Characters and emerging motifs

Characters and emerging motifsEast of Eden Part 1

Stuff you should know Six methods of characterization You should six headings for taking notes today Label your notes “Methods of

Characterization” When you are ready raise your hand

Characterization 1. Physical appearance

Characterization 2. Character’s actions

Characterization 3. Character’s own words

Characterization4. What others say about the character

Characterization 5. Character’s innermost thoughts and dreams

Characterization 6. What the author tells us about personal

history or background (exposition)

Written Response1. Look over your notes – list the ways that in

“real life” situations we learn about people

2. Which methods are impossible to know about “real life” people?

3. How is knowing this helpful for understanding characterization in literature?

East of Eden CharactersThe Hamiltons from Ireland

Now let’s look at the families The book is primarily about two families One from the East One from the West

Notes on the families In your notes or on lined paper make t-graph

On the left side write EAST and on the right side write WEST

You will have many more characters listed on the West sided

Characters

East - Trasks West - Hamiltons

The Trasks of Connecticut Cyrus Trask Mrs. Trask

Adam Trask

Alice Trask Charles Trask

Adam is older than Charles Adam and Charles are half brothers.

West-Hamiltons

Hamiltons from Ireland Liza Hamilton Samuel Hamilton

Hamilton Children1. Lizzie2. George3. Tom4. Dessie5. Euna (Una)6. Olive (author’s mother)

7. Mollie8. Will9. Joseph

Steinbecks Olive

Esther Elizabeth John Mary

Ernest Steinbeck

What about motifWatch the following to see if any evolve to a symbol

SmilesWhat do different smiles and different characters

indicate?

Gift-giving

Snake

The color red

The oak trees

Tension of opposites Good and evil

East and West

The mountains

Now you know Look for these things as you continue to read

the novel.