Stephen Chbosky Biography | List of Works, Study Guides & Essays | GradeSaver

Chapter 1 page

August 25, 1991 - September 29, 1991

Enclose=place (something) in an envelope together with a letter

Counselor=a person trained to give guidance on personal or psychological problems

Differentiate = to find or find the difference between things that are compared

Corpulent = (of a person) fat

Pragmatic = dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations

Draped = arrange (cloth or clothing) loosely or casually on or round something

Incidentally = used to add a further comment or a remark unconnected to the current subject; by the way

Quote - " I keep quiet most of the time, and only one kid named Sean really seemed to notice me."

This chapters main point is about showing Charlies childhood life and his relationship with his family and friends. Charlie loses his best friend from suicide and it emotionally breaks him. He is very emotional and introverted. Charlie got into a fight, with Sean, won the fight and cried about it. The only people he talks to is his parents, teacher Bill, his sister and sometimes his brother.

Charlie meets Patrick and Sam in a football match, makes friends with them and then falls in love with the brown hair and green eyes which Sam has. Charlie also has family problems with his dad and sister relationship which leaded to a family argument. After some weeks Charlie goes again to a highschool football match where he gets invited to his first ever party. While at the party he made new friends but also ate a "brownie' which was with drugs.

Quote "Charlie, we accept the love we think we deserve."

New words

Chain-smoke = moke continually, typically by lighting a cigarette from the stub of the last one smoked.

Stern = strict and severe.

Sob = an act of crying

Bleachers = a cheap sports bench at sports ground

Smug = self-satisfied

Stoned = under the influence of drugs

Buried = covered up/ hidden

Quote = "I don’t know what’s wrong with me, but I’m starting to get scared"

New words

Fanzine = a magazine produced by amateurs

Fraternity = mutual support in a group

Rugged = rough handling

Inning = each division of a game during which both sides have a turn at batting

Slacks = a pair of trousers

Luminaria = festival lights

Coax = arrange carefully

Charlie finally feels happy in his life and gets to know Patrick better. Charlie admits to himself that he is in love with Sam after all that time spent togheter. Then the winter comes and he gets along with his family and shares his childhood and nowdays problems. He had a Thanksgiving togheter with his relatives.

Then the winter came, where Charlie participated in a Secret Santa gift exchange with friends. He needed to give a gift to Patrick and he made an album cover by himself and Patrick loved it. Later on he went to Patricks and Sams house and greeted the parents. While at a friends meet up Charlie gave a gift to Sam and she whispered to him "I Love You", them Sam gifted a Charlie a gift, a typewriter, the words he wrote was "I Love You too" and then Charlie made love for the first time ever. Then the winter came, Christmas and Charlies birthday. which got ruined by parents and their arguments.

Then another argument broke out with his siblings which almost lead to deadly car crash. Then came the New Years Eve.

Charlie took a drug amed LSD on new years eve and got very sick and ended up in a hospital.

His friends found him, took care of him, because he thought he got a bad trip but everything ended fine, but as a affect charlie started smoking.

Then he gets along with his best friends and starts talking about childhood problems. Charlie meets new people and makes happy memories with them while playing a role in a theatre. He got invited to a date with a girl(Mary Elizabeth). But he wanted to go with Sam because hes deeply in love with her.

Charlie learns that his sister maybe is pregnant at 18 years but it is a false alarm. And they finally got along after they calmed each other after a emotional breakdown.

He went on a another date with Mary and got to know each one better.

But as time went on Charlie got tired of his girlfriend.

Then the biggest plot twist happened, Charlie with friends was playing a drinking game, truth or dare, Patrick gave him a dare, to kiss the prettiest girl in the room on the lips, Charlie kissed Sam. Then ofcourse Charlie and Marys relationship ended. Charlie just wants to know whats wrong with him.

Quote - " I would die for you. But i won't live for you"

New words

Hopscotch - travel from place to place

Egging - incourage someone doing somethng foolish or risky

Eerie - strange or frightening

Opinionated - charactized by conceited assertivness and dogmatism

Thespian - a fancy word for actor

Valedictorian - a student who delivers the valedictory at a graduation ceremony

Primping - spend time making minor adjustments to one's hair , make-up or clothes.

Charlie meets up with old friends and family members but gets rejected, they don't wanna spend time with him. His friend Patrick got into a relationship problem and is mentally unstable, so he starts a fight in school when he got called a " Faggot". Charlie joined in to help protect his friend and won the fight. He gets along with Patrick really well since that fight which broke down. They exchanged stories, memories and got drunk togheter on a golf course. Then Patrick drove Charlie home, they hugged tigheter then ussualy and all of the sudden Patrick gave Charlie a real kiss, and was instanly sorry. But Charlie forgaved him, because thats whats friends are for, to help each other with though times. Then in school Charlie starts overthinking about his life, future and about how teachers are also humans with feelings.

Charlie celebrates his last day of school with Sam and Patrick, having a blast. But then its prom night, the school halls feels diffrent, its no longer the same as it was, everything is changing. Then he talked with teacher Bill, who gave him books to read and they talked about life, how it was a pleasure teaching Charlie. How smart and special Charlie is. Bill will always be waiting for Charlie if he needs anything.

After the last buss ride from school, Charlie met his brother finally at home after a long time. They had a special big brunch with his family and relatives. Then at the brunch Charlie got a call from Sam, that they should meet up, Charlie went to meet her when he could and when he did Sam led Charlie to the dance floor and started dancing and talking about how they were looking for each other. Then they went to a party and talked about future, how they are scared of it. They had a deep talk about life and what has happened and then they kissed but Charlie got scared what will happen next and they stopped. Because he loves Sam and does not want to hurt her. He stayed the night at Sams house, ate breakfest and it was time to say goodbye to her, but Sam hugged Charlie diffrently then others, it was a deep meaningful hug. Then Charlie could not handle this and started feeling bad and felt something was wrong with him once again, he felt lost.