Characters from The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade

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

Thomas Lynch - This is an American undertaker, poet, and essay writer.

Thomas's Father - Prominently featured in the book, this person founded a Michigan funeral home that became a family tradition.

Thomas's Mother - This is a person of deep faith who viewed her approaching death as an opportunity for redemptive suffering.

Tommy and Nora Lynch - These are Irish cousins from County Clare.

Henry Nugent - This poet endured a painful divorce and long period of mourning.

Matthew Sweeney - This poet is a hypochondriac with an intense awareness of...
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