Setting

The short story “The Christmas Tin” by Amanda Craig was published in 2009 and the setting is meant to be read as contemporary to the time of publishing. 

Time and physical setting

The time of the action is not specified but it is clearly set sometime before Christmas – “ ‘Please remember to include a Christmas card.’ ” (l. 31) - a few years after 2003, the year when the Iraq war began: “A few years ago, even those who opposed the Iraq war had seen some point in sending troops in Afghanistan.” (ll. 23-24). The story also references a time in the future, when the war ends: “Eventually, when the war was over (…)” (l. 162). The majority of troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan in 2014.

At the beginning of the short story, the physical setting is a schoolyard in Britain: “For once, the schoolyard looked less like barracks. Its high walls, topped with barbed wire, had banners pinned to the brickwork.” (ll.1-2). A Christmas fête is taking place here; the narrator suggests there are stalls with objects for sale to raise money for charity (ll. 8-11).

At the charity event, Polly finds and buys an empty tin which she is supposed to fill with useful items for soldiers in Afghanistan. The physical setting changes: “Polly took the tin home.” (l. 85) There, she tries to decide what items she should put in the tin.

The tin is then sent to Helmand Pro...