Charles

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Charles

Literature

Let's read the text together

Let's continue

By answering the questions

1. Describe how Laurie's behaviour at home changes after he begins school.

Answer:

He starts to act older, tougher, independent from his mother. 

2. According to Laurie, what is Charles like? (1 word)

Answer:

fresh (arrogant, naughty)

Question 3

Discuss in groups.

How does Laurie's mother learn the truth about Charles?

Answer:

By talking to his teacher

What is the plot twist at the end of the story?

Answer:

• Charles is actually Laurie

What do you think of this plot twist? Explain.

Class discussion

Answer question 4

• Personal answers: let's discuss them
  

What clues does Jackson give about Charles' true identity?

Discuss in groups

Answers:

• Laurie misbehaving at the table (he is also fresh)
  
• Laurie had to think of a name when they asked who the boy was (line 15)
• The teacher called Laurie a "fine little helper" (line 109) > Laurie described Charles a as a good helper (lines 70-74)

6. Why do you think Laurie invented Charles?

Answer:

• To talk about school without his parents getting upset.

7. Do you think Laurie's parents should have realized the truth about Charles sooner?

Yes

No

Why?

Class discussion.

Both answers are possible

Just make sure you underpin your answer correctly.

8. What is the point of view of this story?

1. first person perspective
2. second person perspective
3. third person perspective
4. omniscient perspective

Why is it first person perspective?

Class discussion.

Answer:

• It is the mother telling the story.

9. How does the point of view contribute to the humour in lines 105-113?

Discuss in groups.

Answer:

• We read the story from the mother's point of view
  
• She has no idea who Charles is
• It sets up the humour (dramatic irony) of the final line

10. Can you identify a theme in this story?

Answer:

• People's blindness to flaws in ones close to them
  

11. Explain how Shirley Jackson uses irony in this story.

Discuss in groups.
Hint: question 9

Answer:

• It’s dramatic irony, as the mother doesn’t know that Laurie and Charles are one person, but we do.

12. Fill in the grid

The grid

Plot: Laurie goes to kindergarten and starts talking about a rude boy named Charles. In the end we find out that this rude boy is actually Laurie.

Characters: Laurie / Charles, mother, father, teacher

Setting: the kitchen table, kindergarten, time is unknown.

Theme: The way people are blind to flaws in ones close to them.

Irony: dramatic irony, we know Laurie and Charles are the same, but the mother doesn’t.

I think I understand this poem well enough for the test.

Yes

No

Continue

If you have answered yes, focus on your week task.

If you have answered no, please let me know what you do not understand (yet).