How to analyze a short story
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A Brief Overview of Literary Criticism
Woman Reading Book in a Landscape, Camille Corot
Literary Critical Theory is a tool that helps you find meaning in stories, poems and
plays. There are many different ways to interpret a novel or short story.
When we read literature, we do so to learn more about:
● The human condition
● The experience of loss and death
● The structure of power in society and how it is implemented (including the issues
that surround race and gender).
● The psychology of characters and individuals in general
● The sociology and history of cultures that produce specific pieces of literature
Literary Theory helps us discover the things listed above in the books and stories we
read. So how do you use theory to read a book? Before exploring, in brief, different
theories, it is important to develop a reading strategy that will help you form ideas.
You should keep a reading notebook and write down ideas and information as you
read. Here is a checklist of things to notice:
● Title. How does it pertain to the story? Does it symbolize events or people in the
story?
● Narration: Who is telling the story? How does the narrator approach the topic?
● Subject: What is the basic situation? What is happening to the characters and how
are they reacting to events?
● Mood: What is the mood of the story, i.e. the emotional background? How is it
expressed in the language and setting?
● Characters: What do the characters learn in the course of the story? What are their
failings and how do they overcome them, or not? What is the main character’s
desire? Is that desire ever fulfilled? How does the main character change?
● Character Interaction: How do the characters interact in the story? How do they
communicate with each other? How do they handle conflict?
● Plot: What are the main events in the plot that lead the character to new insights, or
to his or her failure?
When you read a book, you can highlight the passages that strike you as significant. You
can also write notes in the margin of the text to yourself, which is called “annotation.”
Example of an Annotated Book
Literary Criticism In Brief:
This handout provides information on four theories; however, keep in mind there are
many different kinds of theories, including gender/feminist criticism; race theory;
Marxist; Biographical; Deconstruction; Structrualism; Post-colonial critical theory.
The Five Critical Literary Theories that we will learn about in this class include:
● Formalism or New Criticism
● Reader Response Theory
● Psycoanalytical Theory
● New Historicism Analysis
● Post-Colonial Theory
Formalism or New Criticism:
This approach views each piece of literature that possesses
all of its meaning inside the text. Meaning doe.
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This document provides guidance on developing a thesis and analyzing elements such as symbolism and characterization for a literary analysis. It discusses evaluating ideas, organizing an analysis, and focusing on themes rather than just summarizing the plot. The document also recommends including sufficient examples to support the thesis, writing in the present tense, and using an introduction to engage the reader and a conclusion to provide closure.
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This document provides information about writing a narrative essay. It defines a narrative essay as a story that can be fictional or true, depending on whether it is based on real-life experience or made up. The document discusses the key components of a narrative essay, including characters, plot, point of view, organization, and descriptive details. It provides a sample prompt and analyzes a brief response, noting that it lacks important details. Finally, it discusses chronological organization and the importance of setting and character introduction in drawing the reader into the story.
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The document provides guidelines for writing a book review in 3-9 sentences. It begins by stating a book review should describe, analyze, and evaluate a book's quality, meaning and significance rather than summarize the plot. It then lists standard procedures for writing a review such as stating book details, the author's purpose, theme and thesis, evaluation methods used, and providing an analysis and conclusion. The document also provides considerations for reviewing specific genres like fiction, biography, and non-fiction.
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Y9 19th jan
The document provides instructions for students to analyze a poem about a Duke. It instructs students to:
1) Identify the main characters and what is learned about them, drawing a picture and including quotes.
2) Identify the key events of the story told in the poem, aiming for 5-10 events.
3) Explain first impressions of the narrator/speaker (the Duke) using quotes.
It also includes a list of themes for students to score based on importance to the poem, and provides optional tasks for further analysis such as a storyboard, writing from another character's perspective, creating character sketches, or rewriting the poem in a modern or prose version.
Analyzing literature
This document provides guidance for students on analyzing literature for an English class. It discusses that students will analyze either Bless Me Ultima or Hunger of Memory by writing an essay making a claim about the work and supporting it with evidence. It emphasizes close reading of texts, including reading works multiple times and annotating. It also defines literary terms like characters, plot, setting, symbolism, and narrator that students should understand to effectively analyze literature.
