Tiny Tim VOCAB

Question 1

Catalyst

Answer 1

Tiny Tim catalyses Scrooge’s journey to redemption (one of two possible endpoints for a medieval morality tale) as seen when Scrooge in Stave 3 asks desperately (as shown with the imperative “tell”) in “Tell me if Tiny Tim will live”. In causing a drastic shift in Scrooge’s initially apathetic and callous character, this seemingly insignificant child is established as deeply instrumental and the reader begins to see his influence and value as a member of society. The following effect of the tragic loss of this character then in Stave 4 is heightened and, overwhelmed by deep sadness and a sense of grief, the reader is almost forced to examine the preventibility of the death and thus how they themselves may contribute in their own lives to the erasure of wise voices purely because they are at a social disadvantage (such as, like Tiny Tim, being poor, a child and disabled). The reader, most likely being on the wealthier side of the contemporary Victorian society, Dickens therefore may be encouraging to support the continuation and development of these sorts of people in their society; he wishes that already enormously positively powerful characters are not prematurely, like young Tiny Tim, removed from the world.

Question 2

Grateful

Question 3

Evocative

Question 4

Kind

Question 5

Innocent

Question 6

Pure

Question 7

Tragic

Question 8

Pious

Question 9

Religious

Question 10

Grateful

Question 11

Thoughtful

Question 12

Allegorical

Question 13

Vulnerable

Question 14

Frail

Question 15

Physically weak

Question 16

Mouthpiece

Answer 16

Tiny Tim acts as Dickens’ mouthpiece of goodness.

Question 17

Premature

Question 18

Instrumental

Question 19

Wise