Character analysis

The students will be working on a new project.  I will be walking them through each step and provided examples and class time.

Here is a copy of the project:

When developing characters, authors avoid the stick figure.   Rather, they work to create rich, complex characters that experience both inner and outer conflicts with their environment.  For this assignment, your task is to analyze one complex character from your choice book, movie or story.  First, you must analyze your characters’ indirect characterization.  Second, you must choose a creative project to express who this character is.  You must include all of elements of indirect characterization—what the character does, feels, looks, and says.

Character Project Guidelines:

 -  Feel free to see me with other ideas.

~Your goal is to ANALYZE a character with your creative project.  You will need to be as specific as possible.

Character’s Name: Luke - Among the Hidden
Actions	Feelings
Luke finally rebels against the rules  This is demonstrated when he escapes from his house and breaks into the sports families home.	Luke feels trapped in his life like a caged animal  This is because he is not allowed to have any freedom because he is a third child
Experiences	Description
He experiences another shadow child after the break in.  This experience helps Luke understand that life is not as it seemed to him	Luke is described as very cautious and naive  He usually follows all the rules set out for him and does not know of a great world out there.

Questions to answer:

1) Describe aspects of human nature that are revealed through your character and relate this to your community.

2) Compare the actions of your character to your feelings or experiences. Do you agree with your character or not?  How would you act in this situation?

3) How does the plot and setting impact your character?

4) What point of view does your character take in the story? 

Character Project Ideas

·        Poetry:  This is an original poem.  Your poem can be written about your character or from your character’s perspective.  Your poems should tell us about your character’s speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks.

·       A Short Story or a Script for a Play:  Your short story or script for your play must include your character as the main character.  You can make your short story or script be an extension from the end of the novel, a deleted scene from your novel, or an entirely different situation from your novel.  Your short story or script should explain or imply your character’s speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks.

·       A Newspaper Article:  Your article will need to center on your main character.  You can use your article to highlight an important event in your novel, an important event in your character’s life, or you can write articles about something that happened to your character before or after your novel takes place.  Your newspaper article should explain or imply your character’s speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks.

·       A Diary:  Your diary entry must be written from the perspective of your chosen character.  You will need to use your diary entries to comment on the various experiences that your character faces during your novel.  Your entry should discuss an event in your novel, but you should use the diary entry to delve deeper into your character.  Tell us how your character was thinking or feeling during the event. Your diary entries should also explain or imply your character’s speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks. Feel free to add color and pictures to your diary.

·       A Character Analysis Essay:  This essay must be written about the character and include five paragraphs centered on an analytical thesis statement—how the author used the character to demonstrate the theme.  You will use this formal essay to describe your character and explain how your descriptions show your character’s speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks.  You must include one quote from the book for each of your three body paragraphs.

·       A Character Portrait:  Draw, paint, or otherwise design a portrait of your main character.  You should include several character traits—written on the portrait.  Your portrait should also contain your character’s speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks.   

·       A Character Collage:  Create a collage in which you use images to visually analyze your character.  You should include several character traits—written on the collage.  Your portrait should also contain your character’s speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks.