Friedrich | Teaching Key Figures

Character Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major characters in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

Characters

Friedrich Schneider - The novel's protagonist, this character is born in 1925 to reclusive Jewish parents a week after the Christian narrator's birth.

The Narrator - Friedrich Schneider's downstairs neighbor from the time of their births, one week apart, this character appears as less inquisitive, enthusiastic, intelligent, and determined than Friedrich.

Johann Resch - This character works his way up to district manager in a bathing suit sales company and likes to dominate both workers and tenants in the upstairs apartments of his home.

Frau Schneider - This character avoids contact with other...
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