Writing a Literary Analysis
This document provides guidance on how to write a successful literary analysis paper. It discusses developing an argumentative thesis statement that makes an original interpretation of the text. It also outlines how to structure the paper with an introduction that presents the thesis and a body that supports it with evidence from the text. The conclusion should reiterate the key points without simply restating them. Character analysis, literary elements, rhetorical devices, and establishing a controlling idea for each paragraph are also covered.
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This document provides tips for writing a book review in 6 steps: 1) Read the entire book, 2) Hook the reader with an interesting opening, 3) Summarize the book without spoilers, 4) Offer an honest assessment and recommendation, 5) Give an overall conclusion, and 6) Revise the review with feedback. It encourages sharing your opinion to help others decide whether to read the book. The public library offers a Book Hookup service to find new books to review based on your interests.
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The document discusses several key aspects of literary text analysis, including the verbal and supraverbal layers, poetic structure, principles of representation, and components of poetic structure. The verbal layer consists of words, phrases, sentences, etc., while the supraverbal layer emerges from these sequences to represent events, conflicts, and the author's message. Poetic structure coheres the verbal and supraverbal layers. Principles of representation in literature include incomplete representation, analogy/contrast, and recurrence. Components of poetic structure discussed are images, themes, ideas, composition, plot, genre, and style.
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How to write a narrative essay
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The document defines theme as the main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work. A theme can be stated or implied, and differs from the subject or topic by making a statement or expressing an opinion about the topic. Major themes are ideas an author returns to repeatedly, while minor themes appear only periodically. Authors express themes through the feelings of characters, thoughts and conversations, what characters learn, and specific actions or events.
Intro.Lit Analysis
Overview of literary analysis process for work of fiction. Includes overview of story elements and rhetorical devices
2020 using paraphrased quotations
The document provides a 7-step guide for selecting, paraphrasing, and citing quotations in APA style: 1) Choose a passage supporting your position, 2) Read until fully understanding the passage, 3) Summarize the ideas in your own words, 4) Add an in-text citation, 5) Follow with a sentence reminding the reader of the original point and including a paraphrased quote and citation, 6) Combine all elements, and 7) Include a reference citation. An example applies these steps to discuss an unknown aspect of a character's background from a short story.
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A Brief Overview of Literary Criticism
Woman Reading Book in a Landscape, Camille Corot
Literary Critical Theory is a tool that helps you find meaning in stories, poems and
plays. There are many different ways to interpret a novel or short story.
When we read literature, we do so to learn more about:
● The human condition
● The experience of loss and death
● The structure of power in society and how it is implemented (including the issues
that surround race and gender).
● The psychology of characters and individuals in general
● The sociology and history of cultures that produce specific pieces of literature
Literary Theory helps us discover the things listed above in the books and stories we
read. So how do you use theory to read a book? Before exploring, in brief, different
theories, it is important to develop a reading strategy that will help you form ideas.
You should keep a reading notebook and write down ideas and information as you
read. Here is a checklist of things to notice:
● Title. How does it pertain to the story? Does it symbolize events or people in the
story?
● Narration: Who is telling the story? How does the narrator approach the topic?
● Subject: What is the basic situation? What is happening to the characters and how
are they reacting to events?
● Mood: What is the mood of the story, i.e. the emotional background? How is it
expressed in the language and setting?
● Characters: What do the characters learn in the course of the story? What are their
failings and how do they overcome them, or not? What is the main character’s
desire? Is that desire ever fulfilled? How does the main character change?
● Character Interaction: How do the characters interact in the story? How do they
communicate with each other? How do they handle conflict?
● Plot: What are the main events in the plot that lead the character to new insights, or
to his or her failure?
When you read a book, you can highlight the passages that strike you as significant. You
can also write notes in the margin of the text to yourself, which is called “annotation.”
