Character Sketch from ISC Class 12 Prism Book Chapter – The Cookie Lady of Bubber Surle, Mrs. Drew, Ernie Mil, May Surle and Ralf Surle

 

A character sketch defines what the character is like and how he/she evolves or develops throughout the story. In this post you can find the Character Sketch of Bubber Surle, Mrs. Drew, Ernie Mil, May Surle and Ralf Surle from ISC Class 12 English Prism Book Chapter – The Cookie Lady

 

 

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Character Sketch of Bubber Surle

Bubber Surle is a young boy, described as being somewhat fat and dull-faced. His most prominent trait is his voracious appetite and intense love for food, especially cookies, which serves as his primary motivation throughout the story. He is easily tempted by treats, willing to endure uncomfortable situations for them. Bubber is initially somewhat innocent and trusting, not fully understanding the strange effect he has on Mrs. Drew. However, he becomes increasingly tired and listless after his visits, showing the draining effect of Mrs. Drew’s power. Despite his parents’ concerns and his own weariness, his desire for cookies makes him agree to continue visiting Drew, even to his tragic end.

 

 

Questions related to the Character of Bubber Surle

Q1. What weakness in the character of Bubber makes him an easy prey?
Q2. Why is Bubber an easy target?

 

 

Character Sketch of Mrs. Drew

Mrs. Drew is the mysterious Cookie Lady, an extremely old, thin, and dried-up woman who lives alone in a shabby, overgrown house. She is deeply lonely and desperate for companionship. Her most extraordinary characteristic is her ability to absorb youth and vitality. When Bubber is near her, especially when he reads or she touches him, she physically transforms, growing younger and regaining her vibrant appearance. Her desire for youth is overwhelming, making her exploitative and manipulative, as she lures Bubber with cookies to achieve her own rejuvenation. By the end, she is portrayed as seemingly permanently young, but her actions are chillingly parasitic.

 

Questions related to the Character of Mrs. Drew

Q1. Describe Mrs. Drew.
Q2. What does Drew do to Bubber that causes his death?

 

Character Sketch of Ernie Mill

Ernie Mill is Bubber Surle’s friend who lives across the street. He is a minor character, mainly serving to introduce Bubber’s routine. Ernie is teasing and curious, shouting questions about Bubber’s visits to the old lady and laughing about it. He doesn’t understand the real reason for Bubber’s visits and is portrayed as a typical, somewhat insensitive neighborhood boy.

 

Questions related to the Character of Ernie Mill

Q1. How does Ernie react to Bubber’s experience?
Q2. Do you think Ernie could save Bubber? How?

 

Character Sketch of May Surle

May Surle is Bubber’s mother. She is a concerned but somewhat superficial parent. She notices Bubber’s tiredness and worn out appearance after his visits to Mrs. Drew. She attributes his willingness to go to the old lady simply to his love for food, saying, ‘He’d do anything for a plate of cookies’. While she expresses worry and eventually restricts his visits, she doesn’t grasp the true, sinister nature of the situation, showing a degree of parental blindness to the extraordinary danger her son is in.

 

Questions related to the Character of May Surle

Q1. How does May fail as a mother?
Q2. Describe the weaknesses of May Surle.

 

Character Sketch of Ralf Surle

Ralf Surle is Bubber’s father. Like May, he is concerned about Bubber’s fatigue after visiting Mrs. Drew. He senses something strange about that old lady and is more emphatic than May in forbidding Bubber from going there. He is portrayed as somewhat perceptive in his unease but ultimately fails to understand the horrific reality. In the chilling conclusion, he dismisses the gray, dry bundle that blows against his door, implied to be Bubber’s drained body as ‘just the wind’, highlighting his ultimate ignorance of the tragedy that has unfolded.

 

Questions related to the Character of Ralf Surle

Q1. How does Ralf sense something strange in Bubber’s appearance?
Q2. How does Ralf fail as a father?

 

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