Charles

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Charles

Literature

Connect the type of irony to the definition

When someone says something but means the opposite.

When what actually happens is different from what you expected.

When the audience knows something that the characters do not. 

dramatic irony

situational irony

verbal irony

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 started acting more independently & insolently / rebellious

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

Explanation:

fresh is another word for arrogant

Question 3

Discuss in groups.

What is the plot

twist at the end

of the story?

Answer:

Laurie and Charles are the same person / Charles does not exist / Mother finds out Laurie is Charles

Class discussion

What do you think about this plot twist?
Explain!

How does the mother find out the truth?

Answer:

She wants to talk to the teacher during a PTA meeting, but the teacher tells her that there is no Charles in Laurie’s class.

What clues does Jackson give about Charles' true identity?

Discuss in groups.

Write down three of them.

Answers:

• Laurie had to think of a name when his parents asked him (stanza 2)
  
• Laurie also showed fresh behaviour towards his parents (stanzas 2 & 3)
  
• The entire class had to wait on Charles when he had to stay after school (stanzas 5 & 8)
  
• Charles suddenly became a good helper, just like the teacher said about Laurie (stanza 15)

What type of irony can you connect the plot twist to?

1. dramatic irony
2. situational irony
3. verbal irony

Class discussion

Explain why it can be dramatic or situational irony

Answer:

• Dramatic: we as readers can see the signs before the mother learns the truth (we know more than the mother does)
  
  
• Situational: The mother really wants to meet Charles's mother, only to find out that she herself is the one she wants to meet.

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

Yes

No

Class discussion

Why?

Both answers are possible

Just make sure you underpin your answer correctly.

8. Why do you think Laurie invented Charles?

Answer:

The most logical reason is that he wanted to talk about school, or more specifically about his actions, but did not want to get punished.

9. 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.

10. Can you identify a
theme in this story?

Answer:

Multiple themes possible:

• People's blindness to flaws in ones close to them
  
• People can change in certain surroundings.
  
• Expect the unexpected from people.

I think I understand this short story well enough for the test.

Yes

No

Continue

If you have answered yes on the previous question, fill in the grid about Charles.

If you have answered no, please let me know what you do not understand (yet). Afterwards, fill in the grid as well.