Novel Dear Mr Kilmer : Characters
- Richard Knight
– He is 15 years old and the younger son of a farmer in Iowa. Pale and slender, he looks like his mother. He lost his mother at the age of 7.
– Dislikes hunting and killing animals but his father and brother think he should hunt. Richard remembers the first time he had gone hunting with his grandpa and how upset he was when his grandpa killed a beautiful deer.
– Doesn’t want to get into sports, would rather be farming.
– Very considerate, Richard helps his sister with the household chores.
– Writes poems to express his pain but keeps them in a secret place.
– Very sensitive, sees poetry in ordinary experiences. Understands Kilmer’s poems as a kindred soul.
– Brave, stands up for Hannah against classmates, supports her family when vandals attack her father’s tavern
– He suggests that students should write to the soldiers to spur them on.
– Richard is loyal. He gives up being Doughboy out of loyalty towards Hannah who is forced to decline the position of Lady Liberty.
– Feels terrible about Kilmer’s death and finds peace by writing a poem for him
– Wants his father’s approval and is very happy when he gets it finally
- Gus
– The older brother of Richard, he loves hunting and playing games; popular in school as he always tries to fit in, unlike Richard
– He is proud that he killed his first deer and earned the respect of his father early. Wishes to join the army but cannot until he finishes high school.
– He is always warning Richard to be part of the crowd and not stand alone. He thinks Richard is a sissy to dislike hunting and killing.
– He is quite aware of what is happening to Richard in school and keeps a brotherly eye on him.
– Joins the army after finishing high school but it does not please his father.
- Hannah
– The daughter of the Schermers, who moved to Iowa a few years ago.
– She is upset at being called a Hun, a derogatory term for Germans.
– She is smart and does well in school but even though her essay won her the Lady Liberty award, she declines the position because of her classmates’ prejudice and harassment.
– Warm and good-natured – she invites Richard to her house for dinner and the two become friends.
– She feels strongly that people must learn to care about one another despite differences in race, religion and nationality. She believes that people must learn to wage peace, not war.
– Hannah breaks the news about Kilmer’s death to Richard.
– Hannah and Richard are good friends. They care very much for each other.
- Knight
– He is Gus and Richard’s father, firm and reserved, doesn’t say much.
– Dropped out of school in grade 5 but wants education for his boys.
– Takes the boys hunting and wants Richard to kill his first deer which he doesn’t.
– Firm and stern – forbids Gus from dropping out of school to join the army. He wants him to complete high school.
– Grieves for his brother Roland who was killed in a war.
– Tries to forbid Richard from writing poems but fails.
– Understand Richard’s poem well when he reads about the pain of losing someone you love greatly. He had loved his brother a great deal.
– He is a good, responsible father.
- Mrs. Hansen
– Good English teacher, introduces the poetry of Kilmer to the class.
– Encourages Richard to write poems and reads his poems in class.
– Organised the project of writing essays to be chosen as Lady Liberty and Doughboy.
– Puts Abner and Harry in their places.
– A source of inspiration to her students, wishes all the students were like Richard and Hannah.
- Abner and Harry
– Very disruptive boys in the class, very opinionated and prejudiced
– They dislike poetry as they think it is sissy stuff.
– Dislike Hannah because of her German origin and make life difficult for her.
– Dislike Richard for standing up for Hannah.
- Blanche Freebold
– Shallow and prejudiced, she is against foreigners.
– She does not like Hannah who is a German.