Example of an Annotated Book
Literary Criticism In Brief:
This handout provides information on four theories; however, keep in mind there are
many different kinds of theories, including gender/feminist criticism; race theory;
Marxist; Biographical; Deconstruction; Structrualism; Post-colonial critical theory.
The Five Critical Literary Theories that we will learn about in this class include:
● Formalism or New Criticism
● Reader Response Theory
● Psycoanalytical Theory
● New Historicism Analysis
● Post-Colonial Theory
Formalism or New Criticism:
This approach views each piece of literature that possesses
all of its meaning inside the text. Meaning doe.
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This document provides a step-by-step guide to analyzing fiction. It outlines key elements to examine such as plot, setting, narrator, characters, themes, style, tone, and figurative language. Notes should be taken on each of these elements by asking guiding questions. Finally, the analysis can be written by introducing the key points to be made, discussing each element in the body paragraphs, and concluding with a recap of the analysis. The focus should be on analyzing the given passage rather than the entire work.
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Reaction Paper # 2—After reading this week’s notes “Reading Fiction” and “Graduation” by Maya
Angelou, complete reaction paper 2 as described below.
Discussed in the notes this week are 6 elements of fiction: Tone, Plot, Characterization, Setting, Theme
and Point of View. Choose one element (other than POV) and reflect on how Angelou uses it in her
writing. Give specific examples and quotes from the text to show how she uses the element and its
effect on the story. Be sure to quote correctly (using quotation marks and providing paragraph #s).
Remember that reaction papers should be 1-2 pages, double-spaced.
Below is a brief sample of how to discuss one of the elements with examples from the text. The example
discusses the use of point of view in the story:
Maya Angelou’s story “Graduation,” is told from first-person point of view, told through the
main character, Marguerite Johnson. Although it is not yet clear who the narrator is within the first 5
paragraphs, in paragraph 6 Angelou writes, “In the Store I was the person of the moment.” Thus, we are
introduced to the narrator of the story. The rest of the story uses pronouns such as we, me, my which
solidifies the narrator’s point of view.
Hearing the story unfold from first-person POV gives credibility to the theme of the story.
Maguerite Johnson is one of the graduates excited to be graduating, and is present at every point of the
story—from the events leading up to the day, the events during the ceremony, and her feelings about
what has occurred.
In paragraph 7, she tells us, “My class was wearing buttery-yellow piqué dresses, and Momma
launched out mine.” She goes on to describe the expert way her mother crafted her dress. It is clear
from all of her descriptions that she, her family and the community looked toward the day with great
anticipation, even though as the narrator states, “I was only twelve years old and merely graduating
from the eighth grade” (paragraph 8). She goes on to explain that many teachers in the Arkansas Negro
schools had the same diploma but were able to teach. This shows that at the time, an eighth-grade
graduation was quite an achievement which could lead to possible (anticipated) professions…
(continued)
Reading Fiction
Fiction creates imaginary worlds by telling stories written in prose (ordinary, unrhymed
language) about realistic characters, set in physical environments, and with attention to
descriptive detail.
Works of fiction narrate, or tell stories. Narrative is not specific to fiction or to any other
literary genre. Telling stories pervades almost every aspect of our daily lives. We learn
very early on how to recognize and tell stories, and we rely heavily on narrative to
organize and make sense of our experience. Even in our sleep, we tell stories in the
form of dreams. It is impossible to imagine our lives without these narratives; in fact,
every culture uses them to order a ...
Elements of the oral presentation
This document provides guidance for oral presentations on chapters from a novel in a Chicano literature class. It outlines that each group will have 3 presenters who will discuss: I) a summary of events; II) interpretive aspects like plot, character, theme and point of view; and III) stylistic features used by the author. It provides details on the types of information that should be presented for each chapter's plot points, characters, theme, and other literary devices. The document aims to ensure all students are prepared to participate in discussions on each chapter.
