There could be a young adventurer in the stories. This character might be drawn to the old forest out of curiosity. Maybe there's also an old hermit who has been living in the forest for a long time and has a lot of knowledge about the place and its secrets. The young adventurer could interact with the hermit and learn from him.
Perhaps there's a family living near the old forest. The parents and their children could be main characters. They might have different relationships with the forest. For example, the father could be a bit wary of it, while the children are more fascinated. And there could be a local storyteller who tells tales about the old forest, and this person could also be an important character in the stories as they pass on the knowledge and legends related to the forest.
Since I haven't read 'The Forest of Time and Other Stories' thoroughly, it's hard to say exactly. However, based on the title, there might be characters who are on a journey through the forest of time. They could be ordinary people at first, but as they enter this special forest, they might develop unique qualities or roles. There could also be some sort of guardians or inhabitants of the forest that play important parts in the stories.
The main themes in 'The Old Forest and Other Stories' may include the power of place. The old forest, as a specific place, has a certain power over the characters. It could influence their actions, decisions, and emotions. Additionally, family and community could be themes. The stories might explore how families and communities are affected by the events that take place in the old forest or other locations in the stories.
I'm not sure without reading it, but likely it includes leaders or prominent figures within the old left movement.
Obviously, the old man is one of the main characters. But there may be others like his family members, friends, or neighbors who play important roles in the stories.
He uses it to create an atmosphere. The old forest gives a sense of mystery and a bit of spookiness.
It might be the family members who have a special connection to the couch. Maybe an old grandfather who always sat on it to tell stories to the grandchildren, or a mother who used to sew while sitting on the couch. These could be the main characters whose lives are intertwined with the couch.
Well, in 'The Old Forest and Other Stories' by Peter Taylor, a significant theme is likely the sense of place. The old forest is not just a backdrop but a character in itself. It shapes the characters' identities and their experiences. Also, the theme of change over time might be present. As the characters move through the forest, they might experience personal growth or a realization of how things have changed in their lives or in the world around them.
Thomas is of course central. He's always getting into little adventures. Percy is another important character. He's often seen with Thomas, sometimes getting into mischief together. Then there are the other engines on the railway. Each has its own personality. For example, there might be an older engine that imparts wisdom to Thomas from time to time. And as I said before, the Fat Controller is an important figure in the stories as he manages everything.
Obviously, old mother west wind is one of the main characters. As for the other stories, we don't have enough information to say for sure who the main characters are, but they could be the ones that interact with old mother west wind.
Dora is surely one of the main characters in the Dora Dark Forest Stories. Additionally, there might be some antagonist characters, perhaps a mean goblin or a tricky witch who tries to stop Dora from achieving her goals in the forest. And of course, there could be some helpful characters too, like a magical fairy that gives Dora advice or a strong deer that helps her cross a river.