Charles

How does “Charles” fit into the contextual lens of Literary Realism? Explain your answer.

How does Jackson subvert expectations in the narrative of “Charles”? What does this subversion mean for the story as a whole? Explain your answer.

What effect does having Laurie’s mother narrate the story have on the narrative itself? How would this change if the narrator were a different character?

Why do you think that only Laurie and Charles are given names in the story? What effect does this have on the characterization of these two characters as well as the others in the story?

It is impossible to say conclusively why Laurie switches gears partway through and tells his parents that Charles is being good in school. However, what do you think Laurie is hoping to accomplish? What is the textual evidence for your interpretation?

Is Laurie a static character, or does he somehow change throughout the story? What about Charles? To develop your answer, cite specific examples from the text, demonstrating the characters’ change or lack thereof.

What lessons (if any) do you think Jackson is trying to impart to readers through the twist at the end of the story?

Jackson strategically omits much information from the narrative, particularly regarding Laurie’s motives. How do these omissions help create the story?