Tiny Tim Flashcards
5 key quotes
‘God bless us every one’
‘Tiny Tim upon his shoulder’
‘Tell me if Tiny Tim will live’
‘My little, little child’
Scrooge became a ‘second father’
Quote showing Scrooge’s interest in Tiny Tim when he is with the ghost of Christmas present at the Cratchits
‘Tell me if Tiny Tim will live’
Imperative of tell- Scrooge is showing genuine care and concern over a child- he is transforming as a person
Word choice of ‘live’ contrasts to when Scrooge originally says that the poor had ‘better die’ again showing his part transformation
Dickens wants reader to use this moment as a time to reflect upon their own selfish actions and rethink
Quote showing Bob Cratchit’s grief at Tiny Tim’s death
‘My little, little child!’
‘Little’ emphasises injustice, he has died at such a young age due to a lack of money to afford the help he needs
+ emphases poverty- he has had little to eat
+ contrast to how much his family value him as a person
+ makes reader feel guilt as we realise what effect our selfish actions are having
Repetition of ‘little’
Demonstrates just how mournful Bob is- his death has impacted the whole family and highly contrast to Scrooge’s potential death where no sorrow emotion is felt, only happiness e.g from those at Oíd Joe’s
Quote describing Tiny Tim’s weakness at Cratchit scene for Ghost of Christmas present
‘Tiny Tim upon his shoulder’
Image evokes pity and sympathy from the reader as despite being happy and optimistic he is extremely weak suffering and living through a very harsh and tough time
‘Shoulder’- remind reader of how young and innocent he is as little children are carried by their parents but also reflects his vulnerability and weakness and how he was a ‘cripple’
Also presents close relationship between him and Bob as Bob is doing the best he can to look after Tiny Tim despite having a lack of money
Quote for when Scrooge has redeemed himself
Scrooge became a ‘second father’
Tiny Tim has played a big role in forcing Scrooge to change his miserly and selfish ways by bringing identity to the poor and demonstrating how they are not ‘surplus’ yet will die if they don’t receive the help they need
Shows how Scrooge is now linked to family as hinted by simile ‘solitary as an oyster’- at the start he always has the chance to turn into a pearl and that exactly what he’s become
Role of Tiny Tim
Tiny Tim is used to symbolise the suffering of the poor and that despite his huge kindness, optimism and to highlight that no matter how much his family care for him and value him as a person, as the Ghost of Christmas yet to come reveals to Scrooge and the reader, he will eventually die if the rich don’t change their miserly and selfish attitudes. He plays a key role in driving forward Scrooge’s transformation by evoking pity and sympathy and demonstrating that the poor are not ‘surplus’ but highly contribute to society in their own ways including bringing kindness and happiness.
Quote presenting Tiny Tim as good Christian
‘Good bless us every one’
‘God’ has religious connotations emphasising that he embodies the Christmas spirit and core Christian values and beliefs
‘Bless’- he is thanking God for his kind family and sharing gratitude for the little that he has
‘Every one’ He is caring and thoughtful and cares about every single person
Significance of Tiny Tim’s name
Despite being a minor character, the alliteration makes him very memorable to emphasise his significance whilst ‘Tiny’ highlights his sweetness and innocence making him likeable from the start to make the reader feel guilty of their own actions and want to start giving to the poor
