An 85-year-old retired classics teacher at the fictional Brookfield public school. Having taught there for nearly half a century, he has become a beloved eccentric institution. Though initially a strict and uninspired pedagogue, his personality blossoms over time into something much warmer. He measures his days by the school bells and delights in hosting new generations of students for afternoon tea.

A 25-year-old former governess and a self-described "New Woman" who reads Ibsen and champions progressive politics. Despite their age gap and differing worldviews, she falls in love with the mild-mannered schoolteacher. Her lively and compassionate nature profoundly changes her husband, softening his strictness and helping him connect emotionally with his students.

A 37-year-old ambitious and ruthless headmaster focused on raising Brookfield's profile and endowment. Glittering with academic accolades, he seeks to modernize the school by catering to wealthy nouveau-riche families and updating the curriculum. He views older traditions and the teachers who uphold them as obsolete obstacles to progress.

The former linen-room maid at Brookfield who now serves as Mr. Chipping's landlady. She shares his deep connection to the school, measuring her own day by its bells. She regularly assists him in hosting his tea parties for the boys.

The headmaster of Brookfield during its mid-19th-century renaissance. He is a practical administrator who advises his new teachers to establish strict discipline from their very first day to maintain order among the student body.

A headmaster at Brookfield who maintains the school's traditional atmosphere following Wetherby's tenure. He oversees the school during Mr. Chipping's middle years of teaching.

A former student of Mr. Chipping who has risen to become an aristocrat and the chairman of Brookfield's Board of Governors. He represents the traditional "old-boy" network and values the school's historical character over sweeping modernizations.

The German master at Brookfield and a personal friend of Mr. Chipping. He is a colleague who shares a camaraderie with his fellow teachers during times of peace, representing the school's international connections before global conflicts arise.

A proud headmaster struggling to manage a shorthanded school while privately coping with diabetes. Facing a shortage of qualified masters and a need to boost school morale, he relies on the beloved older staff to maintain Brookfield's stability.

Mr. Chipping's cheerful and attentive physician. He regularly visits Mrs. Wickett's house to monitor his elderly patient's health, often joking about his hardiness while quietly keeping an eye on his frailties.

A small, nervous first-year boy at Brookfield who falls victim to a mild practical joke by older students. He represents the continuous, renewing cycle of Brookfield students seeking comfort in their unfamiliar new surroundings.

A later headmaster of Brookfield who oversees the school during Mr. Chipping's final days. He recognizes the profound impact the retired master has had on generations of Brookfield boys.

A former Brookfield student remembered as reckless but fundamentally decent. He exemplifies the energetic and memorable boys who pass through Mr. Chipping's classroom.

The science master at Brookfield, representing the newer generation of staff members who work alongside the school's established traditions.

The Head of School House at Brookfield. Eager and uncomprehending of the true horrors of global conflict, he represents the youthful, patriotic enthusiasm of the student body.