Tom Brown’s School Days · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Tom Brown’s School Days by Thomas Hughes.
Tom Brown
major
Also known as Tom, Master Tom, Brown, young Brown, Thomas
The protagonist, a hearty and athletic boy at Rugby School who grows in character and faith.
George Arthur
major
Also known as Arthur, little Arthur, Poor little Arthur, Geordie
A delicate, pious new boy whom Tom befriends and protects, deeply influencing Tom's moral growth.
Harry East
supporting
Also known as East, Harry, young Master East, little East
Tom's close friend and schoolmate, a spirited and loyal boy who later becomes a praepostor.
Dr. Arnold
supporting
Also known as the Doctor, The Doctor
The revered headmaster of Rugby School, a moral and intellectual force shaping the boys.
Flashman
supporting
Also known as Flashman, that blackguard Flashman, that bully Flashman, poor Flashman, Flashey
A brutal bully and antagonist at Rugby who torments younger boys until he is expelled.
Brooke
supporting
Also known as old Brooke, Old Brooke, young Brooke, Young Brooke, old Pater Brooke, Pater Brooke
A respected older student and leader of the Schoolhouse, admired by Tom and East.
Martin
supporting
Also known as The aforesaid Martin, Poor Martin
A quirky, kind-hearted boy with a passion for birds and natural history.
Squire Brown
minor
Also known as The Squire, Squire, the Squire, Brown
Tom's father, a wise and affectionate country gentleman who sends Tom to Rugby.
Benjamin
minor
Also known as old Benjy, Benjy, Mr. Benjamin, Poor old Benjy
An old family servant of the Browns, devoted and fond of Tom.
Slogger Williams
minor
Also known as Williams, The Slogger, the Slogger, Slogger
A strong but slow-witted boy who becomes a bully and later a friend after a fight.
Diggs
minor
Also known as Poor Diggs, old Diggs, Poor old Diggs, the relentless Diggs
An older student known for his relentless teasing and practical jokes.
Willum Smith
minor
Also known as Willum, Willum Smith
A local village boy who interacts with the Rugby students.
Jack Raggles
minor
Also known as Jack, Little dirty Jack, dirty Jack, Raggles, Meantime Jack Raggles
A rough village boy who becomes a runner and later a soldier.
Crab Jones
minor
Also known as Crab Jones, Crab, Trust Crab Jones, Jones, old Jones
A sly and manipulative schoolboy known for his cunning.
Joe Willis
minor
Also known as Joe, Joseph
A schoolboy and friend of Tom, involved in various scrapes.
Harry Winburn
minor
Also known as Harry, Luckily Harry, Harrison
A local boy from the veast (village feast) who interacts with Tom.
Sally Harrowell
minor
Also known as Sally, Harrowell
A village girl at the feast who briefly interacts with Tom.
Charity Lamb
minor
Also known as Charity
A servant or village woman mentioned in passing.
Scud
minor
Also known as old Scud
A horse or dog owned by a character, briefly mentioned.
Tadpole
minor
Also known as the Tadpole
A nickname for a small schoolboy.
Johnson
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Stumps
minor
A schoolboy with a nickname, part of the Rugby crowd.
Old Velveteens
minor
Also known as Velveteens
A local gamekeeper or countryman encountered by the boys.
Mary
minor
Also known as Molly, Bell
A female servant or relative briefly mentioned.
Farmer Ives
minor
Also known as old Farmer Ives
A local farmer who appears at the village feast.
Jacob Doodle
minor
Also known as Jacob, Poor Jacob Doodle - calf, Poor Jacob
A simple-minded village boy who causes amusement at the school.
Thompson
minor
Also known as Farmer Thompson
A local farmer mentioned in the narrative.
John Jones
minor
Also known as John, ride old John, John Jones, Jones the praepostor
A praepostor (prefect) at Rugby School.
Bill Taylor
minor
Also known as Bill, Billy Taylor
A village boy or servant mentioned briefly.
Mrs. Brown
minor
Also known as Madam Brown
Tom's mother, a gentle and caring presence at home.
Warner
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Old Madman
minor
Also known as The Madman, The old Madman, old Madman, Madman, the old Madman, the Madman
A local eccentric or madman encountered by the boys.
Job Rudkin
minor
Also known as Job
A village character mentioned in passing.
Snooks
minor
A schoolboy with a nickname, part of the Rugby crowd.
Thomas Ingoldsby
minor
Also known as little Tom, Tom
A minor character or allusion, possibly a younger boy.
Cunning Joe
minor
Also known as Joe
A sly village boy or servant.
Bob
minor
Also known as Cherry Bob
A village boy or servant mentioned briefly.
Hall
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Harkaway
minor
A schoolboy with a nickname, part of the Rugby crowd.
Rattle
minor
A schoolboy with a nickname, part of the Rugby crowd.
Old Momus
minor
A nickname for a critical or mocking character.
Mr. Aislabie
minor
Also known as old Mr. Aislabie
A local gentleman or parent mentioned in the narrative.
Mrs. Arnold
minor
Also known as Arnold
The wife of Dr. Arnold, briefly mentioned.
Rowe
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Gower
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Keeper
minor
A dog or animal mentioned in the story.
Jem
minor
Also known as James
A servant or village boy mentioned briefly.
Noah Crooke
minor
Also known as Noah, Poor old Noah
A village character mentioned in passing.
Sukey
minor
A female servant or village woman.
Rachel
minor
A female servant or village woman.
Old Blowhard
minor
Also known as Old Blowhard
A nickname for a boastful or loud character.
Mentor
minor
A classical allusion used as a nickname for a guide.
Walker
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Bogle
minor
A schoolboy with a nickname, part of the Rugby crowd.
Caldecott
minor
Also known as old Caldecott
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Groove
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Jacob Dodson
minor
Also known as Jacob
A village character mentioned in passing.
Hedge
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Crew
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Osbert
minor
Also known as Herbert
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Gray
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Lowell
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Morgan
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Rimmon
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Poor Charley
minor
Also known as Charles
A minor character, possibly a younger boy.
Bill Smith
minor
Also known as Smith, Bill
A village boy or servant mentioned briefly.
Old Dobbin
minor
Also known as Dobbin
A horse mentioned in the story.
Griffith
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Mrs. Porter
minor
Also known as Porter
A woman mentioned in the narrative, possibly a landlady.
Young Green
minor
Also known as Green, Master Green
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
Gradus
minor
A schoolboy with a nickname, part of the Rugby crowd.
Winter
minor
A schoolboy mentioned among the Rugby students.
