Dink Stover

Bob Story

Bob Story is Dink Stover's closest friend and confidant, sharing many experiences and personal growth throughout their time at Yale.

Tom Regan

Tom Regan is a loyal and supportive friend to Dink Stover, often acting as a moral anchor and companion in social and athletic pursuits.

Joe Hungerford

Joe Hungerford is a close friend and fellow student who shares Dink's social circle and campus activities.

Sidney Brockhurst

Sidney Brockhurst is a competitive rival of Dink Stover, often clashing over social status and personal ambitions at Yale.

Tough McCarthy

Tough McCarthy is a rough-edged but loyal friend to Dink, bonding over shared experiences and campus life.

Dopey McNab

Dopey McNab is a comedic and loyal friend who provides levity and companionship to Dink Stover.

Ray Gimbel

Ray Gimbel is a friendly associate and fellow student who interacts regularly with Dink in social and academic settings.

Jim Hunter

Jim Hunter is a friend and peer of Dink Stover, sharing in the camaraderie of college life.

Hugh Reynolds

Hugh Reynolds is a friendly acquaintance and fellow student who interacts with Dink in various campus activities.

Captain Dana

Captain Dana is a coach or authority figure who guides Dink Stover in athletic or disciplinary matters at Yale.

Swazey

Swazey is a friend and fellow student who shares Dink's social environment and campus experiences.

Chris Schley

Chris Schley is a friend and peer of Dink Stover, participating in the same social and academic circles.

I

Protagonist, a confident freshman from Lawrenceville, reflecting on his past leadership and anticipating his Yale career.

The Parting of the Ways

Receives strategic advice from Le Baron and feels a troubling loss of boyhood simplicity.

III

Listens to Regan's story, decides on an eating club with Saunders, and feels the pull of Skull and Bones.

IV

Experiences his first football practice at Yale, feeling overwhelmed but determined; later engages with Gimbel about campus politics.

V

Volunteers for the wrestling match despite no experience, uses strategy to win after losing the first round, and leads the freshman cheer.

VI

Invites Regan to join the eating club, struggles with the discipline of football practice, and begins to understand the social dynamics at Yale.

VII

Resolves to play the game and become a leader; observes the social dynamics at the gathering.

VIII

Struggles with being moved to fullback, endures harsh coaching, and learns to suppress criticism of the captain.

The Night Before the Game

Stover is overwhelmed by the pressure of being the team's fullback and the perceived weak spot, struggling with nerves and self-doubt before the Princeton game.

The Game Against Princeton

Stover plays a heroic defensive game, making a critical tackle and punting under pressure, but ultimately cannot prevent the loss. He experiences shame, fatigue, and then pride in his team's second-half stand.

XI

Enjoys idleness after football season, reflects on his fame and social position, visits Regan, and feels conflicted about his ambitions and Le Baron's influence.

XII

Succumbs to the lure of fashion, buying a green shirt and other items on credit; attends dinner at the Story home, feeling awkward yet flattered by attention from the young ladies.

XIII

Engages in debate with Gimbel, visits Bob Story, and decides to confront Gimbel directly to prevent class division.

XIV

Stover nervously pays his party call at the Story mansion, converses with Jean Story, and later reflects on his ambitions and his friendship with Regan. He also witnesses Tap Day and questions the society system.

XV

Returns to Yale as a sophomore, feeling restless and alone despite his popularity; decides to room alone; in love with Jean Story.

XVI

Struggles with disillusionment about his Yale experience, feeling he has become mere 'material' rather than an individual.

XVII

Apologizes to Brockhurst, decides not to join crew, explores new friendships, and confesses his love to Jean Story.

Chapter XVIII

Stover experiences a crisis of self-doubt after his outburst, then resolves to win Jean Story's respect. He participates in the debate on sophomore societies, advocating for a broader vision of college life.

XIX

Struggles with the pressure from upperclassmen to conform, feeling both wounded pride and defiant resolve.

XIX

Attempts a more conciliatory approach but ultimately reinforces the same warning about Stover's social choices.

The Break

Defiantly breaks with Le Baron and the sophomore societies, refuses to keep the matter secret, and later struggles with ostracism and bitterness.

XXI

Drunk and erratic, he mentors Wookey, clashes with Le Baron, and resolves to reform his behavior.

Chapter XXII

Leads discussion on new debating club, reconciles with Bob Story, and shares a heartfelt talk with Jean Story about his summer plans and aspirations.

XXIII

Returns as a junior, transformed by summer work; becomes class leader, organizes Saturday night rallies, and withdraws from football captaincy in favor of Tom Regan.

XXIV

Reconciles to losing senior society election, enjoys liberty, hosts diverse friends, listens more than talks, consoles Brockhurst after his loss, and struggles with renewed desire for Bones.

XXV

Returns to college after summer, visits Jean Story, feels jealousy and confusion over her distance, asserts independence by refusing football captaincy, and grapples with senior society ambitions.

XXVI

Stover is the center of the scandal, refusing to explain his actions and enduring public judgment.

XXVII

Resolves to be true to himself regarding senior society elections; decides to speak to Judge Story about his opposition to secrecy; is not tapped for Skull and Bones.