Transactional Approach & Literary Elements.pdf
Louise Rosenblatt developed the transactional theory of reader response, which holds that meaning is created through an active interaction between the reader and the text, rather than being inherent in the text itself. She described two stances a reader can take - the efferent stance, where the focus is on retaining factual information, and the aesthetic stance, where the reader has a lived experience interacting with characters and events in the text. Literary elements like character, setting, plot, theme, and diction are tools authors use to craft stories and convey meaning. Character development includes physical descriptions and how others react to characters. Setting can be backdrop or integral to the story. Common plot structures include linear, episodic, and circular. Theme expresses
Understanding the Short StoryTitle __________________________.docx
Understanding the Short Story
Title :_________________________________________________________________
Plot
1) What does the reader learn during exposition?
2) What is/are the conflict(s)?
3) What complications are introduced?
4) What is the climax of the story?
5) How is the conflict resolved?
Point of view
1) From what point of view is the story narrated? (first person, third person, etc.)
2) How does the narration influence your understanding of the story?
Characters
1) Who is the protagonist?
2) Who is the antagonist?
3) Are the characters round or flat?
4) Are the characters static or dynamic?
Setting
1) What is the setting of the story?
2) Does the setting influence other elements of the story?
Theme
1) What is/are the theme(s) of the story?
2) How do you know?
LITERARY TERMS
"Structure" includes all the elements in a story. The final objective is to see the story as a whole and to become aware of how the parts are put together to produce a unified effect.
ELEMENTS OF PLOT
All fiction is based on conflict and this conflict is presented in a structured format called PLOT.
Exposition
The introductory material which gives the setting, creates the tone, presents the characters, and presents other facts necessary to understanding the story.
Foreshadowing
The use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in the story.
Inciting Force
The event or character that triggers the conflict.
Conflict
The essence of fiction. It creates plot. The conflicts we encounter can usually be identified as one of four kinds. (Man versus…Man, Nature, Society, or Self)
Rising Action
A series of events that builds from the conflict. It begins with the inciting force and ends with the climax.
Crisis
The conflict reaches a turning point. At this point the opposing forces in the story meet and the conflict becomes most intense. The crisis occurs before or at the same time as the climax.
Climax
The climax is the result of the crisis. It is the high point of the story for the reader. Frequently, it is the moment of the highest interest and greatest emotion. The point at which the outcome of the conflict can be predicted.
Falling Action
The events after the climax which close the story.
Resolution (Denouement)
Rounds out and concludes the action.
CHARACTERIZATION
MAJOR CHARACTERS
Almost always round or three-dimensional characters. They have good and bad qualities. Their goals, ambitions and values change. A round character changes as a result of what happens to him or her. A character who changes inside as a result of what happens to him is referred to in literature as a DYNAMIC character. A dynamic character grows or progresses to a higher level of understanding in the course of the story.
Protagonist
The main character in the story
Antagonist
The character or force that opposes the protagonist.
Foil
A character who provides a contrast to the protagonist.
MINOR CHARACTERS
Almost always flat or two-dimensional characters. They have only one or two stri ...
PPISMP TSLB1124 Topic 1 Overview of Literature.pptx
This document provides an overview of literature topics that will be covered in a course, including literary genres, elements, and devices. It defines and gives examples of various genres like poetry, short stories, novels, graphic novels, and plays. It also defines and illustrates important literary elements such as setting, theme, plot, character, point of view, tone, mood, and moral values. Finally, it defines and provides examples of common literary devices such as simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, foreshadowing, flashback, symbolism, irony, oxymoron, repetition, alliteration, assonance, allusion, hyperbole, and imagery.
Book Review
The document provides instructions for writing a book report or review in 3 parts - an introduction, body, and conclusion. It explains that the introduction should name the title, author, and type of story. The body should summarize the theme, setting, plot, and main characters. It also suggests giving opinions on whether the book was enjoyed and reasons why. The conclusion is to provide an overall opinion and most important takeaway.
Qwertyuiop
Here are the main themes from the short story discussed earlier:
Main Themes:
- Determination
- Possessiveness
- Loyalty
- Loneliness
- Commitment
- The Supernatural
- Compassion
Sub-Themes:
- Do not judge a person merely through credentials or qualifications
- We must be committed and responsible to our vocation or profession
- We must value our family.
