Character Sketch from Class 11 English (Elective) Woven Words Book Chapter 3 The Rocking-horse Winner of Paul, Paul’s Mother, Paul’s Father, Paul’s sisters, Uncle Oscar Cresswell, Bassett and Miss Wilmot
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 Paul, Paul’s Mother, Paul’s Father, Paul’s sisters, Uncle Oscar Cresswell, Bassett and Miss Wilmot from Class 11 English (Elective) Woven Words Book Chapter 3 – The Rocking-horse Winner
- Character Sketch of Paul
- Question related to the Character of Paul
- Character Sketch of Paul’s Mother
- Question related to the Character of Paul’s Mother
- Character Sketch of Paul’s Father
- Question related to the Character of Paul’s Father
- Character Sketch of Paul’s Sisters
- Question related to the Character of Paul’s Sisters
- Character Sketch of Uncle Oscar Cresswell
- Question related to the Character of Uncle Oscar Cresswell
- Character Sketch of Bassett
- Question related to the Character of Bassett
- Character Sketch of Miss Wilmot
- Question related to the Character of Miss Wilmot
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Character Sketch of Paul
Paul is the main character and a sensitive young boy. He feels the unspoken worries about money in his home and notices his mother’s emotional distance. Paul believes that “luck” can solve the family’s financial problems. He desperately wants to win his mother’s love and make her happy. To do this, he creates a strange ritual with his rocking horse to predict winning racehorses. He is determined, even to the point of harming himself, to try to support his family. His innocent idea of “luck” contrasts sharply with the adult world’s focus on money. In the end, Paul becomes a tragic character, sacrificing his health and life to gain his mother’s affection and quiet the persistent “whispers” of the house.
Questions related to the Character of Paul
Q1. What bothers Paul all his life?
Q2. Describe Paul’s character.
Character Sketch of Paul’s Mother (Hester)
Hester is beautiful but emotionally distant. She triggers the family’s financial anxiety. She tells Paul that they lack money because of his father’s “lack of luck,” which plants the seed for his obsession. Hester is never satisfied and always wants more money and a better social status. Even when Paul starts winning money, she stays emotionally cold and her greed grows. This neglect harms Paul deeply. While she may be affected by societal pressures, her emotional distance leads to tragic consequences for her family.
Questions related to the Character of Paul’s Mother
Q1. How does the mother contribute to Paul’s mental state?
Q2. How do we know that the mother was emotionally distant from the children?
Character Sketch of Paul’s Father
He is handsome but ineffective, missing from much of the story. He symbolizes the pressure on men to provide but fails to do so.
Questions related to the Character of Paul’s Father
Q1. Why is Paul’s father unlucky?
Character Sketch of Paul’s Sisters (Joan and unnamed)
They have a normal childhood, playing with dolls and watching Paul with worry. They contrast with Paul’s intense obsession.
Questions related to the Character of Paul’s Sisters
Q1. What are the similarities between the sisters and Paul?
Q2. What do the sisters do when they feel the pressure?
Character Sketch of Uncle Oscar Cresswell
Oscar is a wealthy uncle who is somewhat detached. He becomes curious about Paul’s ability to pick winning horses. At first, he is amused and skeptical but later, he partners with Paul in betting, motivated by the chance to make money. He shows some concern for Paul as the boy’s obsession grows, but his main interest is financial gain. He helps Paul give gifts to his mother, possibly with good intentions, but he also enables Paul’s harmful behaviour. After Paul’s death, his indifferent comment shows how the adult world often relates to the tragedy of Paul’s desperate actions.
Questions related to the Character of Uncle Oscar Cresswell
Q1. How does the uncle deal with Paul?
Q2. Describe the uncle’s character.
Character Sketch of Bassett
Bassett is a young gardener who used to serve in the war with Uncle Oscar. He follows horse racing closely and is the first adult to take Paul’s predictions seriously. He becomes Paul’s friend and betting partner. Bassett seems to genuinely believe in Paul’s “luck” and helps make his predictions come true. While he participates in betting, he appears motivated more by belief in Paul than by greed. He plays an important role in facilitating Paul’s obsession and financial success, which leads to tragic outcomes.
Questions related to the Character of Bassett
Q1. How does Bassett become a companion of Paul?
Q2. Describe Bassett’s character.
Character Sketch of Miss Wilmot (the nursery governess)
She offers an outside view of Paul’s unusual actions, noting his constant riding of the rocking horse and her confusion about him.
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Questions related to the Character of Miss Wilmot
Q1. How does Mrs Wilmot react to Paul’s behaviour?