# Phil. R. Toll explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

A brief poetic vignette about Phil. R. Toll, a lumberman from Kansas City, Missouri, who is overheard musing about which of his many luxury cars he will drive that day.

## Themes in this chapter

### Money and Materialism

The chapter highlights material wealth and status through the listing of multiple luxury cars owned by Phil. R. Toll.

## Character check-ins

### Phil R. Toll

The subject of the chapter, a lumberman from Kansas City, Mo., who owns multiple luxury automobiles.

## Key lines

> I wonder, which car I'll drive down in today, The Packard, the Jackson, The Marmon, the Saxon, Or my new Minerva coupe.

Phil. R. Toll is deciding which of his several high-end cars to take out for the day.

_This line captures the character's wealth and the casual luxury of his daily routine._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/phil-r-toll
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters