This document provides guidance for writing a response essay about literary characters. It discusses choosing a character from an assigned work and linking their response to an element of characterization that was covered in class, such as character motives. The document then provides tips for analyzing characters, including looking at their descriptions, thoughts, actions, what others say about them, and what influenced them. It also lists some common types of characters and ends by suggesting questions students could address in their essay about the character they chose.

1. What happened to you Mr. White?
If the main character and their motives
are believable, we follow the plot.
For. Years.

2. This Lecture
and the Response Essay
In the response essay, you describe your response to any
piece assigned before the essay is due and link that response
to a literary element we’ve studied. You can choose the piece
first and pair it with an element, or choose an element you
feel you understand well and pick a suitable piece.
Fiction fits best with character. If there’s a character we’ve
met that you had a strong response to or are curious about,
that might be a good focus for your essay. Re-read the piece
and ask what the writer did to make that character feel real
and interesting. Look for descriptions of their looks, thoughts
and actions that you could quote. Think about possible
hidden meanings in their name.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 2

3. The Challenge
Writers have a real challenge. With words alone they try to create characters who are
distinguishable from each other and consistent. But those characters have to be
interesting too, which means they have to change. That change must be believable. And
so we need to know their motives and to see deep enough into their hearts and minds to
believe they can change. Writers are psychologists, philosophers, sociologists,
anthropologists and historians all rolled into one. Critics are still studying and readers still
enjoying Jane Austin’s books. And directors are still basing films on them. Because her
characters are so real. How did she DO it? We’ll look at that in this lecture.

4. Plot and Character not working together
TV plots rich in action & carnage can interfere
with plausible character development. Those
dramatic and deadly finales boost ratings
though. In TV, plot is often king (and sits on
the iron throne).
But many viewers critique TV shows based on
how believable the characters are. And they
may not like it when a character changes
suddenly to suit the plot.
Walking Dead fans joke that if a character
suddenly becomes much more sympathetic
and likable, they have a week to live. Maybe
two.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L
4
In the episodes before she
dies, Andrea from The
Walking Dead got a quick
character make-over. Re-
united with the group that
had left her behind, she
risked her life to protect
them from The Governor.
We loved her again. Her
last scene was all the more
tragic and dramatic.

5. The Inciting Incident
opens the door to character change
As the Intro to Plot lecture mentioned, Stephen King
said he starts his books by simply putting a character
in a situation – a crisis, a problem to solve, an inciting
incident. That’s usually the start of the story and the
plot. Breaking Bad opens with a high school teacher
receiving a terminal cancer diagnosis. This inciting
incident starts the ball rolling on massive changes in
his life. For the older brother in “Sonny’s Blues,”
learning his brother has been arrested starts him on a
journey of personal change and growth. Learning her
husband was killed in a train crash rocks the world of
the main character in “The Story of an Hour” and sets
her on a brief intense internal journey. (Turns out he
wasn’t on the train that crashed but the news -- both
wrong and right -- sure shakes her world).
In short, stuff happens to people and they change.
That’s what most literary writers are interested in. If
you can think of a film or novel where nothing
happens and the main character doesn’t change, I’d
love to chat about it with you. What interested you
anyway?
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 5
Though very short on the page
and in the time it takes, “The
Story of an Hour” has two
emotional climaxes.

6. Motive,
Free Will &
Character
Fans of Breaking Bad enjoyed debating Mr.
White’s true motives. He turned to dealing
drugs because he wanted to leave something
for his family. But does he continue in the
criminal life for that reason? Or does he enjoy
the excitement and power? Did the diagnosis
bring out a hidden part of him?
That’s part of what makes him interesting. We
wonder who he is at his core – a caring father
and husband or a bold battler who loves living
on the edge? Or somehow both.
What makes a person change, or resist change?
How do different people deal with crisis, threat,
opportunity and gifts? Do we discover ourselves
or make ourselves as we deal with life’s hills and
valleys?
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 6

7. Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 7
1. Names &
nicknames
Names suggest character. T'Challa. Darth Vader. Albus Dumbledore. Mary
Poppins. June-May. Lane A Dean Jr. Performers change names to fit their
public persona. John Legend was born John Stephens. Helen Mirren’s birth
name was Ilyena Vasilievna Mironov.
2. Physical
appearance, esp
the face
Physical descriptions reveal inner qualities as well as emotional states: a
smile, a laugh, a blush, a nervous tic, posture, body language, even clothes
and accessories.
3. How they act
under pressure
The way a character deals with obstacles & conflicts reveals much, maybe
even to the character themselves, as is true with life.
4. Their
Thoughts
In fiction, some types of narration let us hear characters’ thoughts. In plays,
monologues may do the same. We learn of fears, doubts, hopes, dreams,
biases, delusions, realizations, etc.
5. What others
say about them
The narrator may tell us what to think of a character. (This is more common
in 19th Century Lit, when values were clear and agreed upon.) Other
characters opinions and reactions tell us a lot too.
6. What
Influenced them
In their memories or flashbacks we may find out about people, experiences,
books, music, jobs, places etc. shaped a character.
Some of the Ways Writers Bring Characters to Life
(see p. 95 for even more)

8. Use slide 7:
One way to
organize a
character
analysis
essay
Slide 7 gives you a tool to pick apart
characterization in a story. You could use each
of the 6 criteria as a paragraph/section of your
essay. See page 95 for a few more criteria that
might apply to your piece. Which criteria do
your author rely on most?
What if the author doesn’t use a criteria at all?
Fine, skip that one, or discuss the absence if you
feel it’s a weakness or reveals something about
the way the piece is put together. For example,
maybe we don’t find out much about what
others say and think about a character (#5)
because the story is told by that character,
known as first-person narration.
In writing an essay, what is the best order to put
the criteria in? Go from what you feel is the
least important one to most important.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 8

9. Anger, happiness, grief, resolve
Descriptions and close-ups of facial expressions reveal so much
about what a character is feeling and how they’re changing. Here
is Viola Davis showing how it’s done, from the film version of
August Wilson’s play Fences. In your analysis, look for
descriptions of faces.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 9

10. Find a Face
For 10 Bonus Points, find in any piece we’ve read so far a good description
of a character’s facial expressions. Here is Charles Dickens value-laden
description of the infamous Ebenezer Scrooge:
Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone,
Scrooge! . . . The cold within him froze his old
features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek,
stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips
blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice. A
frosty rime was on his head, and on his eyebrows, and
his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature always
about with him; he iced his office in the dogdays; and
didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 10

11. Types of Characters
Covered in more detail on pp 95-97
The Type Description
Protagonist
(hero)
Leading character. Might be the “good guy,” larger than life, but in most
modern literature is ordinary. Usually dynamic/round.
Antagonist
(villain)
Opponent of the main character. Blocks them in some way. Could be
dynamic/round but also Static/flat or even a stock character.
Dynamic/
Round
Changes because of the action of the plot. Interesting. Raises questions
we want answered. May surprise us.
Static/Flat Does not change. Could still be interesting. May have one or two qualities
easily summarized. May change somewhat but no big surprises.
Stock and
Archetypes
Stereotypes, usually in “formula” fiction (detective, romance, sci-fi). The
tough newspaper editor, mean boss, goofy grandparent, loyal servant,
sadistic drill sergeant, snarky android. With a good writer / actor stock
characters can come alive.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 11

12. Character
Questions
for a
Response
Essay
 How much did your response have to do with the main
character(s)? If a lot, then character is a good element
for you to use in the essay.
 What 3 words/phrases best describe your response?
Can you pinpoint 3 quotes to fit each word? For
example, if a character seemed “self-critical” find
something they say or think that shows that.
 What ways from slide 7 does this author used most?
 Which ways do they use least or not all? Is that a
problem? That is, would you like the story more if there
was more characterization?
 Did you expect to be interested in the main character or
not? Did you get what you expected?
 Did a choice a character made surprise you? Where do
we see anything about their motives for that choice?
 What scene reveals the main character’s central
conflict?
 Who changes the most? Why? Who fails to change?
 What plot events reveal who the main character is,
down deep?
Also see “Questions about Character” on p. 101. And questions found
after the stories. You could structure your essay on those questions.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 12

13. 2 Bonus
Points
Opportunities
from this
lecture
• 10 points: Using a book, film or TV series you know
well, put all the main characters and important minor
ones in the chart on Slide 12. Some characters may
end up in 2 categories (a dynamic protagonist for
example).
• 20 Bonus Points: Use the methods on slide 7 to
analyze a character in a film, TV series or novel you
know well (or just watched / read). Full the full
points, give examples (quotes or scene summary).
• Note: When turning in Bonus Point opportunities,
introduce them. I offer many and it’s helpful to be
informed what I’m looking at. For example, Below (or
attached) is my analysis of Pam Beesly from “The
Office”.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 13