Character Traits

​Character
Analysis

Open Ended

What makes a character interesting?

• ​ Characters do things. They feel things. They hear things. They say things. They think things. They go places. They can walk, run, leap, and jump. They may sit and rock in a rocking chair. They may just lie in bed, sleep, and dream. But the important thing is that characters act.

Open Ended

   -“A young woman noticed an elderly lady struggling with her groceries. Without hesitation, she offered to help, carrying the heavy bags to the lady’s car. Once they reached the car, she made sure the lady was safely inside before heading home”  

     What does this action tell us about the woman?

​ When we talk about a character, we often describe that character in terms of character traits, descriptive adjectives like smart or determined that tell us the specific qualities of the character. They're the same kinds of words that we might use to describe ourselves or others, but we're using them to describe fictional characters in something we've read.

​ The author may tell us these traits directly, but more often the author will show us these traits in action. Our job as readers is to draw a conclusion about the character's traits (to infer them) from what the character says, thinks, and does. We might infer a character trait from something a character does only once, or we might draw our conclusions from a series of things the character says and does.

• Characters are described through what they say, think, do, and how they relate to others.  

• the STAR model

     - S = Says  

     - T = Thinks  

     - A = Actions  

     - R = Relationships

Multiple Select

1. Excerpt from Chapter 1  

"Words have always swirled around me like snowflakes—each one delicate and different, each one melting untouched in my hands. Deep within me, words pile up in huge drifts. Mountains of phrases and sentences and connected ideas. Clever expressions. Jokes. Love songs."

Melody is..

• creative

• imaginative

• boring

• illogical

• smart

Multiple Select

2. Excerpt from Chapter 3 

"I didn’t want the blocks. I wanted to tell her they were dangerous. I wanted her to tell somebody to get rid of them before a child got sick. But all I could do was scream and point and kick."  

Melody is..

• arrogant

• helpful

• determined

• caring

• childish

Multiple Select

Identify character traits that is revealed by each action. 

1. Thomas has tried out for the basketball team for the last three years.  Each year he has been cut from the team because other athletes have outperformed him.  Thomas has been practicing all summer, however, and he knows that this is his year.  It has to be.  He can feel it.

• Thomas is doubtful because he thinks he might fail.

• Thomas is determined/ dedicated since he is still trying to be on the team even after 3 years of not being selected.

• He is optimistic, for he is still feeling positive and has hope to be among the team.

• He is arrogant since he is not practicing enough.

Open Ended

Identify a character trait that is revealed by each action.  Explain your answer.   

2.  Bella asked her neighbor if she could borrow an egg to complete a recipe that she had already started.  The next day Bella returned an egg to her neighbor along with a thank you card expressing her sincere gratitude.

​Answer:
Bella is grateful and appreciative. She demonstrates that when she returned the item she borrowed with a Thank You card.

Open Ended

Identify a character trait that is revealed by each action.  Explain your answer.   

3. Catalina does not like hanging out with Grace.  She thinks that she is annoying.  One day Grace called a radio station and won backstage passes to see pop music super group, The Mountain Boys.  When Grace asked Catalina if she wanted to go to the concert with her, she agreed saying that it would be a great time. Catalina was very nice to Grace until the concert.  After the concert, she treated her the same way that she always had.

​Answer:
Catalina is selfish, for she puts her desire to be entertained over Grace’s feelings. She is also an opportunist since she takes advantage of Grace just to go to the concert.

Open Ended

Identify a character trait that is revealed by each action.  Explain your answer.   

4.   The home team was down three points and it was the last play of the football season. The coach decided to go for the win. The ball went to star running back Diego Espinosa. Diego easily maneuvered around the defenders, juked, threw a stiff arm, and made it to other side of the field. Right before crossing into the end zone, Diego did a little shuffle. He was so into nailing the footwork on his shuffle that he did not notice that the opposition had caught up to him. They hit him so hard that he fumbled the ball and the home team lost. 

​Answer:
Diego is overconfident (arrogant) since he begins to celebrate before he scores and wins the game. He is also foolish, for he could have won the game then celebrated his win without making a fool of himself.

Open Ended

Choose a character from a book, movie, or show you enjoy. What traits stand out to you? Justify your answer using the STAR model.