Characters
The main character in Carrie, known for her telekinetic powers.
Who is Carrie White?
The fictional town where all the events of the story take place.
What is Chamberlain, Maine?
Symbolizes the trauma and violence of Carrie's upbringing, and the present trauma she faces because of it.
What is blood?
The psychological and emotional effects of traumatic events that are passed down from one generation to the next; the passing of Margaret White's trauma to her daughter, Carrie.
What is generational trauma?
At the prom when a bucket of pig's blood is dumped on Carrie. Humiliated and enraged, she uses her telekinetic powers to kill many of her classmates and teachers and burns down the school.
What is the climax of the novel?
One of the girls who bullied Carrie in the locker room, but feels remorse for her actions.
Who is Sue Snell?
Carrie's high school.
What is Ewen High School?
Symbolizes Carrie's independence.
What is the sewing machine?
The worship of a God/gods. Used by Carrie's mother, Margaret, to control her.
What is religion?
After the destruction at prom, Carrie goes home, kills her mother in self-defense, and eventually dies from injuries inflicted by her mother.
What is the ending of the novel?
Sue Snell's boyfriend; goes to the prom with Carrie because Sue feels bad for how she treated Carrie.
Who is Tommy Ross?
Where Billy and his friends go to kill the pigs for their blood.
What is old man Henty's farm?
Symbolizes Carrie's dread at the passage of time.
What is the black forest cuckoo clock?
What is bullying/ostracization?
When Carrie is severely bullied by her peers in the girls locker/shower room.
What is the event that triggers the growth of Carrie's telekinetic powers?
The couple came up with the "prank" to pour pig's blood on Carrie as she was being crowned Prom Queen.
Who are Chris Hargenson and Billy Nolan?
Described as, "a combination grocery, soda fountain, and gas station," and is a common hangout among high school kids.
What is Kelly's?
Used to symbolize the dehumanization of the characters (specifically the women) in the book.
What are animals?
Regularly treating someone with cruelty and violence; what Carrie's mother does to her.
What is abuse?
Chris and the other girls who were bullying Carrie in the locker room get caught by their gym teacher, Ms. Desjardin, and she gives them detention.
What is the event that makes Chris decide she's going to "prank" Carrie.
Carrie White's mother.
Who is Margaret White?
Where the prom takes place.
What is the Ewen High School gymnasium?
Symbolizes Carrie's suppressed rage/emotions.
What is telekinesis?
Although Carrie's power of telekinesis gave her physical power against her peers, it makes her even more of an outcast which reduces her social power.
What is the duality of power?
Multiple narrators and a collection of reports in chronological order; how the narrative in the novel is organized.
What is an epistolary novel?