Comment

Your third exam question asks you to comment specifically on Robbie’s perception of what it means to be a soldier. Robbie’s perception on what it means to be a soldier is conveyed in the short story “The Christmas Tin” by Amanda Craig through narration and dialogue.

Firstly, we learn that Robbie thinks his mother is ignorant about the military: “ ‘You know nothing about the army.’ ” (l. 61). His interaction with Polly suggests that Robbie not only considers his mother to be ignorant on this topic, but also thinks he knows more than her.

When Robbie discovers that Polly wants to send presents for soldiers, he replies: “ ‘What do they need presents for? They’ve got guns,’ Robbie said.” This suggests his limited perspective on being a soldier, as he believes that all soldiers need are guns.

The narrator explains Robbie’s point of view in a straightforward manner:...