Characterisation

The most important character in the short story “Sports Leader” by Jane Rogers is the unnamed boy. The other characters are relevant for the way they see the main character.

The boy is the main character in the short story. The fact that he is not named and is only called ‘the boy’ suggests that, although he is a teenager, he is still viewed as a child by the other characters. Furthermore, this helps emphasise the idea that the other characters do not know him; they don’t know his dreams and hopes and what he wants to do in life.

Outer characterisation

The boy’s outer characterisation reveals that he is a teenager who did not get into college and who lives with a foster mother. This implies that his parents either died or left him. We also find out that he begins to work as a window cleaner: “The window cleaner took on his new boy as a favour to Gary, who was after the boy’s foster mum. It was almost November. The boy was sixteen and he hadn’t passed any exams...” (ll. 1-3)

Another aspect about his outer characterisation is that he is now overweight,  but he used to be fit when he lived with his parents: “He was going to get back to being fit like when he lived with his mum and dad. Fastest runner in his class, he was, in Juniors.” (ll. 79-80)

Inner characterisation

The boy’s inner characterisation is conveyed directly, through other characters’ perspective on him, and indirectly through the boy’s actions, attitude, and thoughts.

The fact that he did not pass his exams suggests that he is not very intelligent or perhaps unwilling to work. This is also the boy’s opinion of himself but only when it comes to maths: “He had to take his time over the change because his maths wasn’t great, and sometimes they snapped at him.” (ll. 55-56)

However, he cannot understand why he did not go to college, although the reason is obvious—he failed his exams.

The boy likes watching television and dreams of a time when he will get in shape and become a sports coach. However, his foster mother considers him lazy for watching TV and for being unable to find a job: “He’d spent September and October trailing about not finding a job, and Eileen was sick of him parked in front of the telly. She didn’t want him thinking the world owed him a living.” (ll. 4-6)

The fact that he is easily persuaded that the window cleaner job is good for him, and the fact the he likes his employer despite Phil offending ...