Writing a Character Writing a Character Analysis EssayAnalysis Essay

Literary Analysis for Pre AP Literary Analysis for Pre AP English 10English 10

CharacterizationCharacterization

Authors reveal character through either Authors reveal character through either “direct”“direct” or or “indirect”“indirect” characterization. characterization.

Direct Characterization-Direct Characterization- The author comes The author comes right out and describes a character’s right out and describes a character’s personality. The mother was judgmental. personality. The mother was judgmental. The employee was lazy. The actor was The employee was lazy. The actor was self-centered.self-centered.

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men by John Steinbeck- “Curly by John Steinbeck- “Curly was quick and mean.”was quick and mean.”

Indirect Characterization-Indirect Characterization- the writer reveals the writer reveals information about a character and his information about a character and his personality through that character's personality through that character's thoughts, words, and actions, along with how thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters respond to that character, other characters respond to that character, including what they think and say about him.including what they think and say about him.

STAR- “Says, Thinks, Acts, Reacts”STAR- “Says, Thinks, Acts, Reacts”Think “show” rather than “tell”!Think “show” rather than “tell”!

TerminologyTerminology

Foil-Foil- characters who highlight the characters who highlight the character traits of major characters. The character traits of major characters. The foil may be an foil may be an oppositeopposite of the major of the major character, so the major character’s character, so the major character’s strengths and virtues are more strengths and virtues are more pronounced. The foil may also be pronounced. The foil may also be likelike the the major character, but with major character, but with lighter lighter versionsversions of the major character’s of the major character’s strengths and virtues. The major strengths and virtues. The major character is shown as even stronger.character is shown as even stronger.

Terminology Cont’dTerminology Cont’d

Stock Characters-Stock Characters- characters based on characters based on a cultural stereotypea cultural stereotype

Check out the link I Check out the link I gave you to gave you to archetypes. Do any archetypes. Do any of the character of the character archetypes apply to archetypes apply to your character?your character?

Terminology Cont’dTerminology Cont’d

Characters may be Characters may be “flat”“flat” or or “round”.“round”. Flat Character-Flat Character- usually a minor character; usually a minor character;

only has 1 or 2 major character traits; not only has 1 or 2 major character traits; not fully developed. Think “one-dimensional”fully developed. Think “one-dimensional”

Round Character-Round Character- Think “3D”; major Think “3D”; major character that cannot be fully described character that cannot be fully described in a few words; real and complex with in a few words; real and complex with fears, motivations, dreams, etc.fears, motivations, dreams, etc.

Terminology Cont’dTerminology Cont’d

Characters can also be Characters can also be “static”“static” or or “dynamic”.“dynamic”. Static Character-Static Character- does not change throughout the does not change throughout the

course of the story; Cinderella’s stepmother, for course of the story; Cinderella’s stepmother, for instance, remains selfish and spiteful all the way instance, remains selfish and spiteful all the way to the end.to the end.

Dynamic Character-Dynamic Character- undergoes a significant undergoes a significant change in opinion or growth in character over the change in opinion or growth in character over the course of events in the story; An example would course of events in the story; An example would be Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’s classic be Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens’s classic tale, tale, A Christmas Carol.A Christmas Carol. After being visited by the After being visited by the 3 ghosts (+ Marley), he realizes the error of his 3 ghosts (+ Marley), he realizes the error of his ways and becomes kind and generous.ways and becomes kind and generous.

Where to Start?Where to Start?

You need to find a general focus for your You need to find a general focus for your character. What is something you could character. What is something you could bring out as the central idea to your essay?bring out as the central idea to your essay?

Use the handout I gave you and ideas from Use the handout I gave you and ideas from the “autopsy” to brainstorm character traits the “autopsy” to brainstorm character traits that apply to your character.that apply to your character.

What stands out the most? Which ones can What stands out the most? Which ones can you provide evidence from the text for?you provide evidence from the text for?

Organizing Your Essay: The Organizing Your Essay: The IntroductionIntroduction

Check out the handout I gave you from Check out the handout I gave you from Tidewater Community College. (Wherever Tidewater Community College. (Wherever that is!) They do a great job at providing that is!) They do a great job at providing examples for effective lead-ins or examples for effective lead-ins or “hooks”.“hooks”.

End the introductory paragraph with your End the introductory paragraph with your thesis. What big idea are you trying to thesis. What big idea are you trying to get across about the character?get across about the character?

Organization: The BodyOrganization: The Body

Develop a central trait or major Develop a central trait or major characteristic. You might do this in characteristic. You might do this in different ways.different ways.

How is it embodied throughout the work? How is it embodied throughout the work? (Beginning, middle, and end. Significant (Beginning, middle, and end. Significant events.)events.)

Follow a character’s growth or change.Follow a character’s growth or change. Discuss ways that this trait may be a Discuss ways that this trait may be a

strength and a weakness. (Note examples)strength and a weakness. (Note examples)

Organization: The Body Organization: The Body Cont’dCont’d

Each body paragraph should contain 2 “chunks” Each body paragraph should contain 2 “chunks” – integrated detail sentence, commentary – integrated detail sentence, commentary sentence, commentary sentence. So basically, a sentence, commentary sentence. So basically, a body paragraph should be organized like this:body paragraph should be organized like this:

Topic sentence (with transition from earlier Topic sentence (with transition from earlier paragraphs).paragraphs). Integrated detail sentence Integrated detail sentence showing the trait.showing the trait. Commentary sentence Commentary sentence discussing the trait. Commentary sentence discussing the trait. Commentary sentence discussing the trait.discussing the trait. Another integrated detail Another integrated detail sentence showing the trait.sentence showing the trait. Commentary Commentary sentence discussing the trait. Commentary sentence discussing the trait. Commentary sentence discussing the trait.sentence discussing the trait.

The ConclusionThe Conclusion

How does this person fit into the work as a How does this person fit into the work as a whole? What is his/her part in the conflict? whole? What is his/her part in the conflict? Do the characteristics explain why the Do the characteristics explain why the person helps or hinders other characters?person helps or hinders other characters?

This is your last chance to drive your point This is your last chance to drive your point home! WITHOUT saying, “This paper has home! WITHOUT saying, “This paper has just shown…” just shown…”

SUBTLY remind the reader of your central SUBTLY remind the reader of your central idea and thesis.idea and thesis.