Character Study
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An informational, independent study by K. Johnso=
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Objective:
Students will analyze fictional characters, identifyin= g such terms as protagonist, antagonist, static, flat, round, and dynamic.
Contents:
Introduction &=
nbsp; Task &n=
bsp; Process &n=
bsp; Evaluation =
Conclusion
What techniques does an author use to create an effect= ive character? An author has to create characters often out of thin air, using nothing but his or her own imagination. So what makes a good, interesting character? In this independent study, you will examine and analyze a few ch= aracters. You will also explore character traits by writing an informative essay.
I.&n= bsp; What is Character?
Character= : http://www.enotes.c= om/literary-terms/character
Take the information you just read and define “Character” in a single sentence. Add it to your notes.
Character= ization: http://ww= w.enotes.com/literary-terms/characterization
Take the in= formation you just read and define “Characterization” in a single sentenc= e. Add it to your notes.
II.&= nbsp; Types of Character.
What is a Protagonist or Antagonist?
Protagonist:
Check out = http://www.enotes= .com/literary-terms/protagonist for a definition of a protagonist.
Answer the= se questions:
1. Where does the term “protagonist” come?
2. Define “protagonist.”
Ok, so this website mentio= ns Atticus Finch, Hester Prynne, and Hamlet as famous literary protagonists. C= lick one and find out a little bit more about him or her (make sure you click on= the in-depth analysis, it will give you more specific information):
Atticus Finch &= nbsp; Hester Pry= nne &= nbsp; Hamle= t
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3. How does the character you chose fit the role of the “protagonist”? Give specific details.
Optional: Advanced readers may be interested in these readings:Think that literary characters have no relevance to the “real world?” Wrong!
“Reconstructing Atticus Finch” talks about how this character has shaped the public’s perception of lawyers: http://ta= rlton.law.utexas.edu/lpop/etext/lubet/lubet.htm.
Antagonist:
Check out = http://www.enotes.= com/literary-terms/antagonist for a definition of an antagonist.
Answer the= se questions:
4. Where does the term “antagonist” come?
5. Define “antagonist.”
The website mentions Iago from Shakespeare’s play Othello and= the bitter cold of Jack London’s “To Build a Fire” as antagon= ists. Consider the fact that antagonists aren’t always other characters; it= can be anything that antagonizes the protagonist- such as the weather!
Click on one of these famo= us literary antagonists to learn more about him or her. If you chose Long John Silver, after clicking scroll down the page to find his name:
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p; Advanced Readers:
The ants from “= ;Leingengen versus the Ants” (full story)
6. How does the character or element you picked fit the definition of an antagonis= t? Give specific details.
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; What is a Dynamic/Round or Static/Flat Character= ?
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Choose one of the following websites to gain some information on dynamic/round and static/flat characters.
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; http://www.humboldt.ed= u/~tdd2/Character.htm
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; h= ttp://fictionwriting.about.com/od/glossary/g/RoundCharacter.htm
h= ttp://fictionwriting.about.com/od/glossary/g/RoundCharacter.htm
7. Define a dynamic or round character.
8. Define = a static or flat character.
Bonus q= uestion: Where does this concept of round and flat characters come from?
The answer to that questio= n can be found here: http:= //www.teachit.co.uk/attachments/3941.pdf
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Click on the following character and read the description:
9. Would you classify this character as round or flat? Why?
III. Elements of Character
Appearance
Typically, the first thing= an author will describe about a character is the character’s appearance. Look the pictures below and infer what kind of personality traits these cha= racters might have. Create list of possible traits for each character.
1.
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nbsp; 2.
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nbsp; 3.
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Read this excerpt from Bram Stoker’s Dracula:
His face w= as a strong, a very strong, aquiline, with high bridge of the thin nose and pecu= liarly arched nostrils, with lofty domed forehead, and hair growing scantily round= the temples but profusely elsewhere. His eyebrows were very massive, almost mee= ting over the nose, and with bushy hair that seemed to curl in its own profusion. The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth. These protruded ov= er the lips, whose remarkable ruddiness showed astonishing vitality in a man of his years. For the rest, his ears were pale, and at the tops extremely poin= ted. The chin was broad and strong, and the cheeks firm though thin. The general effect was one of extraordinary pallor.
