"Charles" by Shirley Jackson

What is the setting of the story?

The story takes place at the beginning of the school year when Lauri starts kindergarten.

Setting of the story "Charles

The story takes place in Laurie's house and Laurie's kindergarten class

Foreshadowing examples in "Charles"

-In the beginning of the story when his mother describes Laurie's behavior ("...forgot to stop at the corner and wave good-bye..." -In the beginning when his mother describes the way Laurie is going to dress for school. (...renounced to corduroys overalls with bibs and began wearing blue jeans with a belt;") -when he returns from school his attitude has changed: "...the front door slamming open, his cap on the floor, and the voice suddenly become raucous shouting." -Charles is disrespectful to his father: "Hi pop, y'old dust mop." -'he filled his wagon full of mud and pulled it through the kitchen;"

Examples of Charles bad behavior when he enters kindergarten :

-Laurie comes home to tell his parents about Charles behavior at school. -On the first day he is "fresh" to the teacher and punished -On the second day he hits the teacher because she tells him to color with red crayons, but he wants to color with green. he gets punished -On the third day, he bounces a see-saw on the head of a girl and makes her bleed. The teacher gave him a detention at recess -the following day w he was punished for pounding his feet against the floor during story time. Then he threw a piece of chalk and blackboard privileges were taken away for the day -The following day he refused to do exercises, kicked the physical education instructor, interrupted story time, and hit a boy in the stomach. -Then Charles said a bad word getting his mouth washed out with soap. He also threw a chalk.

Laurie

-a boy just beginning kindergarten and his behavior changes. -his behavior at home is very similar to Charles behavior at school.

Laurie's mother

-clueless= unaware of Laurie's bad behavior in school -is worried about the bad influence Charles may have on Laurie -wants to meet Charles mother to complain her about her sons behavior

Laurie's father

-he does nothing

Charles

-imaginary boy in Laurie's kindergarten class who gets into trouble everyday at school. -loud, rude, disrespectful boy

Laurie's teacher

-tries to educate Charles -tells the truth about "Charles" to Laurie's mother.

Who is the main character of the story?

Charles

Who is the antagonist of the story?

Charles is the antagonist.

Whose point of view is the story told by?

Charles is told from the point of view if the mother.

Point of view

Is written in third person

Why does Laurie invent Charles?

Laurie invented Charles because he is immature and unable to handle socialization. Charles was Laurie's way of telling parents what he did in kindergarten without actually telling them.

What is the plot of the story "Charles"?

Laurie is just beginning kindergarten. Every day Laurie comes home from school and tells his mother and father about a child in class named Charles who constantly gets into trouble.. Laurie's mother attends a PTA meeting to meet Charles mother. Laurie's mother talks to Laurie's teacher and finds out "there is no Charles in our class".

Who is the protagonist in Charles?

Laurie is the protagonist

Conclusion and resolution of the story "Charles"

Laurie was the one creating all the trouble at school.

Rising action in the story "Charles"

Laurie's mother fears that Laurie is being influenced by Charles bad behavior

Who is the author of the story?

Shirley Jackson

The author wanted the readers think

That Charles was an actual kid in Lauries class when in fact Charles is Laurie.

What does Laurie's mom discover at the end of the story?

That Laurie is Charles

What is the climax in "Charles"?

The story ends with the climax, when Laurie's mother attends the PTA and the teacher tells his mother that there is no Charles in class. This is when Laurie's mother comes to realize that Laurie is Charles.

Litterary device

foreshadowing

The mood of the story "Charles"

humorous story

What grade was Laurie starting in the story?

kindergarden