Bob Cratchitt

Question 1

Describe Bob

Answer 1

• timid and nervous
• unnamed only called “the clerk”
  = hightlight that the lower class didn’t have an individual identity, only recognised for their service
  = he represents the plight of the poor
  = an immediate source of empathy in the novella

Question 2

Context of ‘Bob’

Answer 2

In Victorian times, the word ‘bob’ was slang for a shilling
= serve a constant reminder of how little bob earns
= importance of power and money in the lower class
= it can alter life and death e.g. Tiny Tim

Question 3

Poverty with Bob

Answer 3

Bob highlights plight of lower class
= his maltreatment in the workplace by contrasting his fear and dependence on Scrooge
= explores theme in sympathetic way
= challenging prejudices and misconceptions contemporary readers may have

Question 4

How is Bob the opposite of how people thought of the poor at the time

Answer 4

Instead of describing Cratchitts as ungrateful and lazy he repeatedly references their contentment
= “nobody said or thought it was a small pudding for a large family”

Question 5

Analyse “he tried to warm himself at the candle”

Answer 5

Conveys his cruel treatment at work from Scrooge by using a pitiful verb “tried”
= sense of helplessness
= we can sympathise with Bob
Anticlimactic “candle” highlights the poor previsions in place for Bob at work
- follows line with blunt “he failed”
= nonchalant attitude many rich people had towards the poor

Question 6

People attitude development towards Scrooge

Answer 6

As Scrooge gets deeper understanding for poor, so does the reader
= symbolise power and superiority of the upper class over poorer members of society