Character Interaction

Character Interaction

How do characters interact in literature

There are many ways that characters interact with each other and the world around them.

Today we will examine some examples and things to look for.

Multiple Choice

Character interaction is how a character responds to other characters and/or the setting.

• True

• False

Characters vs. characters

​Characters interact with other characters

Speaking (exchanging dialouge)

Internal thoughts (what they think)

External responses (how they react to what another character does)

Multiple Select

How do characters interact with other character?

• What they do

• What they don't do

• What they think

• What they say

How characters physically act and react

External responses

What characters think, believe, or feel inside.

​Internal responses

Character responses

Multiple Select

Choose the examples of INTERNAL responses.

• Eli doesn't believe in Karma so he doesn't care about stealing

• Mary is upset because Courtney made fun of her hair style

• Kevin gets a stomach ache when it's time to present his project.

• Destiny get anxiety anytime she sees big dogs, ever since she was bitten.

Multiple Select

Choose the examples of EXTERNAL responses.

• Barnie thinks his sister is crazy for driving their mother's car without permission

• Leah screams at the TV when her favorite team is losing

• Timothy cries when his mother hits him with the belt

• Amber runs away from the lake when she sees a gator coming out of the water

Characters and setting

​Characters interact with the setting with their senses

What do they see, hear, touch, taste, smell, or feel (emotionally)?

How do they react based on the things they experience.

Multiple Choice

Characters interact with the setting using their senses.

• True

• False

Multiple Select

Choose the examples of characters reacting to the setting.

• A storm forces characters at a birthday party in the yard into the house.

• Terry's building catches on fire so she must evacuate.

• A car crash blocks the interstate so Morgan must take another exit.

• Rachel grabs her coat because it's cold outside.

Why pay attention to character interaction?

It tells us about the type of person a character is

It also helps us make predictions about what a character will do next.

It helps us understand their core values and beliefs

It helps us see how they change over time

It sometimes teaches us a message/theme

Multiple Select

How does analyzing character interaction help the reader?

• Sometimes theme is embedded in a character's response.

• It can show how they grow/change.

• It reveals what they believe.

• We can predict what they might do next.