Teaching Key Figures from The Jungle

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

Marija Berczynskas - This character, an orphan, decided to join the family in coming to America just before they left on their journey. She is a big, strong, loud woman who just starts to find happiness in her courtship when the canning factory that she works in shuts down after the holidays, when demand is low. She only speaks Lithuanian. In the end, she survives a catastrophic injury, but lives and works in a house of prostitution to support her morphine habit.

Phil Connor - This character is the boss of the ham...
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The Jungle | Teaching Key Figures

Character Descriptions

Characters

Does the wedding feast at the beginning of the story signify peace and happiness in a time of turmoil and distress?

2. What connection do you see between the public's reading The Jungle and subsequent progressive legislation, like the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act, which were passed within six

How do you think readers reacted to The Jungle when it first came out?

How did Sinclair get his message across?

Describe Jurgis's experiences and encounters in the factories. What were the working conditions in food processing plants and meat packing factories. (The Jungle by Upton Sinclair)