The Reader | 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

Michael Berg - This character is a teenage student in West Germany who is the protagonist, main character, and narrator in the book.

Hanna Schmitz - This character is a former guard for the SS during World War II and deftly seduces the narrator.

Michael's Parents - This couple consists of a college philosophy professor and author, and a typical mother and homemaker.

Michael's Siblings - These characters tease the main character and are more concerned with clothes and friends.

Sophie - This character is a member of a high school class, until...
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