ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE LARRY

Question 1

list them

Answer 1

Enigmatic – Larry is mysterious and hard to truly understand. Even when we know what he’s done, he remains unreadable. His charm, success, and eventual disgrace make him a puzzle: a man who can inspire and destroy in equal measure.

Charismatic – He naturally draws people in, especially children and teens like Nicole and Francis, with his charm and energy.
“He was our hero.”

Talented – Larry is skilled in multiple areas — dancing, performing, and teaching — making him a respected figure in the community.

Respected – At the start, Larry is admired for revitalising the rec centre and being a role model for young people.

Manipulative – He uses his charm and authority to gain trust and later to abuse it, particularly in grooming Nicole.

Predatory – Behind his friendly facade, he hides darker intentions. He targets Nicole when she’s vulnerable and isolated.

Deceptive – Larry hides his true character behind a mask of goodness, making his betrayal more shocking.

Heroic (ironically) – He is celebrated as a war hero and youth leader, but the novel questions what a hero really is.

Dishonest – He lies not just through words but by pretending to be something he’s not — a trustworthy adult figure.

Dangerous – Larry holds power over young people and abuses that power in devastating ways.

Cowardly – Despite his confident exterior, he avoids responsibility for what he’s done and seeks death instead of redemption.

Complex – He’s not a one-dimensional villain — Cormier shows how someone admired can also be deeply flawed.

Contradictory – Larry is both protector and predator, teacher and abuser, hero and disgrace.

Charming – His friendliness and charisma win people over easily, including Nicole and the town’s adults.

Disgraced – By the end of the novel, he has gone from local hero to fallen idol.

Corrupt – He abuses his influence and crosses moral lines without remorse.

Selfish – His final act — asking Francis to kill him — is not redemption, but a way of escaping guilt and consequences.

Tragic (debated) – Some readers see him as a fallen man destroyed by his own flaws, though his actions make sympathy difficult.