The Winter Room

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses animal cruelty, death, and child death. 

Eldon is the protagonist and first-person narrator of the story, whose point of view dominates the narrative. Eldon is an 11-year-old boy living with his family on a farm in northern Minnesota in the early 20th century. His family is of Norwegian ancestry, and Eldon is a third-generation immigrant. He shares a strong bond with his older brother, Wayne, who is also his best friend. Like Wayne, Eldon goes to school, but his life mainly revolves around the family farm. When he was smaller, Eldon had a sickness that weakened him, with persistent coughing and blood spitting. For this reason, his parents excuse him from hard work, and Wayne assumes more responsibilities, but that does not stop him from being playful. Still, Eldon participates in several tasks around the farm, learning early on the harshness of farming life, the value of self-sufficiency, and the intricate relationships between people and nature. 

Eldon’s bond with Wayne is a crucial part of his character development. Eldon spends more of his free time thinking about the natural world and observing its changes, often being more emotional and dreamier than Wayne.