The Railway Children-characters

THE RAILWAY CHILDREN CHARACTERS The characters are the people in the story. There are main characters and minor characters. You need to be able to: • describe the characters’ physical appearance • describe the traits of the characters • compare and contrast the characters • understand the relationship between characters • make judgements and draw conclusions about characters Main Characters – Roberta (Bobbie), Peter and Phyllis The three children have common character traits Character Traits Examples of Textual Evidence Loving • They want to surprise their mother by getting the Obedient breakfast ready. (p. 8) • They do not ask their mother any questions so as not to make her unhappy. (p.4, 39) • They try to get their mother the things the doctor says she needs to get well. (p. 17) • They are sorry when they realise they have done something wrong. (p. 16, 21) Thoughtful • They plan a birthday celebration for Perks. (p.34) Kind • They give the post office lady flowers and a present after she told them no one remembered her birthday. (p. 35) Helpful • They help with the packing and unpacking. (p. 4, 9) Hardworking • They go to look for the in the red shirt when he does not come out of the tunnel. (p. 45) Brave • They save the train. (p.29-31) • They tell their mother the truth even though it is not easy. (p. 21) • They go to the dark tunnel to look for the boy in the red shirt even though it is frightening. Clever • They think of asking the old gentleman for help when Creative they need some things to help their mother to recover Imaginative from her illness. (p. 17) • They use the girl’s red petticoats to make flags to warn the train of the danger. (p. 29) • They pretend that the train is going to London and will take their love to their father. (p.15-16, 53)

Loyal

Polite Well-mannered Independent Adventurous Unsure about what is right and what is wrong

• They never forget their father. (p.39) • They do not tell anyone bout the coal Peter took. (p.12) • The girls stick up for Peter when he is caught by the Station Master stealing coal. (p.14) • They thank the old gentleman and say ‘sorry’ when they are in the wrong. (p.21) • They speak politely to the villagers. (p.36) • They wander around on their own. (p.10, 27, 43) • They make a lot of decisions on their own. (p.24,29) • They do not realise that taking coal from the station yard is stealing. (p.13-14) • They are unsure whether it is right to ask the old gentleman for the things their mother needs. (p.21) • They are unsure whether it is right to ask people for things for Perks. (p. 34)

1) ROBERTA (always called BOBBIE) • The eldest in the family • 12 years old CHARACTER TRAITS EXAMPLES OF TEXTUAL EVIDENCE Responsible • Fetches coal and wood to make a fire on the first night. • Takes charge and get her siblings to think of a way to get their mother the things the doctor said she must have. • Does not tell Peter and Phyllis the worrying truth about their father. • Stays with the injured boy in the tunnel and tries to make him comfortable. Brave • Runs onto the track to stop the train. Determined • Explain to Perks why the villagers gave him the presents so that he would accept them. • Writes to the old gentleman for help to clear her father’s name. Devoted • Her heart fills with love to see how brave her Loving mother is. • Thinks of her father often. • Worries about her mother. • Believes her father has done nothing wrong.

Understanding Sensitive

• Understand how her mother feels. • Has a strange feeling that something is going to happen just before her father arrives at the railway station.

PETER • Only boy in the family • Middle child • 10 years old • Wants to be an engineer CHARACTER TRAITS EXAMPLES OF TEXTUAL EVIDENCE Proud • Will not admit he cried when his toy steam engine was broken. • Brave Clever Resourceful Generous