Setting The book The Chocolate War was located at Trinity High School for boys in a small city.
Characterization: Jerry Renault Jerry is a fourteen-year-old boy who is a freshman at Trinity High School. He recently lost his mother. Jerry is 5"9 and a quarterback on the freshman team.
Archie Costello. Archie is a boy that has way too much power and uses it to his advantage. He belongs to The Vigils, a club that is "secret". He is the person that gives other guys cruel assignments. His best friend is Obie.
Brother Leon. Brother Leon is a teacher at Trinity High School. He freaks out almost all of the students. He is a good friend of Archie.
Emile Janza. Emile Janza is a boxer who beats up on anyone he feels like. He is a member of the Vigils.
Conflict: Jerry Renault refused to sell chocolates for an annual Trinity High School fundraiser.
Plot: Jerry tries out for quarterback on the football team and doesn't do very well. The coach tells him that he is making the team only because he gets back up after he gets sacked.
Meanwhile, Archie and Obie are sitting on the bleachers discussing what ten guys will be chosen to do assignments. Obie is the secretary for Archie and the Vigils. He chooses Roland Goubert (also known as Goober) and Jerry Renault, who lost his mom last spring from cancer. He gives Jerry the "chocolates" assignment.
On the way home from the bus, he sees hippies and stares but doesn't realize it. The hippies ask Jerry why he is wasting his life away going to school.
Archie is called to brother Leon's office unexpectedly. Archie and Brother Leon talk about an upcoming chocolate sale. Leon tells Archie that this year, instead of selling 10,000 boxes, Trinity High School will be selling 20,000. Leon tells Archie that if each student sells fifty boxes, the school will make a huge profit. .
After a long conversation with Leon about what the sale could do for the school, Leon asks for Archie's and the Vigil's help.