Characters from A Thousand Clowns

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

Albert Amundson - This character is a stuffy, no-nonsense social caseworker with the New York Bureau of Child Welfare.

Arnold Burns - This character works for a large company of theatrical agents in downtown Manhattan and lives a normal life with a family.

Murray Burns - This character is an unemployed television writer who thinks he cannot be tied down to a nine-to-five job. This person enjoys life as only a person with no responsibilities can.

Nick Burns - This character attends a special school and is independent, caring, sociable, and funny.