Question 1: Identify and explain one example of Victorian vocabulary used in the passage.

Answer: Examples include 'faint', 'glow', 'shadows', or 'gloom', which evoke the atmospheric mood typical of Victorian settings.

Question 2: What literary technique is used in the phrase ‘shadows of the dawn lingering like ghosts’? Explain its effect.

Answer: Simile; it creates an eerie, mysterious atmosphere by comparing shadows to ghosts, emphasising a sense of haunting or secrecy.

Question 3: Describe how the author creates an atmosphere of suspense in the extract.

Answer: The author uses vivid imagery of darkness, shadows, and whispering wind to evoke a mysterious mood. Descriptive phrases such as 'ghosts upon the faded wallpaper' and 'shadows danced upon the walls' contribute to an unsettling tone, while the references to secrets and moral dilemmas heighten suspense.

Question 4: Identify a Victorian characteristic reflected in Mr. Aldridge’s behaviour as described in the extract.

Answer: His hesitation and the weight of moral duty reflect Victorian values of propriety, conscience, and societal expectation.

Question 5: Which technique is employed in ‘the ticking of the clock—a relentless reminder of time’s unyielding march’? Explain its significance.

Answer: Personification; it emphasises the relentless passage of time, creating a sense of urgency or impending change.

Question 6: Analyse the use of colour imagery in the extract and its effect.

Answer: The use of colours like ‘mist-laden’, ‘faint’, and ‘faded’ imagery reinforces the bleak, mysterious atmosphere. These subtle descriptions evoke the Victorian preoccupation with decay and the passage of time, contributing to the overall mood of secrecy and introspection.

Question 7: Explain how the author’s choice of setting enhances the themes of secrecy and moral conflict.

Answer: The confined, dimly lit study with shadows and the ticking clock creates an enclosed, tense atmosphere, symbolising confinement and moral dilemmas. The setting's darkness and silence mirror the secrecy and internal conflict faced by the character, highlighting Victorian societal pressures.

Question 8: Create a brief outline for a Victorian-inspired short story based on this extract. Include setting, character, and conflict.

Answer: Setting: A dim Victorian study filled with shadows and antique furnishings. Character: Mr. Aldridge, a morally conflicted gentleman. Conflict: The revelation of a long-buried secret threatens to disrupt his reputation, forcing him to confront societal expectations versus personal truth.