Students will discuss these themes and how they are portrayed in the short story.
Write Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. T.docx
Write: Your initial post should be at least 200 words in length. The minimum word count does not include references. Choose two of those critical approaches and address the points below.
· Describe each critical approach in detail.
· Compare and/or contrast the two critical approaches. How are they different and similar?
· Determine which critical approach you find most useful for examining the conflicts and meaning in literature.
· Explain why you chose this particular approach as the most useful. Why does it appeal to you?
A Brief Overview of Literary Criticism
Woman Reading Book in a Landscape, Camille Corot
Literary Critical Theory is a tool that helps you find meaning in stories, poems and
plays. There are many different ways to interpret a novel or short story.
When we read literature, we do so to learn more about:
● The human condition
● The experience of loss and death
● The structure of power in society and how it is implemented (including the issues
that surround race and gender).
● The psychology of characters and individuals in general
● The sociology and history of cultures that produce specific pieces of literature
Literary Theory helps us discover the things listed above in the books and stories we
read. So how do you use theory to read a book? Before exploring, in brief, different
theories, it is important to develop a reading strategy that will help you form ideas.
You should keep a reading notebook and write down ideas and information as you
read. Here is a checklist of things to notice:
● Title. How does it pertain to the story? Does it symbolize events or people in the
story?
● Narration: Who is telling the story? How does the narrator approach the topic?
● Subject: What is the basic situation? What is happening to the characters and how
are they reacting to events?
● Mood: What is the mood of the story, i.e. the emotional background? How is it
expressed in the language and setting?
● Characters: What do the characters learn in the course of the story? What are their
failings and how do they overcome them, or not? What is the main character’s
desire? Is that desire ever fulfilled? How does the main character change?
● Character Interaction: How do the characters interact in the story? How do they
communicate with each other? How do they handle conflict?
● Plot: What are the main events in the plot that lead the character to new insights, or
to his or her failure?
When you read a book, you can highlight the passages that strike you as significant. You
can also write notes in the margin of the text to yourself, which is called “annotation.”
Example of an Annotated Book
Literary Criticism In Brief:
This handout provides information on four theories; however, keep in mind there are
m.
Compose an independent critique of a chosen selection.
This is about how you write a critique essay. This will help you how to criticize a certain story or a film.
ENGLISH 10. COMPOSE AN INDIVIDUAL CRITIQUE PAPER
Here is the basic structure of a critical essay and examples for each part:
1. Introduction
- Provide background on the work being analyzed
- Thesis statement: Your overall argument or evaluation
2. Body paragraphs
- Topic sentence stating the point to be made in the paragraph
- Evidence and examples from the text to support the topic sentence
- Analysis and explanation of how the evidence proves the topic sentence
3. Conclusion
- Restate thesis statement
- Summarize main points without introducing new information
- Leave reader with final message or takeaway
M. Mellati. The Elements of Fiction
This document provides an overview of key elements of fiction, including classification of commercial and literary fiction, plot structure, characterization, point of view, theme, and conflict. It discusses commercial fiction as intended for entertainment, while literary fiction aims to broaden awareness of life. Plot is described as the order of events, including components like exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. Conflict can be between characters, character vs nature/society/self. Protagonists are the main characters, while antagonists oppose them.
literary devices, elements & techniques.pptx
This document defines and provides examples of various literary devices, elements, and techniques used in writing and analyzing literature. It discusses literary devices, elements like plot, character, conflict, setting, theme and point of view. It also covers literary techniques such as figurative language including metaphor, imagery and irony. Plot is defined as the sequence of events and includes key components like the introduction, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. Character is also examined through types like the protagonist and antagonist.
literary devices, elements & techniques.pptx
21st century literature from the Philippines and the world. a subject in Senior High which focuses on understanding and appreciating various literary text.
Presenation slidesharefinal
This document outlines key elements of literature including setting, characterization, plot, theme, and point of view. It discusses how setting involves the time and physical environment of a story. Characterization can be direct, through dramatization, or indirect. The plot consists of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Point of view determines the perspective a story is told from. Theme refers to the central idea or insight of a story.
