# Shocky — The Hoosier Schoolmaster character guide > Shocky in The Hoosier Schoolmaster by Edward Eggleston. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Shocky Mirandy, Mirandy, little Shocky, poor Shocky, grave little Shocky **First appearance:** 0005-iii-mirandy-hank-and-shocky ## Snapshot A poor, neglected boy with a bushy head of white hair, whose devotion to the young master makes him Ralph's first and most loyal friend in Flat Creek. ## Who they are Shocky gets all his sunshine from the master's presence, panting out warnings about Hank Banta's trap and lingering in the sugar camp just to catch one more kind look. His whispered tip about the loosened board saves Ralph from a ducking and proves the schoolmaster has at least one friend in the district. His grateful, wandering ways mark him as the story's tenderest measure of what Ralph's kindness can win. ## Relationships ### [Ralph Hartsook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/ralph_hartsook) _friendship_ Ralph becomes a mentor and father figure to the orphaned Shocky, offering protection and kindness. ### [Hannah Thomson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/hannah_thomson) _family_ Hannah is Shocky's sister, caring for him as a guardian after their parents' death. ### [Bud Means](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/bud_means) _friendship_ Bud shows a soft spot for Shocky, treating him with kindness and protecting him from harm. ### [Ralph Hartsook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/ralph_hartsook) _friendship_ Ralph becomes a mentor and father figure to the orphaned Shocky, offering protection and kindness. ### [Hannah Thomson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/hannah_thomson) _family_ Hannah is Shocky's sister, caring for him as a guardian after their parents' death. ### [Bud Means](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/bud_means) _friendship_ Bud shows a soft spot for Shocky, treating him with kindness and protecting him from harm. ### [Ralph Hartsook](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/ralph_hartsook) _friendship_ Ralph becomes a mentor and father figure to the orphaned Shocky, offering protection and kindness. ### [Hannah Thomson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/hannah_thomson) _family_ Hannah is Shocky's sister, caring for him as a guardian after their parents' death. ### [Bud Means](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/bud_means) _friendship_ Bud shows a soft spot for Shocky, treating him with kindness and protecting him from harm. ## In the story ### [The Hoosier Schoolmaster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/the-hoosier-schoolmaster) A young boy in the Means household, described as a 'little fellow' with a 'shock of red hair,' who is present during Ralph's arrival and is later mentioned as a potential student. ### [III: Mirandy, Hank, and Shocky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/iii-mirandy-hank-and-shocky) A faithful and affectionate orphan boy who warns Ralph of Hank's plot, showing his loyalty. ### [IV: Spelling Down the Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/iv-spelling-down-the-master) Hannah's young brother, who cheers for her victory and shouts 'Hanner beat! my Hanner spelled down the master!' ### [IX: Has God Forgotten Shocky?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/ix-has-god-forgotten-shocky) Reveals his grief over his father's death, mother's poverty, and sister's servitude, questioning if God has forgotten them. ### [XI: Miss Martha Hawkins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xi-miss-martha-hawkins) Living with the Pearsons, he helps John Pearson with basket-making and defends Pearson's kindness. ### [The Hardshell Preacher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xii-the-hardshell-preacher) Attends the meeting, presumably to catch a glimpse of Hannah, and wonders about the lizard winking at the preacher. ### [A Struggle for the Mastery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xiii-a-struggle-for-the-mastery) Trembles in fear of the conflict, showing his loyalty and anxiety. ### [A Crisis with Bud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xiv-a-crisis-with-bud) Shows deep concern for Ralph, expressing fear that God has forgotten them. ### [XV: The Church of the Best Licks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xv-the-church-of-the-best-licks) Bursts in with urgent news about a mob threatening Mr. Pearson, interrupting the religious conversation. ### [XVI: The Church Militant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xvi-the-church-militant) Beaten by Pete Jones with a whip but remains determined to help Mr. Pearson. ### [A Council of War](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xvii-a-council-of-war) Tells the story of Pete Jones's fall and clings to Pearson, fearing for his safety. ### [Odds and Ends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xviii-odds-and-ends) Sick and delirious, terrified of being bound out by Pete Jones. ### [XX: God Remembers Shocky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xx-god-remembers-shocky) Believes God has not forgotten him. He is frail and cold during the journey, but his faith and hope remain strong, even as he asks to see his mother. ### [XXI: Miss Nancy Sawyer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxi-miss-nancy-sawyer) Carried by Ralph, feverish and chilled, speaks of being forgotten by God. ### [Pancakes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxii-pancakes) His situation is discussed; Ralph hopes to bring his mother to stay, but Aunt Matilda refuses. ### [A Charitable Institution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxiii-a-charitable-institution) Recovering at Miss Nancy's, excitedly telling his story, and later reunited with his mother. ### [XXIV: The Good Samaritan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxiv-the-good-samaritan) Overjoyed at being saved from the poorhouse, dances with delight and prays for Hannah, showing his deep gratitude and faith. ### [XXXII: After the Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxxii-after-the-battle) Rejoices at Hannah's return, expressing faith that God wouldn't forget her. ### [Into the Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxxiii-into-the-light) Notices Ralph's chair close to Hannah's, indicating their closeness. ### [How It Came Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/chapters/xxxiv-how-it-came-out) Mentioned in the postscript as having become a writer on poorhouse reform. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters/shocky - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hoosier_schoolmaster_se/characters