logo

64 pages 2 hours read

The Indian in the Cupboard

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1980

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Character Analysis

Omri

Alongside Little Bear, Omri is one of the story’s two main protagonists. He is the youngest of three sons. A magical cupboard that he receives on his birthday converts plastic toy figures into real people, and Omri must struggle between his fascination for his newfound tiny friend Little Bear and his growing sense of responsibility to protect, and not exploit, the power of the cupboard. Compared to his friend Patrick, Omri shows uncommon maturity with regard to the cupboard’s magical properties. At the end of the novel, he even relinquishes the magical key to his mother to mitigate the potential of abusing its power. Omri’s story teaches readers that compassion and respect are hard to achieve but much more satisfying than simplistic, one-dimensional amusements.

Little Bear

An Iroquois chief’s son by birth and a leading warrior in his mid-1700s community, Little Bear is transported magically into Omri’s cupboard, where he embodies a small toy figurine and must work with Omri to obtain food and shelter. A bit conceited but extremely smart, courageous, and fair-minded, Little Bear’s personality fills Omri’s world with a new and different outlook and attitude.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 64 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,600+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools