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Year 11
AQA

'A Christmas Carol': Tiny Tim as a pious character

I can explain how Tiny Tim might be presented as a Christ-figure in the novella, who plays a significant role in the salvation of Scrooge.

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New
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Year 11
AQA

'A Christmas Carol': Tiny Tim as a pious character

I can explain how Tiny Tim might be presented as a Christ-figure in the novella, who plays a significant role in the salvation of Scrooge.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Dickens arguably draws parallels between Tiny Tim and Christ, who both play significant roles in others' salvation.
  2. Like Jesus Christ, Tiny Tim is described as a ‘patient and mild’ child.
  3. Arguably, Tiny Tim has a sort of resurrection in the novella, which could be portrayed as a Christian miracle.
  4. Through the resurrection of Tiny Tim, Dickens could be showing us the transformative power of Christian values.
  5. Parallels can arguably be drawn at some points between Scrooge and Christ, as Scrooge is also reborn.

Keywords

  • Pious - Somebody pious is deeply and devotedly religious.

  • Resurrection - The act of coming back to life following death.

  • Salvation - Being rescued from sin and its consequences, believed by Christians to be brought about by faith in Christ.

  • Significant - If something is significant, it is deeply important.

  • Christ-figure - A Christ-figure is someone who is representative of Jesus Christ.

Common misconception

Students think that Scrooge is a Christ-figure in the novella.

Whilst some parallels are arguably evident between Scrooge and Christ, the idea that Tiny Tim is a Christ-figure is probably more viable.

Get students to link the way in which Tiny Tim is presented with what we know about Dickens' views on childhood. Dickens (and indeed Jesus in the Bible) both argue that the key indicator of a person's nature, is how they treat children.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need a copy of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol' for this lesson.

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Who is Tiny Tim in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Scrooge's nephew
Correct answer: Bob's son
one of the children from under the Ghost of Christmas Present's robe
Scrooge's brother
Fred's son
Q2.
What makes Tiny Tim's life more challenging, other than the fact that he lives in poverty, in 'A Christmas Carol'?
He doesn't get on with his siblings.
He is bullied for being so little.
Correct answer: He has a disability.
He is Bob's adopted son.
Q3.
Who was the character of Tiny Tim in 'A Christmas Carol' supposedly inspired by?
Dickens' friend, Joe
Dickens' own son, George
Dickens' cousin, Michael
Correct answer: Dickens' nephew, Harry
Q4.
What impression are we given of Tiny Tim in Stave 3 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
that he is an ungrateful and challenging child
Correct answer: that he is a patient and well-mannered child
Correct answer: that he is optimistic and pleasant
that he is sullen and isolated
that he is sorrowful and downcast
Q5.
How does Scrooge feel when he learns that Tiny Tim might die in Stave 3 of 'A Christmas Carol'?
Scrooge is relieved that Tiny Tim might die.
Correct answer: Scrooge is horrified that Tiny Tim might die.
Scrooge is indifferent to the possibility of Tiny Tim's death
Scrooge is unconcerned that Tiny Tim might die.
Q6.
What famous line of Tiny Tim's does 'A Christmas Carol' end with?
"as good as gold...and better"
"it might be pleasant to them to remember....who made lame beggars walk"
"Hurrah!"
Correct answer: "God bless Us, Every One"

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What language is often used to describe Jesus Christ, that is used by Dickens to describe Tiny Tim in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Correct answer: patient and mild
determined and resilient
calm and soft
kind and generous
Q2.
Complete the quotation from 'A Christmas Carol': "Spirit of Tiny Tim, thy childish essence was from ".
Correct Answer: God
Q3.
Which of the following statements did Jesus Christ say to his disciples?
"Help your fellow men.YB"
"Social responsibility is every man's responsibility."
Correct answer: “There will never cease to be poor in the land."
"There should never be hunger and suffering."
Q4.
How can Tiny Tim be said to play a significant role in the salvation of Scrooge in 'A Christmas Carol'?
Tiny Tim tells Scrooge where he has gone wrong in his past.
Tiny Tim acts as Scrooge's own personal moral compass.
Correct answer: Seeing Tiny Tim's death makes Scrooge want to help, so that he can live.
Seeing Tiny Tim at the table makes Scrooge understand fear poverty even more.
Tiny Tim represents the voice of reason to Scrooge in the novella.
Q5.
Match the key vocabulary to its definition.
Correct Answer:pious,Somebody who is deeply and devotedly religious.

Somebody who is deeply and devotedly religious.

Correct Answer:resurrection,The act of coming back to life following death.

The act of coming back to life following death.

Correct Answer:salvation,Being rescued from sin and its consequences

Being rescued from sin and its consequences

Correct Answer:significant,Something that is deeply important.

Something that is deeply important.

Correct Answer:Christ-figure,Someone who is representative of Jesus Christ.

Someone who is representative of Jesus Christ.

Q6.
In what ways are parallels drawn between Tiny Tim and Jesus Christ in 'A Christmas Carol'?
They were both born to poor carpenters.
Correct answer: Both play a significant role in the salvation of others.
Both were impoverished and struggled to feed themselves.
Correct answer: Both had forms of resurrection which gave them a second chance at life.
Correct answer: Both are deeply pious and spread the message of God.