PASTA: Characterization Lesson

PASTA- Characterization

PASTA is a useful tool when analyzing characters in a text. IT is a tool to help you determine who the character is as well as their motivations for doing what they do.

What is PASTA?

• P = Physical appearance

  A = Actions of the character

  S = Speech of the character

  T = Thoughts of the character

  A = Actions/Thoughts of others toward the character

  
  

P = Physical Description

• Answers the question, what does the character look like? Here are just a few ideas to consider:

• Is he/she well dressed? Poorly dressed or somewhere in between?

• Is the individual tall, short?

• Is there something distinctive about his/her look?

• What does this information tell us about the individual?

Open Ended

How would you give a physical description for the following character?

Multiple Select

The first A in PASTA stands for ______.

• answer the question

• actions of the character

A= Actions of the character

• Answers the question, what does the character do? Here are just a few ideas to consider:

• Are his/her actions thoughtful or impulsive?

• Do his/her actions create conflict or solve conflict?

• Are his/her actions positive or negative?

• What does this information tell us about the individual?

Open Ended

List 5 words to describe the character's actions.

Multiple Choice

The S in PASTA stands for ______.

• style of the character

• speech of the character

• snacks the character likes

S = Speech of the Character

Answers the question, what does the character say? Here are just a few ideas to consider:

What does the character talk about?

Does the character speak thoughtfully? Kindly? Disrespectfully?

What does this information tell us about the individual?

T= Thoughts of the character

• Answers the question, what does the character think about? Here are just a few ideas to consider:

• What do we learn from the character’s thoughts?

• Is the character a problem solver or a victim?

• Is the character thinking positive or negative thoughts?

• What does this information tell us about the individual?

Multiple Choice

The last A in PASTA stands for ______

• character analysis

• all done analyzing

• actions and thoughts of others

A = Actions/Thoughts of Others

Answers the question, what do the people around the character do and say about the character? Here are just a few ideas to consider:

Do others like the character?

Do others respect the character or simply dismiss him/her?

Are other willing to help the character?

What does this information tell us about the individual?

Open Ended

What do the other character's in Monster's Inc. think of Randall, the purple, sneaky monster?

How do you know the other character's think this about him?

Open Ended

What questions do you still have?