The Dharma Bums | 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

Raymond - This character is an East Coast beat writer whose published work is gaining national attention. He is about thirty-five years old and has blue eyes, though he is otherwise not physically described in detail. He is interested in Buddhism and is seeking personal enlightenment. This character is introduced to mountaineering and camping by a friend, and through the novel, he develops a deep and personal connection with the wild outdoors.

The St. Theresa Bum - This character is the bum who is a smaller, older man, and spends several hours sharing...
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