Demon Copperhead

by

Barbara Kingsolver

Mr. Armstrong Character Analysis

Mr. Armstrong is an English teacher at Demon’s middle school. He recognizes that Demon is a strong student and recommends him to the gifted and talented program. He is known as a truth-teller at the school and as someone who is almost impossible to dislike. Mr. Armstrong also arranges for Demon to study art at the high school with his wife, Ms. Annie. Ms. Annie and Mr. Armstrong face racism and prejudice as people spread rumors about them because Ms. Annie is white and Mr. Armstrong is Black.
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Mr. Armstrong Character Timeline in Demon Copperhead

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. Armstrong appears in Demon Copperhead. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 30
Class, Social Hierarchy, and Stereotypes Theme Icon
Community and Belonging Theme Icon
...because he’s behind in school, and he’s also sent to meet with the guidance counselor, Mr. Armstrong . When Mr. Armstrong first meets with Demon, he tells Demon that he’s read Demon’s... (full context)
Chapter 33
Exploitation Theme Icon
Class, Social Hierarchy, and Stereotypes Theme Icon
Community and Belonging Theme Icon
Mr. Armstrong is a seventh and eighth grade English teacher, but he substitute teaches for Demon’s sixth... (full context)
Chapter 34
Exploitation Theme Icon
Pain and Addiction Theme Icon
Toxic Masculinity Theme Icon
...passed out in his office. Coach drinks more in the off season. Demon also has Mr. Armstrong as a teacher this year. He’s strict about grammar and teaches the class about stereotypes... (full context)
Exploitation Theme Icon
Class, Social Hierarchy, and Stereotypes Theme Icon
Community and Belonging Theme Icon
...flag and a United States flag flying from the back drives by the school when Mr. Armstrong is outside. Later, he tells his class, “The Confederacy and the United States were opposite... (full context)
Class, Social Hierarchy, and Stereotypes Theme Icon
Community and Belonging Theme Icon
...team. When the school board rejects her plan, she only grows more determined. She enlists Mr. Armstrong to help, but even with him in her corner, she still struggles to get the... (full context)
Chapter 35
Exploitation Theme Icon
Class, Social Hierarchy, and Stereotypes Theme Icon
Community and Belonging Theme Icon
In the family history project for Mr. Armstrong , Demon learns that almost everyone in his family has some connection to the coal... (full context)
Exploitation Theme Icon
Class, Social Hierarchy, and Stereotypes Theme Icon
Pain and Addiction Theme Icon
Community and Belonging Theme Icon
...the mines now that coal companies traded humans for machines and laid off workers. After Mr. Armstrong points out that there’s no work in the area because the coal companies ensured that... (full context)
Chapter 50
Exploitation Theme Icon
Community and Belonging Theme Icon
...spreading rumors that the art teacher, Ms. Annie, has been having sex with someone behind Mr. Armstrong ’s back—and that if people want proof, they should ask Demon, who saw it happen.... (full context)
Chapter 51
Pain and Addiction Theme Icon
Community and Belonging Theme Icon
...same time, Demon gets fired from Sonic. He goes to dinner at Ms. Annie and Mr. Armstrong ’s house because he wants to talk to Ms. Annie about the contract at the... (full context)