1.pptx
The document discusses reading literature through a biographical context. It explains that understanding an author's life experiences, beliefs, and background can help readers better understand the author's works. It provides strategies for analyzing texts through this biographical lens, such as researching an author's beliefs and looking for connections between their life and themes in their writing. The document also notes some limitations of only interpreting works through biography and stresses the importance of multiple approaches to literary analysis.
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How to analyze a short story
- 1. How to Analyze a Short Story Old Fence. A short story has a structure and a message. Can you analyze this picture in much the same way as a short story? What Is a Short Story? A short story is a work of short, narrative prose that is usually centered around one single event. It is limited in scope and has an introduction, body and conclusion. Although a short story has much in common with a novel (See How to Analyze a Novel), it is written with much greater precision. You will often be asked to write a literary analysis. An analysis of a short story requires basic knowledge of literary elements. The following guide and questions may help you: Setting Setting is a description of where and when the story takes place. In a short story there are fewer settings compared to a novel. The time is more limited. Ask yourself the following questions: ● How is the setting created? Consider geography, weather, time of day, social conditions, etc. ● What role does setting play in the story? Is it an important part of the plot or theme? Or is it just a backdrop against which the action takes place? Study the time period, which is also part of the setting, and ask yourself the following: ● When was the story written? ● Does it take place in the present, the past, or the future? ● How does the time period affect the language, atmosphere or social circumstances of the short story? Characterization Characterization deals with how the characters in the story are described. In short stories there are usually fewer characters compared to a novel. They usually focus on one central character or protagonist. Ask yourself the following: ● Who is the main character? ● Are the main character and other characters described through dialogue – by the way they speak (dialect or slang for instance)?
- 2. ● Has the author described the characters by physical appearance, thoughts and feelings, and interaction (the way they act towards others)? ● Are they static/flat characters who do not change? ● Are they dynamic/round characters who DO change? ● What type of characters are they? What qualities stand out? Are they stereotypes? ● Are the characters believable? Plot and structure The plot is the main sequence of events that make up the story. In short stories the plot is usually centered around one experience or significant moment. Consider the following questions: ● What is the most important event? ● How is the plot structured? Is it linear, chronological or does it move around? ● Is the plot believable? Narrator and Point of view The narrator is the person telling the story. Consider this question: Are the narrator and the main character the same? By point of view we mean from whose eyes the story is being told. Short stories tend to be told through one character’s point of view. The following are important questions to consider: ● Who is the narrator or speaker in the story? ● Does the author speak through the main character? ● Is the story written in the first person “I” point of view? ● Is the story written in a detached third person “he/she” point of view? ● Is there an “all-knowing” third person who can reveal what all the characters are thinking and doing at all times and in all places? Conflict Conflict or tension is usually the heart of the short story and is related to the main character. In a short story there is usually one main struggle. ● How would you describe the main conflict? ● Is it an internal conflict within the character? ● Is it an external conflict caused by the surroundings or environment the main character finds himself/herself in?
- 3. Climax The climax is the point of greatest tension or intensity in the short story. It can also be the point where events take a major turn as the story races towards its conclusion. Ask yourself: ● Is there a turning point in the story? ● When does the climax take place? Theme The theme is the main idea, lesson, or message in the short story. It may be an abstract idea about the human condition, society, or life. Ask yourself: ● How is the theme expressed? ● Are any elements repeated and therefore suggest a theme? ● Is there more than one theme? Style The author’s style has to do with the his or her vocabulary, use of imagery, tone, or the feeling of the story. It has to do with the author’s attitude toward the subject. In some short stories the tone can be ironic, humorous, cold, or dramatic. ● Is the author’s language full of figurative language? ● What images are used? ● Does the author use a lot of symbolism? Metaphors (comparisons that do not use “as” or “like”) or similes (comparisons that use “as” or “like”)? Your literary analysis of a short story will often be in the form of an essay where you may be asked to give your opinions of the short story at the end. Choose the elements that made the greatest impression on you. Point out which character/characters you liked best or least and always support your arguments.