Hitherto I= had noticed the backs of his hands as they lay on his knees in the firelight, a= nd they had seemed rather white and fine. But seeing them now close to me, I c= ould not but notice that they were rather coarse, broad, with squat fingers. Str= ange to say, there were hairs in the centre of the palm. The nails were long and fine, and cut to a sharp point. As the Count leaned over me and his hands touched me, I could not repress a shudder. It may have been that his breath= was rank, but a horrible feeling of nausea came over me, wh= ich, do what I would, I could not conceal.
4. What can you infer about Dracula based solely on his appearance?
We usually make our first judgments of a person based on his or her experience. Authors know this, and they often use a character’s appearance to give readers a clue about a character’s traits.
Behavior and Dialogue
The behavior and actions o= f a character can often inform the reader about what kind of person the charact= er is. Read the excerpts below and watch the video to make some inferences abo= ut what kind of traits the characters have.&n= bsp;
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1. Click to read this chapter from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. What traits can you infer the Mad Hatter might have? Why? Support with evidence from the reading.
2. Read the following excerpt from Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-tale Heart.” What traits can you infer for the narrator? Why? Support with evidence from the reading.
But even yet I refrained and kept s= till. I scarcely breathed. I held the lantern motionless. I tried how steadily I co= uld maintain the ray upon the eye. Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder, every instan= t. The old man's terror must have been extreme! It grew louder, I say, louder every moment! -- do you mark me well? I have told you that I am nervous: so= I am. And now at the dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror. = Yet, for some minutes longer I refrained and stood still. But the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst. And now a new anxiety seize= d me -- the sound would be heard by a neighbour! The= old man's hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped = into the room. He shrieked once -- once only. In an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled gaily, to find the = deed so far done. But for many minutes the heart beat on with a muffled sound. T= his, however, did not vex me; it would not be heard through the wall. At length = it ceased. The old man was dead. I removed the bed and examined the corpse. Ye= s, he was stone, stone dead. I placed my hand upon the heart and held it there many minutes. There was no pulsation. He was stone dead. His eye would trou= ble me no more.
3. Click the picture below this question. You will not be able to see this video in class. You will have to do it at home where you have access to YouTube vide= os. If your parents do not want you to access YouTube, please have them write a= nd sign an excuse for you, exempting you from this part of the independent study. Describe the behavior = in the clip. What traits can you infer that either of these characters might have? Why? Support with evidence from the clip.
NOW THINK: What do the behavior o= f a character and what the characters says tell you about the character?
Feelings
What does a character care= about? How does he or she feel about his friends, his family, and life in general? Click the picture and watch the video. You will not be able to see this vid= eo in class. You will have to do it at home where you have access to YouTube videos. If your parents do not want you to access YouTube, please have them write and sign an excuse for you, exempting you from this part of the independent study.
What does = this character care about? What does that tell you about him? Does he feel the s= ame about trash that most other people do?
Personality:
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Based on the character’s appearance, behavior, and feelings, you can start inferring the personality or character traits.
or
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1. What are some personali= ty traits for the above character? Create a list of traits and explain what element (appearance, behavior, feelings, etc.) made you choose each trait y= ou listed. (At least 5 traits on your list, please)
NOW THINK- PUT IT ALL TOGETHER! Based on the appearance, behavi= or, feelings, and personality of the character, you have a good sense the character. Which of these elements do you think is the most important when analyzing a character? Why?
IV. Direct and Indirect Characterization
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Check out this site: http://w= ww.fictionfactor.com/guests/characterization.html
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Or this one: http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=3DCharacterization
After read= ing the information found on the website, read the following passage and answer the questions below.
Read the first paragraph a= t http://hca.gilead.org.il/emp= eror.html.
