The Chocolate War

Key Facts

full title ·  The Chocolate War

author ·  Robert Cormier

type of work ·  Novel

genre ·  Young adult, Fiction

language ·  English

time and place written ·  Written in 1974 in Leominster, Massachusetts

date of first publication ·  1974

publisher ·  Dell Laurel-Leaf

narrator ·  There is a third person narrator.

point of view ·  The point of view is from a third person omniscient narrator who skips from character to character, revealing a number of characters' thoughts and actions.

tone ·  The tone in the book is largely serious and very perceptive. While Jerry is the protagonist, we get into the minds of other characters as well. The tone during passages about Brother Leon and Archie becomes sarcastic and pessimistic. The tone at the ending is dismal and hopeless.

tense ·  Past tense

setting (time) ·  It is unclear, only to say that it is a relatively modern time period

setting (place) ·  Trinity school (an all-boys school), with a few scenes at Jerry's home.

protagonist ·  Jerry Renault

major conflict ·  Jerry's refusal to sell chocolates at the school chocolate sale.

rising action ·  Jerry's refusal after the first ten days and The Vigils' subsequent punishment of that choice.

climax ·  The assembly at which Jerry fights Emile Janza for the chance to get back at everyone who has punished him for his decision not to sell the chocolates.

falling action ·  The ending of the boxing match and Jerry's subsequent realization that it is not worth it to disturb the universe.

themes ·  Disturbing the universe; psychological warfare; the power of fear; manipulation; nonconformity; perversion; corruptness.

motifs · Assignments; football; roll call

symbols · Jerry's poster; the chocolates; Room nineteen

foreshadowing · The Goober's disintegration after carrying out his assignment, the beatings Jerry takes during and after football practice, Jerry looking at his poster and pondering the meaning of it.