Name ______________________________

Assignment: Charles by Shirley Jackson

Number ________
Date Due _________

1. Use three words to describe Laurie after reading the first two paragraphs.

1. Read the passage from the story. Which details show that Laurie admires
Charless rude behavior?
The next day Laurie remarked at lunch as soon as he sat down, Well
Charles was bad again today. He grinned enormously and said, Today Charles
hit the teacher.
Good heavens, I said, mindful of the Lords name, I suppose he got
spanked again?
He sure did, Laurie said. Look up, he said to his father.
What? his father said. look at my thumb. Gee youre dumb. He began
to
laugh insanely.
Why did Charles hit the teacher? I asked quickly.
Because she tried to make him color with red crayons, Laurie said.
Charles wanted to color with green crayons so he hit the teacher and she
spanked him and said nobody play with Charles but everybody did.
1. Point of View- What clues indicate this story is told by a first-person narrator?

1. What actions of Lauries show that Charles is having a negative effect on him?

1. What does Charles do to the teachers friend?

1. On p. 349, what does Charless behavior on Monday suggest about his good
behavior in the previous weeks?

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Charless school
behavior
Lauries home
behavior

1. Compare and contrast Charles and Lauries behavior?

1. Write a conversation between Laurie and his mother regarding the news from
the teacher.
Mother-

Laurie-

Mother-

Laurie-

Mother

Laurie