The Chocolate War Summary
Robert Cormier

The Chocolate War Summary

Part l-Setting the Scene

In the first chapter of Robert Cormier's 1974 novel, The Chocolate War, the reader is introduced to Jerry Renault, a freshman at Trinity, a private all-male Catholic high school in New England. It is early fall, and Jerry is trying out for the position of quarterback on the freshman football team. He is faring poorly, however, having just received a crushing blow from a defenseman. When he is finally able to get onto his feet again, his coach, impatient with his overall performance, sends him to the showers. As Jerry walks back to the locker room, he reflects on his sense of isolation (a feeling he experiences repeatedly in the novel), yet is nonetheless encouraged by the coach's injunction that he "show up tomorrow."

The second chapter introduces two more important characters, Archie Costello and Obie. Both are members of the officially secret student organization called the Vigils. Archie... View more of the The Chocolate War Summary