Dickens also masterfully uses contrasts between poverty and wealth, kindness and cruelty, to emphasize the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by his characters.