Wednesday Wars vs. Shakespeare
Characters of Wednesday Wars
Holling Hoodhood
Holling is the main character in Wednesday Wars. He is twelve years old and attends Camillo Junoir High in the school year 1967-1968. He deals with the challenges of this period of change; race issues, the Vietnam War, the normal death threats associated with being a seventh grader, and Shakespeare.
He learns much about himself during the coarse of seventh grade with the help of the people in his life, especially his teacher Misses Baker, who first introduces Holling to the plays that shape him as a person.
He learns much about himself during the coarse of seventh grade with the help of the people in his life, especially his teacher Misses Baker, who first introduces Holling to the plays that shape him as a person.
Mrs. Baker
Holling's teacher is instramental in helping Holling learn who is is. She is the one who assigns Shakespeare's play to her young student. At first the two don't get along very well (in fact Hollings is convinced that Mrs. Baker "hates his guts") but over time they grow to be good friends.
Mrs. Baker also learns and grows through her relationships with her students (especially Holling) and the experience of the Vietnam War which alters her life forever.
Mrs. Baker also learns and grows through her relationships with her students (especially Holling) and the experience of the Vietnam War which alters her life forever.
Meryl Lee Kowalski
This is a very special girl in to Holling. She isn't as big as the other characters but she is certainly a big part of Holling's life.
Throughout the book the two's relationship grows stronger and more complex, which makes the way for similarities to Shakespeare.
Throughout the book the two's relationship grows stronger and more complex, which makes the way for similarities to Shakespeare.
Danny Hupfer and Doug Swietick
Danny and Doug are Holling's best pals. Through the entire book they demonstrate how important their friend Holling is to them and how these three stick together through thick and thin.
Like any good story, the boys manage to get themselves into sticky situations (many times because of their own mischevous schemes) but they always manage to get themselves out with each other's help.
Like any good story, the boys manage to get themselves into sticky situations (many times because of their own mischevous schemes) but they always manage to get themselves out with each other's help.
Heather Hoodhood- Holling's sister
Heather is perhaps the most complex character of Wednesday Wars. She is a flower child who loves the Monkees, is rebelious and fights the conformity of her father's views on life.
At one point in the novel she runs away to California to find herself but instead has an adventure that strengthens her relationship with her little brother.
At one point in the novel she runs away to California to find herself but instead has an adventure that strengthens her relationship with her little brother.
Mr. Hoodhood- Holling's father
Holling's father seems the perfect example of a hardworking 60's businessman. He is obsessed with appearences (as shown by the "perfect house") and labels, such as the Businessman of the Year award. Holling has to question whether his father's life is the life he wants for himself.
Mrs. Hoodhood -Holling's mother
Holling's mother isn't as prevolent in this book as Holling's father, but she still plays an important role. She is his mother after all.
Mrs. Hoodhood is a woman who loves her family, "secretly" smokes, and seems the typical housewife of the 1960's. Like her husband we know that their are things that aren't being said in the everchanging relationships of the Hoodhood family.
Mrs. Hoodhood is a woman who loves her family, "secretly" smokes, and seems the typical housewife of the 1960's. Like her husband we know that their are things that aren't being said in the everchanging relationships of the Hoodhood family.
Doug Swietick's brother
Doug Swietick's brother (known by this throughout the entire novel) is a classic misunderstood "villain" of the story. He is one of the 8th graders who is penitentiary bound, according to Holling. but we get the feeling that their is more below the surface.
During the course of Holling's seventh grade year D.S.B makes Holling's life a living heck at times. At other times however we see that he might be a good person inside, like when he puts up the pictures of Holling saving his sister in place of the ones he put up of Holling as Ariel the fairy.
During the course of Holling's seventh grade year D.S.B makes Holling's life a living heck at times. At other times however we see that he might be a good person inside, like when he puts up the pictures of Holling saving his sister in place of the ones he put up of Holling as Ariel the fairy.
