Tiny Tim by Charles Dickens (1850)
Tiny Tim is a character in Charles Dickens' novel "A Christmas Carol." He is a young boy who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Cratchit, a poor family that works for Ebenezer Scrooge. Tiny Tim is born with a deformed leg and walks with a crutch. Despite his physical limitations, he is a cheerful and optimistic child who brings joy to those around him. In the story, Tiny Tim becomes ill and is bedridden during the Christmas season. Scrooge visits him and is moved by his kindness and generosity towards his family, despite their poverty. Tiny Tim's death in the end of the story serves as a reminder of the importance of compassion and kindness towards others.
By Charles Dickens · First published 1850 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Period Fiction, Social Critique · 2,419 words
First lines
IT will surprise you all very much to hear that there was once a man who did not like Christmas. In fact, he had been heard on several occasions to use the word _humbug_ with regard to it. His name was Scrooge, and he was a hard, sour-tempered man of business, intent only on saving and making money, and caring nothing for anyone. He paid the poor, hard-working clerk in his office as little as he could possibly get the work done for, and lived on as little as possible himself, alone, in two dismal rooms. He was never merry or comfortable or happy, and he hated other people to be so, and that was the reason why he hated Christmas, because people _will_ be happy at Christmas, you know, if they possibly can, and like to have a little money to make themselves and others comfortable.
What this Textopian page supports
Tiny Tim is listed on Textopian as a short story by Charles Dickens, dated 1850 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Charles Dickens
- Date: 1850 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Period Fiction, Social Critique, Drama
- Length: 2,419 words
- Structure: 1 section, 32 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Tiny Tim by Charles Dickens
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- A Christmas Carol by Charles Kingsley
- Christmas Tide by Charles Dickens
- The Story Of Little Nell by Charles Dickens
- A Christmas Carol For 1862 The Year Of The Trouble In Lancashire by George Macdonald
- The Widows Mite by Anthony Trollope
- The Beggar Man by Charles Lamb
Genres
- Literary Fiction — Charles Dickens is a classic author known for his richly detailed and complex narratives, which encapsulates literary fiction.
- Period Fiction — The book is set in the 19th century Victorian era, classifying it as period fiction.
- Social Critique — Dickens' works often critique social norms and injustices of his time, including poverty and child labor.
- Drama — The book contains dramatic elements, offering an intimate look at the struggle of its characters.
Tags
Christmas · poverty · family · redemption · kindness · charity · hope · innocence · sickness · love · generosity · social justice