📘 PROJECT FILE: Important Characters and Their
Characteristics
🏫 Book 1: FLAMINGO
1. The Last Lesson – Alphonse Daudet
Main Characters:
Franz:
o A young schoolboy from Alsace.
o Initially careless and reluctant to study French.
o Realizes the value of his language too late.
o Represents innocence and regret.
M. Hamel:
o Dedicated and patriotic French teacher.
o Passionate about preserving the French language.
o His last lesson is emotional and inspiring.
o Symbolizes love for one’s language and duty.
2. Lost Spring – Anees Jung
Main Characters:
Saheb-e-Alam:
o A ragpicker boy from Seemapuri.
o Poor but dreams of going to school.
o Symbolizes lost childhood and broken dreams.
Mukesh:
o Son of a bangle-maker from Firozabad.
o Ambitious—wants to become a motor mechanic.
o Represents hope and determination.
3. Deep Water – William Douglas
Main Character:
William Douglas (Narrator):
o Overcame his fear of water through courage and persistence.
o Symbolizes triumph over fear and human willpower.
4. The Rattrap – Selma Lagerlöf
Main Characters:
The Peddler:
o A poor man selling rattraps; cynical about life.
o Learns kindness and redemption through compassion.
o Symbolizes that goodness exists in everyone.
Edla Willmansson:
o The kind-hearted daughter of the Ironmaster.
o Her compassion reforms the peddler.
5. Indigo – Louis Fischer
Main Character:
Mahatma Gandhi:
o Leader who fought for the rights of Champaran peasants.
o Believed in truth, non-violence, and self-reliance.
o Represents moral courage and leadership.
6. Poets and Pancakes – Asokamitran
Main Characters:
Asokamitran (Narrator):
o Observant and witty employee of Gemini Studios.
o Highlights the absurdities of the film industry.
Subbu:
o Loyal, creative, multi-talented assistant.
o Embodiment of dedication and teamwork.
7. The Interview – Christopher Silvester
Main Characters:
Various Journalists & Celebrities:
o Discusses the ethics and power of interviews.
o Focuses on truth vs manipulation in media.
8. Going Places – A.R. Barton
Main Characters:
Sophie:
o Dreamy teenage girl who imagines meeting a football star.
o Represents youthful fantasy and ambition.
Jansie:
o Practical and realistic friend of Sophie.
o Represents wisdom and realism.
📗 Book 2: VISTAS
1. The Third Level – Jack Finney
Main Characters:
Charley:
o A modern man longing for peace in the past.
o Symbolizes escapism from modern stress.
Sam:
o Charley’s psychiatrist friend who later disappears to Galesburg.
2. The Tiger King – Kalki
Main Character:
Maharaja of Pratibandapuram:
o Brave yet arrogant king obsessed with killing tigers.
o His pride leads to his ironic death.
o Represents human folly and fate.
3. Journey to the End of the Earth – Tishani Doshi
Main Character:
Tishani Doshi (Narrator):
o A reflective traveler learning about climate change and evolution.
o Represents curiosity, awareness, and environmental concern.
4. The Enemy – Pearl S. Buck
Main Characters:
Dr. Sadao Hoki:
o A Japanese surgeon torn between patriotism and humanity.
o Helps an enemy soldier despite risk.
o Symbolizes moral integrity and compassion.
Hana:
o Supportive wife who stands by her husband’s decision.
5. Should Wizard Hit Mommy? – John Updike
Main Characters:
Jack:
o Father telling moral stories to his daughter.
o Represents parental conflict between truth and imagination.
Jo:
o His curious daughter who wants happy endings.
o Symbolizes innocence and growing perception.
6. On the Face of It – Susan Hill
Main Characters:
Derry:
A boy with a burnt face and low self-esteem.
o
Learns self-confidence through conversation.
o
Mr. Lamb:
o A physically disabled but optimistic man.
o Represents positivity and acceptance.
7. Evans Tries an O-Level – Colin Dexter
Main Characters:
Evans:
A clever criminal who escapes during an exam.
o
Symbolizes intelligence misused.
o
The Governor:
o Intelligent yet slightly overconfident prison officer.
o Represents authority and order.
8. Memories of Childhood – Zitkala-Sa & Bama
Main Characters:
Zitkala-Sa:
o Native American girl facing cultural oppression.
o Symbolizes resistance and identity.
Bama:
o Tamil Dalit girl who fights caste discrimination.
o Represents self-awareness and empowerment.
🪞 Character Comparison (120–150 words)
Sophie (Flamingo – “Going Places”) and Derry (Vistas – “On the Face of It”) are two
young individuals who struggle with their inner worlds—Sophie lives in dreams, while Derry
hides from reality. Both are misunderstood and seek acceptance and self-worth. Sophie’s
imagination gives her momentary escape from her dull life, whereas Derry’s conversation
with Mr. Lamb teaches him to embrace himself and face the world with courage. Despite
their contrasting approaches—Sophie escaping reality and Derry confronting it—both
represent the struggles of youth to find identity, hope, and confidence.
Lesson: As a student, these characters teach me to balance dreams with reality, to accept
myself without fear, and to channel imagination and courage into building a positive,
confident life.
