# Poetry — Character guide

> Key figures in Poetry by Ring Lardner.

- [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/unknown_narrator.md): This narrator moves through the book as its constant consciousness, addressing a class of nineteen-one, a young stranger, and his own children with the same wry, confiding tone. His distinctive tension is between sentime
- [Young Stranger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/young_stranger.md): The young stranger is the narrator's live-in audience and occasional antagonist, the child whose face must be washed, whose playthings must be gathered, and whose endless questions exhaust the speaker's goodwill. The ten
- [Harry B. Wallace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/harry_b_wallace.md): A diamond importer and acquaintance of the narrator.
- [Brother Jim](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/brother_jim.md): Brother Jim is the household's celebrated prodigy, a boy whose single utterance of 'Daddy' prompts triumphal music and makes the warring nations seem like trifles. Yet his darker comic side emerges in his mysterious anti
- [Daddy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/daddy.md): The narrator's father, referenced in personal anecdotes.
- [Charley Deneen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/charley_deneen.md): Former governor and lawyer, a political figure in the narrative.
- [Brother John](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/brother_john.md): Another brother of the narrator, appearing in family scenes.
- [Lurid Lew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/lurid_lew.md): Lurid Lew belongs to the narrator's wider circle of acquaintances, a banker whose nickname suggests a past or persona at odds with respectable finance. The tension lies in that gap between his staid professional title an
- [Cousin Paull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/cousin_paull.md): A cousin of the narrator, mentioned in family gatherings.
- [John Z. Vogelslang](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/john_z_vogelslang.md): A restaurant owner known to the narrator.
- [Kid Gleason](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/kid_gleason.md): Kid Gleason, also called William A. Gleason, runs the White Sox from the bench, a manager whose authority is tested by bad calls and bellowing players. His distinctive trait is silence: while the Cub Brigade charges and 
- [Dick Carle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/dick_carle.md): An actor or acquaintance in the narrator's circle.
- [William Veeck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/william_veeck.md): A baseball executive associated with the Cubs.
- [Sylvia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/sylvia.md): A woman referenced by the narrator, possibly a relative or friend.
- [John B. De Voney](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/john_b_devoney.md): A real estate agent mentioned in passing.
- [Fred C. Schwab](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/fred_c_schwab.md): A tire dealer and friend of the narrator.
- [Robert J. Dunham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/robert_j_dunham.md): An acquaintance, possibly in business.
- [John J. Meagher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/john_j_meagher.md): A stock broker known to the narrator.
- [George K. Schmidt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/george_k_schmidt.md): A banker appearing in the book.
- [Dollar Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/dollar_bill.md): A character addressed in a farewell poem.
- [Maclay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/maclay.md): A person referenced in the narrative.
- [Son Lou](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/son_lou.md): A son or younger relative of the narrator.
- [Jonesey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/jonesey.md): A minor character, possibly a friend.
- [Heine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/heine.md): Heine is the batter at the plate when William's pitch is called strike three, a decision he knows was outside and high. Rather than argue, he makes no reply and asks no query, his locked jaws earning him the other half o
- [Heckus Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/heckus_family.md): A family unit appearing in a poem or sketch.
- [Col. Chas. H. Ebbets](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/col_chas_ebbets.md): President of a baseball club, likely the Dodgers.
- [Jess Willard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/jess_willard.md): A heavyweight boxer, referenced in the narrative.
- [Samuel A. Ettelson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/samuel_ettelson.md): Corporation counsel, a legal figure.
- [John J. Mitchell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/john_j_mitchell.md): A banker mentioned in the narrative.
- [Modie J. Spiegel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/modie_j_spiegel.md): A president, likely of a company.
- [James F. Stepina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/james_f_stepina.md): A banker mentioned in the narrative.
- [Lawrence R. Adams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/lawrence_r_adams.md): A president of a company.
- [Doc Harpster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/doc_harpster.md): A doctor or nickname for a character.
- [Barbara](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/barbara.md): A woman, possibly a relative.
- [The Gophers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/the_gophers.md): A group or team referenced.
- [Hark](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/hark.md): A character with a distinctive name.
- [George F. Harding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/george_f_harding.md): A person of note.
- [Henry Veeder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/henry_veeder.md): A lawyer.
- [Charles A. White](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/charles_a_white.md): A banker.
- [W. G. Nicholson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters/w_g_nicholson.md): A banker.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_19_se/characters