The Shipping News | 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

Quoyle - Self-conscious, clumsy and poorly motivated, this character finds success and connection in an idiosyncratic community.

Aunt Agnis - This character has survived a shocking childhood to become strong, resourceful and respected.

Petal - This wild and immoral character comes to a tragic, though perhaps inevitable, end.

Bunny - This character has many dreams and nightmares used by the author as foreshadowing.

Sunshine - A child character who plays a minor role in the novel.

Wavey Prowse - This character is able to overcome the demons left behind from a bad first...
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