The Cratchits

• Cratchit - [BEFORE][S1] "went down a slide on Cornhill" | "and then ran home to Camden Town" | "Scrooge took his melancholy dinner in his usual melancholy tavern."

  • Verb "ran" and the childish action of slide. Bob is shown to be merry and have fun with the children
  • While, through the repetition of "melancholy" shows Scrooge is sad and alone
• The Cratchits [S3] - "Bob had hugged his daughter to his heart's content"

  • Alliteration surrounds the word "hugged" causing it to have a bigger impact and be more valuable. Highlights love between his family.
  • This would affect the Victorian society as it would cause everyone to aspire to have a harmonious family like the Cratchits' and especially at Christmas - when the book was first released. It would make people be more appreciative of love and not take everything for granted
• The Cratchits [S3] - "Such a bustle ensued that you might have thought a goose the rarest of all birds; a feathered phenomenon" | "Mrs Cratchit made" "Master Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vigour" "Miss Belinda sweetened"

  • Noun bustle indicates crowing and excitement towards the food.
  • Superlative 'rarest' and hyperbole - they are content and amazed by very little
  • Verbs show that all the family take part - united - all family values. The noun vigour - they fulfill their tasks with full effort energy and enthusiasm - contrast to malthusian attitudes
• The Cratchits [S3] - "crammed spoons into their mouths"

  • Verb indicates that they dont have much but are completely filling themselves up. Could also perhaps be because they are very hungry as dont have enough food
• The Cratchits [S3] - "grace was said" - "succeeded by a breathless pause"

  • Importance of Religion - thanking and grateful to God for what they have been blessed with by offering prayers
  • Adjective breathless shows they are completely astounded by what is on offer and is lost for words.
• The Cratchits [S3] - "Oh a wonderful pudding!" | "weight was off her mind"

  "God bless us every one! Said Tiny Tim"

  • Exclamatory sentence and adverb implies that they are easily pleased and grateful despite it being a small pudding. The adverb creates a sense of excitement.
  • Metaphor. Mrs Cratchit was worried that she wouldn't meet their need- aware that they have very little, but now she is relieved that it all turned out okay.
  • Tiny Tim remains high in spirit, despite his unfortunate circumstances. Use of the personal pronoun and terms of endearment show that the family is united
• Cratchit's [S4] - "My little, little child!" cried Bob. My little child"

  • Repetition of 'little' portrays how Tiny Tim had many years ahead of him, but the ignorance of the higher class disallowed him to live a healthier and longer life.
  • Dickens wants to make his audience realise that looking after the children is our responsibility otherwise they will lose their innocence early.
  • Through his tragic death, Tiny Tim gains sympathy from the audience.
  • Message is also reiterated by the Phantom in stwave four by the meagre and yellow children.