A Critical Analysis Of Holling Hoodhood

381 Words2 Pages
Holling Hoodhood is a seventh grader in 1967. In his school, the student body is largely divided between Catholics and Jews, and every Wednesday both groups go to their separate churches for religious classes. Holling, a Presbyterian, is forced to remain at class with his teacher, Mrs. Baker.

Initially, Holling is convinced that Mrs. Baker resents him for this. This suspicion is compounded when she begins having him read Shakespeare. As he begins to enjoy the plays, though, he also begins to understand Mrs. Baker—whose husband, he learns, is stationed in Vietnam.

The story 's main focus is Holling 's struggle to get out from his overbearing father 's shadow. Mr. Hoodhood is an arrogant, cutthroat architect who is determined that Holling