1. Write t= hree specific examples of direct characterization from the first paragraph of the story.
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Watch the short on this website: http://www= .umass.edu/aesop/content.php?n=3D16&i=3D1
2. Write three specific ex= amples of indirect characterization from the short.
NOW THINK- What form of characterization do you think is more effective, indirect or direct? Why?
Now that you have an under= standing of character, characterization, and character traits, it is time to apply y= our knowledge:
Imagine you are on a deser= ted island, and you can bring only one person. Choose a celebrity (a real life person, not a fictional character) to live on your island with you. Choose = two character TRAITS that this cel= ebrity possesses that would be useful on the island.
Keep in mind that a TRAIT = is not a skill. Choosing Emeril or Gordon Ramsay because he is a chef is not acceptable. Being a chef is an occupation. Being a good chef is a skill. You must choose your person based on character traits such as bravery, honesty, responsibility etc.
Write an essay explaining = your choice. Your introduction should name the person you chose and give some background of your celebrity. Who is he or she? Pretend I do not know who y= our celebrity is and give a general description of him or her. At the end of yo= ur introduction, name two traits that this person possesses that are ideal for helping you on this deserted island. This will serve as your thesis stateme= nt.
Your two body paragraphs s= hould explain the celebrity’s traits and the evidence for your celebrity ha= ving these traits. If you’re going to tell me that you have chosen Michael Phelps because he is motivated, you must give me two pieces of evidence of = how he is motivated. Then you must connect how being motivated will be helpful = to you on the island.
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Your conclusion should restate your thesis and restate the strongest points of y= our body paragraphs.
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; This will be due October 31, 2008.
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; Requirements:
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nb= sp; Minimum 700 words. (around = two, double-spaced pages)
&nbs= p; &= nbsp; &nbs= p; Follow the formatting requirements on my website.
Here’s the rubric:
0-1 Points
2-3 Points
4-5 Points
Thesis
assertion, two traits, one sentence<= o:p>
Missing a= ssertion and/or trait, more than one sentence
Contains = proper elements but is unclear or poorly stated
Assertion= , two traits, one sentence, clearly stated
Introduction contains correct thesis statement
Does not = contain a thesis statement
Contains = thesis statement but is unclear/poorly stated
Contains = correctly stated thesis statement
Character Traits
traits are specific, clear and impor= tant for survival
Poor, non= -specific traits that are unclear
One and/o= r both traits are a little unclear but acceptable
Character= traits are specific and clear
Body #1
one trait, two proofs, connections
Missing t= rait and/or proof, and is poorly connected
Has a tra= it and two proofs but needs clearer connections
Has a tra= it, two proofs, and is clearly connected to the thesis
Body #2
one trait, two proofs, connections
Missing t= rait and/or proof, and is poorly connected
Has a tra= it and two proofs but needs clearer connections
Has a tra= it, two proofs, and is clearly connected to the thesis
Conclusion
contains correct thesis statement
Does not = contain a thesis statement
Contains = thesis statement but is unclear/poorly stated
Contains = correctly stated thesis statement
MLA
correct heading, typed, Times New Ro= man, 12 pt. font
Incorrect= heading, not typed and/or incorrect font
Correct h= eading, typed in correct font with only some minor errors
Typed wit= h correct heading, format, and font
Mechanics grammar, syntax, and spelling
More than= five grammar, syntax, and/or spelling errors
4 - 5 gra= mmar, syntax, and/or spelling errors
Three or = less grammar, syntax, and/or spelling errors
Overall Writing
Quality
Poor writ= ing, effort, and/or presentation
Strong wr= iting but lacks clarity/focus
Writing i= s clear, concise, and strong
Timeliness
Essay was= not turned in on time
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Essay was= turned in on time
&nbs= p; Conclusion:
Now that you’ve comp= leted this independent study, you should have strengthened your understanding of characterization. You have defined and identified: protagonist and antagoni= st; round, flat, static, and dynamic character; and elements of character. You have analyzed character traits and explained the= m in an expository essay.
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