Character guide

Moses

major

Central figure in biblical poems, leading the Israelites from bondage.

Noah

major

Also known as Old Man Noah, Old Noah, Man

Righteous man who builds the ark to survive the great flood.

Pharaoh

supporting

Also known as Poor Old Pharaoh, Old Pharaoh

Oppressive ruler of Egypt who refuses to free the Israelites.

Jesus

major

Central figure in the crucifixion and judgment poems.

Satan

supporting

Also known as Old Satan

Adversary figure appearing in biblical and judgment poems.

Death

supporting

Also known as bony Death, Old Death

Personified figure of death in the poem Go Down Death.

Sister Caroline

supporting

A devout woman mourned in the poem Go Down Death.

Sam

minor

Also known as Sam den, Wen Sam, Wen dat darky riz

A plantation character in dialect poems.

Adam

supporting

First man created by God in the poem The Creation.

Gabriel

minor

Angel who blows the trumpet on Judgment Day.

Deacon Brown

minor

Ghostly deacon appearing in a humorous poem.

De Little Pickaninny

minor

Also known as De little pickaninny

A sleeping child in a dialect lullaby poem.

Lize

minor

Also known as Miss Lize

A woman addressed in plantation dialect poems.

Mother

minor

Also known as The Young Warrior Mother

Mother of the young warrior in a poem of loss.

Brudder Possum

minor

Also known as Brudder

A possum character in a dialect animal poem.

Eve

minor

First woman created from Adam's rib in The Creation.

Lawd

minor

God addressed in dialect prayer poems.

Brer Rabbit

minor

Trickster rabbit character in a dialect poem.

Bird

minor

A bird addressed in a dialect poem.

Miss Liza

minor

Also known as Liza

A woman mentioned in plantation dialect poems.

Venus

minor

Goddess of love appearing in a classical poem.

black-hearted Judas

minor

Betrayer of Jesus mentioned in the crucifixion poem.

Great Pilate

minor

Also known as Pilate

Roman governor who condemns Jesus to crucifixion.

Mary

minor

Mother of Jesus present at the crucifixion.

Father Abraham

minor

Also known as Father

Biblical patriarch addressed in a poem.

The Temptress Old Devil

minor

Also known as Old Devil

Temptation figure in a poem.

Brer Wolf

minor

Also known as Brer Fox

Predator animal in a dialect poem.

Brer Lion

minor

Lion character in a dialect animal poem.

Simon

minor

Also known as Black Simon

A character in a biblical poem.

Daddy

minor

Father figure in a dialect poem.

Ole Eph

minor

Also known as Ole moon, Eph

A character in a dialect poem.