# Dr. Bruno Zechlin — Elmer Gantry character guide

> Dr. Bruno Zechlin in Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Professor Zechlin

**First appearance:** 0003-chapter-i

## Who they are

A scholarly and liberal professor at the seminary.

## In the story

### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/chapter-viii)

A scholarly professor who confides his doubts to Frank and fears losing his job if he reveals his true beliefs.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/i)

Professor of Greek, Hebrew, and Old Testament Exegesis; a genuine scholar but a failure in the seminary's fundamentalist environment.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/ii)

A professor at Mizpah Seminary, a closet agnostic who mentors Frank and shares his skeptical views.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/iii)

Mentioned as the source of bootlegged books that Frank reads.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/iv)

Frank spends Christmas with Dr. Zechlin, who prepares a German feast with goose and punch. Zechlin critiques Dean Trosper's joyless Christianity and dreams of a farm with a vineyard and books.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/v)

Target of Elmer's prank; forced into retirement and dies within two years.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned in the context of Elmer possibly talking to the dean about him.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/i)

Mentioned as deceased; a former professor at Mizpah Seminary.

### [Chapter XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/chapter-xvii)

Frank is noted as a pupil of Bruno Zechlin, indicating his scholarly background.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/i)

Frank's professor who introduced him to comparative religion and a hundred gods, contributing to Frank's skepticism.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/v)

Mentioned as the most scholarly man Frank has encountered.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters/bruno_zechlin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters