A couple of my text responses on 'A Christmas Carol' got 10/10s, but they were informally marked so I don't know if it's what you're after. But here's one anyway:
What are the roles of the minor characters Mr Fezziwig, Fred, Tim and Bob Cratchit in the story?
During the 1800s, the Industrial Revolution was a time of upheaval and societal change, as the advent of machines capable of mass-producing goods quickly replaced manual labour, widening the societal gap between the rich and the poor. Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ is an exploration of such a time period, as he details the moral corruption and greed that existed amongst the wealthy and powerful members of this society. While Dickens’ protagonist is the callous, avaricious miser Scrooge, he also utilizes several supporting characters to aid in his portrayal of Scrooge’s transformation from a cruel and greedy businessman to a kind and compassionate individual. Such characters are instrumental in Dickens’ attempt to highlight the importance of living a life of balance between moral and material wealth.
Portrayed as an essentially kind and empathetic individual, the character of Fred is a device used by Dickens to contrast against Scrooge’s initial cruelty and avarice, highlighting the long path to redemption ahead. From the outset of the novel, Scrooge’s wisdom is one purely of the head; his only concern is the accumulation of wealth and the protection of his gains, amplified by the importance of money during the time of the Industrial Revolution as a means of security and comfort. Indeed, he has a healthy contempt for the poor, claiming that “I can’t afford to make idle people merry” and that if they were to die of starvation, “then they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population”. In direct contrast, as Scrooge’s nephew, Fred has none of his uncle’s mindsets, extending a dinner invitation to Scrooge despite being insulted by him, and later consoling Bob Cratchit after he hears of Tiny Tim’s death in Scrooge’s visions. Thus, Fred’s kindness and compassion for the poor are devices used by Dickens to emphasize Scrooge’s lack of these qualities, in order to highlight Scrooge’s transition to generosity and kindheartedness by the end of the novel. Fred’s role within ‘A Christmas Carol’ is an important one, as without it the moral lesson taught by Scrooge’s journey is greatly lessened.
But while Fred’s purpose within the novel is to more clearly convey Scrooge’s transformation to benevolence and charity to readers, the Cratchit family, especially Tiny Tim and Bob Cratchit, serves to catalyze this metamorphosis. Members of the lower class of society, the Cratchits make up for their financial poverty through their appreciation of the joy of life in each other’s company, and their lives are enriched through their lives of kindness and generosity. Bob Cratchit’s gentle disposition and inability to hate even his cruel, greedy employer conveys to Scrooge the value of a life lived in moral wealth, rather than a materialistic lifestyle devoid of the warmth and solace of human interaction. And Tiny Tim, whose cheerful nature sees him able to wish “God bless us, every one”, despite his frail condition and his inevitable death, teaches Scrooge that even the most difficult circumstances may be made bearable through the support of loved ones and an irrepressible spirit. Such characters serve to set an example for Scrooge to follow, so that he is able to grow as an individual and become a better person through living his life as they do. And by the end of the novel, he is ultimately all the more successful through the lessons he has learnt from the Cratchit family.
But perhaps the most valuable lesson is taught to Scrooge by the example set by his old employer Fezziwig. By observing the Christmas party thrown by Fezziwig for his employees, Scrooge grows to understand that it is indeed possible to live a life of both material and moral wealth, and that such a lifestyle is a key in ensuring happiness and a sense of contentment within himself and the people he serves. Uniquely positioned as Scrooge’s superior to set an example for him to follow, Fezziwig’s decision to “spend a few of your mortal pounds… gives as much happiness as if it cost a fortune.” And by taking Fezziwig as a role model, Scrooge’s future life is greatly enriched: his newfound charity saves Tiny Tim from the jaws of death, lifts the Cratchit family out of poverty, and he finally becomes “as good a man, and as good a master… as the good old city knew.” Fezziwig’s role in ‘A Christmas Carol’ as a role model is thus instrumental in ensuring Scrooge’s eventual change to the kind and generous individual he becomes by the end of the novel.
Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ is a powerful story of one man’s redemption during the Industrial Revolution in Britain. But Scrooge’s transformation is not made alone; the many individuals he meets along the way are essential in both ensuring his metamorphosis and conveying a broader, timeless message to readers. Their roles within the novel are powerful and manifold, and without them, the lessons learnt and morals conveyed could never be as direct, or as profound.
For me, what really pushed my 8s and 9s up to 10s was my concentration on analysis rather than summary in each paragraph. It was by making a conscious effort to include an extra sentence or two here and there to truly drive home my point that really boosted my essay marks. If you're already doing that, you could probably work on control of language and finding some really interesting and powerful phrases to scatter throughout your essays.
But ask your teacher to clarify, he/she is probably in a better position to help you than we are!
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