CHAPTER SUMMARIES WITH NOTES AND ANALYSIS

CHAPTER 1

Summary

In this opening chapter we meet the main character of the story: Jerry Renault. He is 5'9, 145 pounds, and trying out for his high school's football team. He is repeatedly hit and knocked down. He experiences grueling pain. The coach asks him why he wants to play football and tells him he is too skinny. The coach says he should not try out for quarter back because he would make a better end.

The coach tells him to show up the next day. As Jerry walks back to the school, his whole body is consumed by pain. He thinks about his mother right before she died, and how she did not recognize anyone. When he reaches the school bathroom, he vomits.

Notes

In this chapter is the exposition of the novel. The exposition of a plot is the place where the reader is introduced to the main character and any important information to understand what is presently occurring. Jerry Renault is the novel's main character. He is a high school student and concerned with making the football team. His mother is dead.

Making the football team is obviously very important to Jerry. He appears to be enduring immense pain. Furthermore he says that he does not care what position he plays as long as he is on the team.

CHAPTER 2

Summary

In this chapter the reader is introduced to two new characters: Archie and Obie. They are sitting one the bleachers at the football field watching the tryouts. Obie both admires and despises Archie. They are seniors at the high school, Trinity. Archie is deciding on ten guys to give assignments to. Obie must stay and write down the names and assignments. Obie is growing restless because he has to get to work. Archie says that Obie hates his job so if he loses it he should not be concerned.

Looking at the field, Archie makes his selections. Their group, The Vigils, has a more complete record of the students than the actually school files. They find Jerry and see that he is a freshman; his father is a pharmacist; his mother died last spring. Archie decides that Jerry's assignment will be chocolates.

Notes

In this chapter we are introduced to Archie Costello who seems to be an evil or at least manipulative person. Although he and Obie are part of the same group, The Vigils, they do not appear to be close friends. Obie loathes Arching; although, at the same time he is in awe of him. Obie is startled that Archie can sense so much about him - how he hates his job, how on Saturday nights he would rather be out with his friends.

Archie seems removed from the other high school kids-almost non-human. He mentions the canteen the other kids go to, as though it is something for children that he is above. Although Archie has immense power, we learn he is not even the president of the organization. The president tells Obie he must keep Archie happy in order to keep everyone happy.