Analyzing Characters

Analyzing Characters

Authors face a challenge in populating their stories with characters that are complex yet believable. Characters are defined by what they do and say, as well as how they react to other characters and how other characters react to them. When analyzing a character, it is important to understand the character's motivations, actions, and decisions. Historical and cultural settings and events can also influence characterization.

Fictional characters often represent archetypes, or common character types that represent universal aspects of human nature or traditional cultural roles. Some examples of archetypes include the hero, the sidekick, the mentor, the innocent, and the villain. Authors use characterization to develop archetypes into more complex and believable characters.

Open Ended

In your own words (2-3 sentences), describe how a character can be both complex and believable. What makes some characters stand out more than others?

Guided Practice

The following excerpt and question are the Fiction selection, The Red Badge of Courage.

Multiple Choice

Read the STAAR question. Which sentence that the character called "the youth" is capable of understanding how this battle compares to other experiences he has had?

• a- character's thoughts

• b- character's motivations

Match

Match the following

• Character thoughts

• character actions

• dialogue

• character motivation

• reaction of others

p. 7

p. 12

p. 5

p. 13

p. 8

• p. 7

• p. 12

• p. 5

• p. 13

• p. 8

Multiple Choice

1.

• a

• b

• c

• d

Independent Practice

Multiple Choice

2

• a

• b

• c

• d

THINK ABOUT YOUR THINKING

Explain your reason for your answer to question 2. Use evidence from the selection to support your answer.

Independent Practice

Multiple Choice

Click on the photo to view question.

• a

• b

• c

• d

Multiple Choice

4. click on the photo to view question

• f

• g

• h

• j