Writing a Character Writing a Character Analysis EssayAnalysis Essay

Literary Analysis for Literary Analysis for English English

CharacterizationCharacterization

Authors reveal character through either Authors reveal character through either ““directdirect”” or or ““indirectindirect”” characterization. characterization.

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

Of Mice and MenOf Mice and Men by John Steinbeck- by John Steinbeck- ““Curly 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 thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters respond to that how other characters respond to that character, including what they think and character, including what they think and say about him.say about him.

STEAL- STEAL- ““Says, Thinks, Effects others, Acts, Says, Thinks, Effects others, Acts, LooksLooks””

Think Think ““showshow”” rather than rather than ““telltell””!!

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

Terminology ContTerminology Cont’’dd Characters may be Characters may be ““flatflat”” or or ““roundround””.. Flat Character-Flat Character- usually a minor usually a minor character; only has 1 or 2 major character; only has 1 or 2 major character traits; not fully character traits; not fully developed. Often a “stereotype” Think developed. Often a “stereotype” Think ““one-dimensionalone-dimensional””

Round Character-Round Character- Think Think ““3D3D””; major ; major character that cannot be fully character that cannot be fully described in a few words; real and described in a few words; real and complex with fears, motivations, complex with fears, motivations, dreams, etc.dreams, etc.

Terminology ContTerminology Cont’’dd Characters can also be Characters can also be ““staticstatic”” or or ““dynamicdynamic””.. Static Character-Static Character- does not change throughout does not change throughout the course of the story; Cinderellathe course of the story; Cinderella’’s s stepmother, for instance, remains selfish and stepmother, for instance, remains selfish and spiteful all the way to the end.spiteful all the way to the end.

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

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

Use the handout I gave you and ideas Use the handout I gave you and ideas from the from the ““character analysis prewritingcharacter analysis prewriting”” to brainstorm character traits that to brainstorm character traits that apply to your character.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 that is!) They do a great job at providing examples for effective lead-providing examples for effective lead-ins or ins or ““hookshooks””..

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

Include Include TAGTAG: : Title, Author, and Genre. Title, Author, and Genre.

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 characterFollow a character’’s growth or change.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 ContCont’’dd

Each body paragraph should contain 2 Each body paragraph should contain 2 ““chunkschunks”” – integrated detail sentence, commentary – integrated detail sentence, commentary sentence, commentary sentence. So basically, sentence, commentary sentence. So basically, a body paragraph should be organized like a body paragraph should be organized like this: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 Another integrated detail sentence showing the trait.detail 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 How does this person fit into the work as a whole? What is his/her part in as a whole? What is his/her part in the conflict? Do the characteristics the conflict? Do the characteristics explain why the person helps or explain why the person helps or hinders other characters?hinders other characters?

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

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