# Fenn — The Head of Kay’s character guide > Fenn in The Head of Kay’s by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** major **Also known as:** The talented Fenn, XIV Fenn, The elder Fenn, Mr. Fenn **First appearance:** 0000-i-mainly-about-fenn ## Snapshot A brilliant, sardonic Kayite whose feud with the house's new Head leaves him self-exiled and scheming to recover a lost cap that could ruin him. ## Who they are Fenn is the talented senior whose refusal to back Kennedy has split Kay's into two sulking camps, a rift Jimmy Silver loudly calls drivelling lunacy. Proud, quick with a quote, and quicker to bang a knocker when a Cockney doorkeeper bars his way, he nurses grievances as carefully as he hoards jam. His looming dread of exposure over an unauthorized absence gives the early arc its engine: if he can only get the cap back, he vows, he will reform and throw his weight behind licking the house into shape. ## Relationships ### [Kennedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/kennedy) _rivalry_ Fenn and Kennedy are intense rivals, with Fenn constantly undermining Kennedy's authority as head of Kay's house. ### [Jimmy Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/jimmy_silver) _rivalry_ Fenn and Jimmy Silver are antagonists, with Silver often thwarting Fenn's plans to disrupt the house. ### [Wren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/wren) _friendship_ Fenn and Wren are allies, with Wren often assisting Fenn in his rebellious activities. ### [Blackburn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/blackburn) _rivalry_ Blackburn and Fenn are antagonists, with Blackburn opposing Fenn's disruptive behavior. ### [Mulholland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/mulholland) _friendship_ Fenn and Mulholland are allies, with Mulholland supporting Fenn's schemes against authority. ### [Spencer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/spencer) _social_ Fenn and Spencer are fellow students with limited interaction, neither friends nor enemies. ### [Jimmy Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/jimmy_silver) _rivalry_ Fenn and Jimmy Silver are antagonists, with Silver often thwarting Fenn's plans to disrupt the house. ### [Kennedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/kennedy) _rivalry_ Fenn and Kennedy are intense rivals, with Fenn constantly undermining Kennedy's authority as head of Kay's house. ### [Kennedy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/kennedy) _rivalry_ Fenn and Kennedy are intense rivals, with Fenn constantly undermining Kennedy's authority as head of Kay's house. ### [Wren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/wren) _friendship_ Fenn and Wren are allies, with Wren often assisting Fenn in his rebellious activities. ### [Jimmy Silver](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/jimmy_silver) _rivalry_ Fenn and Jimmy Silver are antagonists, with Silver often thwarting Fenn's plans to disrupt the house. ### [Blackburn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/blackburn) _rivalry_ Blackburn and Fenn are antagonists, with Blackburn opposing Fenn's disruptive behavior. ## In the story ### [Mainly About Fenn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/i-mainly-about-fenn) Head of Kay's house, exceptional cricketer and pianist, deeply frustrated by Mr. Kay's constant interference and the poor quality of his housemates. ### [An Evening at Kay's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/ii-an-evening-at-kay-s) Head of Kay's house, frustrated by Mr. Kay's treatment; tries to keep order but is publicly humiliated; confronts Mr. Kay but regrets his outburst. ### [III: The Final House-Match](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/iii-the-final-house-match) Delayed by a row with Mr. Kay; arrives late to bat as eleventh man, nearly wins the match with a brilliant innings but miscounts the balls, leading to defeat. ### [Harmony and Discord](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/iv-harmony-and-discord) Returns to the pavilion after the match, dismisses the junior fight, reveals his row with Kay and punishment, and later disrupts the concert with an encore of 'The Coon Band Contest'. ### [Camp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/v-camp) Briefly meets Kennedy and Silver at the shop before camp, recalling Kay's reaction to the concert. ### [VIII: A Night Adventure: The Dethronement of Fenn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/viii-a-night-adventure-the-dethronement-of-fenn) Kennedy pities Fenn for having to return to Kay's house. ### [The Sensations of an Exile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/ix-the-sensations-of-an-exile) Former head of Kay's; his conflicts with Kay led to Kennedy's transfer. ### [Further Experiences of an Exile](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/x-further-experiences-of-an-exile) Deposed head of Kay's, refuses to assist Kennedy out of bitterness toward Mr. Kay, but secretly upholds Kennedy's authority by punishing fags who try to bypass him. ### [The Senior Dayroom Opens Fire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xi-the-senior-dayroom-opens-fire) Senior and former football captain; broods on the field during the match delay. ### [XIV: Fenn Receives a Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xiv-fenn-receives-a-letter) Receives a letter from his brother; remains estranged from Kennedy and decides to sneak out to see his brother's play. ### [Down Town](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xv-down-town) Visits his brother at the theatre, watches the play from the 'flies,' spots masters in the audience, flees, gets lost in fog, and is robbed. ### [What Happened to Fenn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xvi-what-happened-to-fenn) Fenn is the central figure of the chapter, returning late to Kay's after a disastrous outing. He loses his watch and cap, hides from Mr. Kay and Mr. Mulholland, and uses a cat to create a diversion. He overhears the conversation about Kennedy and finds his study window bolted. ### [Fenn Hunts for Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xvii-fenn-hunts-for-himself) The protagonist, a former head of house, who sneaks back into Kay's house after being locked out, narrowly avoiding Mr. Kay's suspicions. ### [A Vain Quest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xviii-a-vain-quest) Determined to recover his cap and turn over a new leaf; reflects on Silver's advice to reconcile with Kennedy. ### [The Guile of Wren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xix-the-guile-of-wren) Sees Wren down town but says nothing; later implicated in Wren's excuse. ### [Jimmy the Peacemaker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xx-jimmy-the-peacemaker) Surprised by Kennedy's presence at tea, denies giving fags leave, and accepts Kennedy's apology. ### [In Which an Episode Is Closed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xxi-in-which-an-episode-is-closed) Fenn is called to the headmaster's study, expecting punishment for breaking out at night, but is relieved when his cap and cup are returned as part of recovered stolen property. ### [Kay's Changes Its Name](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xxii-kay-s-changes-its-name) Shares captaincy with Kennedy, keeps a record of Mr. Kay's complaints, and supports house reforms. ### [The House-Matches](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xxiii-the-house-matches) Key player forced to play centre instead of wing; scores a try in the final match. ### [The Sports](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/chapters/xxiv-the-sports) Star sprinter for Dencroft's; wins the hundred yards, quarter-mile, and cricket ball throw. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters/fenn - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_head_of_kay_s_se/characters