# Old Jack Noman — Poetry character guide

> Old Jack Noman in Poetry by Edward Thomas.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Jack, Jack Noman

**First appearance:** 0000-the-trumpet

## Who they are

A weathered, half-mythic figure who belongs to no one and nowhere, yet keeps appearing at the edges of fields and verses like a stubborn root.

## Relationships

### [Old Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/characters/old_man)

_rivalry_

Old Jack Noman and the Old Man are locked in a tense, antagonistic relationship, possibly over identity or territory.

### [Young Jack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/characters/young_jack)

_family_

Old Jack Noman is likely a father or older relative to Young Jack, with a strained dynamic.

### [Lob](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/characters/lob)

_rivalry_

Lob and Old Jack Noman are hostile toward each other, possibly over loyalty to the Old Man.

### [Walker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/characters/walker)

_rivalry_

Old Jack Noman and Walker are antagonists, perhaps competing for influence or survival.

### [Old Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/characters/old_man)

_rivalry_

Old Jack Noman and the Old Man are locked in a tense, antagonistic relationship, possibly over identity or territory.

### [Lob](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/characters/lob)

_rivalry_

Lob and Old Jack Noman are hostile toward each other, possibly over loyalty to the Old Man.

## In the story

### [Lob](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/chapters/lob)

The old man met at hawthorn-time, described with a rough, brown, sea-blue-eyed face; later identified as a manifestation of Lob.

### [May 23](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/chapters/may-23)

Appears jaunty and old, offering cresses and cowslips, then disappears.

### [Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/chapters/home)

One of the three travelers, who repeats the word 'home' with a knowing smile.

### [A Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/chapters/a-dream)

The old friend accompanying the narrator in the dream, though he is forgotten during the vision.

### [Lovers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/chapters/lovers)

Jack is one of the two men in the road, commenting on the lovers and the man's lack of a gun.

### [The Child in the Orchard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/chapters/the-child-in-the-orchard)

Referenced indirectly through the old white horse, a solitary figure in the orchard.

### [House and Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/chapters/house-and-man)

The man living in the lonely house, described as ghost-like and weary.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/characters/old_jack_noman
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_5_se/characters