2. Why analyze characters?Why analyze characters?
One of the ongoing tasks of life is trying toOne of the ongoing tasks of life is trying to
understand ourselves, our reactions, ourunderstand ourselves, our reactions, our
motives, our values. Fiction can help us domotives, our values. Fiction can help us do
that by showing characters caught in conflictthat by showing characters caught in conflict
with themselves or the world around them.with themselves or the world around them.
By understanding their actions, weBy understanding their actions, we
sometimes gain insight into our own.sometimes gain insight into our own.
3. How to analyze a characterHow to analyze a character
To analyze a character, you must find outTo analyze a character, you must find out
what makes him/her “tick.”what makes him/her “tick.”
Like people fictional characters haveLike people fictional characters have
personality traits and motivations.personality traits and motivations.
Characters are revealed in the following ways.Characters are revealed in the following ways.
4. Physical Appearance and NamePhysical Appearance and Name
It is impossible to judge a person totally on hisIt is impossible to judge a person totally on his
or her appearance in real life, but in fictionor her appearance in real life, but in fiction
we can because an author’s descriptionswe can because an author’s descriptions
and names of characters are designed toand names of characters are designed to
evoke a response in the reader.evoke a response in the reader.
The names of characters are often a clue toThe names of characters are often a clue to
their personality.their personality.
5. Character’s ActionsCharacter’s Actions
The actions of a character in a story are alsoThe actions of a character in a story are also
clues to his or her personality.clues to his or her personality.
A character’s behavior is usually motivated byA character’s behavior is usually motivated by
his or her attitudes and values, so byhis or her attitudes and values, so by
examining behavior, readers can get to theexamining behavior, readers can get to the
heart and soul of a character.heart and soul of a character.
6. Character’s ChoicesCharacter’s Choices
Since stories are structured around conflicts,Since stories are structured around conflicts,
the characters involved will always have tothe characters involved will always have to
make choices as they deal with theirmake choices as they deal with their
problems.problems.
As those choices are made, they reveal theAs those choices are made, they reveal the
character’s values and self-concept andcharacter’s values and self-concept and
serve as a basis for our judgements aboutserve as a basis for our judgements about
him or her.him or her.
7. Character’s PastCharacter’s Past
Authors are aware of the significance of aAuthors are aware of the significance of a
person’s background and the biographicalperson’s background and the biographical
details they give the reader are insights intodetails they give the reader are insights into
a character’s makeup and motivationa character’s makeup and motivation
8. Character’s SpeechCharacter’s Speech
Every word spoken by a character is a clueEvery word spoken by a character is a clue
to some part of his or her personality. But ato some part of his or her personality. But a
character’s statements will not tell you thatcharacter’s statements will not tell you that
he or she is unhappy, domineering selfishhe or she is unhappy, domineering selfish
or crazy. As a reader your must look for theor crazy. As a reader your must look for the
personality trait statements reveal, makingpersonality trait statements reveal, making
inferences about the mind behind it.inferences about the mind behind it.
9. Character’s comments about otherCharacter’s comments about other
characterscharacters
Characters in fiction talk about each other andCharacters in fiction talk about each other and
their statements are most often designed totheir statements are most often designed to
reveal significant things about themselvesreveal significant things about themselves
and the personalities and motivations ofand the personalities and motivations of
other characters.other characters.
10. Narrator’s comments about aNarrator’s comments about a
charactercharacter
When the third-person narrator, (like theWhen the third-person narrator, (like the
narrator innarrator in WickedWicked ) describes a character’s) describes a character’s
motivation or actions this is a big clue tomotivation or actions this is a big clue to
what makes his or her personality “tick.”what makes his or her personality “tick.”
11. Character’s thoughts and feelingsCharacter’s thoughts and feelings
Although we can’t get into the mind ofAlthough we can’t get into the mind of
another person, theanother person, the omniscientomniscient narrator cannarrator can
and often does reveal the thoughts andand often does reveal the thoughts and
feelings of a character.feelings of a character.
This allows us to see in greater depth howThis allows us to see in greater depth how
their minds work and how they arrive attheir minds work and how they arrive at
decisions that affect their lives and revealdecisions that affect their lives and reveal
their personality.their personality.
12. Character’s ChangesCharacter’s Changes
Most main characters go through someMost main characters go through some
transformation in the course of the story.transformation in the course of the story.
This is called the character’s arc.This is called the character’s arc.
A character may change from being afraidA character may change from being afraid
of everything to being courageous, or fromof everything to being courageous, or from
being selfish to caring. Identifying thebeing selfish to caring. Identifying the
changes a character reveals the core ofchanges a character reveals the core of
their personality.their personality.
13. SummarySummary
To analyze a character in a story examine the details theTo analyze a character in a story examine the details the
author provides about:author provides about:
Physical appearance and namesPhysical appearance and names
ActionsActions
ChoicesChoices
PastPast
SpeechSpeech
Comments by other charactersComments by other characters
Narrator’s comments about the characterNarrator’s comments about the character
Thought and feelingsThought and feelings
ChangesChanges
