EN111 Writing Assignment 1: Character Analysis
The paper should not be a simple retelling of the story; assume that your reader is familiar with the story but needs your assistance in analyzing it. Some specific references to the story (facts, quotations) will be necessary to show the reader how you arrived at your conclusions.
Questions to Consider:
- What does the character say or think about himself?
- What does the character do? (Actions)
- What do other characters say about him?
- What does the narrator say about him?
- Does the character act as you believe a human would?
Organizing Your Analysis
To be an effective analysis, your essay should be carefully structured, according to the principles taught in College Composition. Interesting insights into the story are not enough; logical organization helps communicate these ideas and to persuade the reader.
As in all writing, your paper should show an awareness of purpose, audience, and role.
Purpose: Your paper should have a clear theme or central idea that runs throughout
the entire analysis (thesis statement).
Audience: Your audience is not your instructor. Instead, write to your classmates.
They have read the story, but need your assistance in interpreting it.
Role: Your persona is not that of a student. Instead, you are an expert who
brings a unique perspective to the story.
Introduction: At minimum, your introduction must include a clear statement of your
paper’s theme or thesis statement. In addition, remember your audience; attract the
reader’s attention with a general statement about life, a quotation, or an interesting
observation. Be sure to mention the title and author of the work you are discussing.
Body: The organization should be designed to illustrate/prove your central idea. There
are endless possibilities, but the following might be helpful suggestions:
- Organize around the development or change of a character. First discuss the character traits shown at the start of the work, and then describe the changes that occur. Try to determine the causes of this change and the author’s view of it.
- Chronologically organize how the character’s major traits are gradually revealed to the reader.
- Organize around the central traits, such as a kindness or resoluteness which is frustrated by despondency, doubt, or by the actions of others.
- Organize around the central actions that reveal characteristics. Certain key incidents in the plot will stand out in the story, and an effective body might examine three or four of these actions to show how these incidents bring out the traits of the character.
atements about the character must be supported with details from the
story. Your central theme should never be forgotten by your reader – or by you.
A discussion of character can be found on pages 156 to 163 of your text. Writing about short stories is discussed on pages 19 to 60. A sample student analysis is provided on page 50.
Character: Character is the verbal representation of a human being, specifically the inner self that determines thought, speech, and behavior. Through dialogue, action, and commentary, literature portrays the interaction of character and circumstance. As a result, we like, dislike, or even laugh at these characters. An analysis of this
character provides insights into human nature and the nature of life.
Character and Completeness: In literature, each action or speech, no matter how small, is
an accumulating part of the total portrait of the character. In life, things might “just happen,” but in literature each detail is selected and arranged to provide the details
necessary to draw meaningful conclusions about the character.
Major Character Traits: In analyzing a character, you should consider the character’s
major trait or traits. As in life, characters might be innocent or mature, lazy or
ambitious, etc. Sometimes these traits are stated, but more often they are indicated
in conflict. To discover the major traits, consider what the character does and says. However, you must go beyond these to discover what they show about the character. Try to go from the outside to the inside of the character, where his true nature resides.
Change and Development: Sometimes a character resists change, and this causes his eventual downfall (In tragedy, this is referred to as the character’s tragic flaw).
Often, however, you will see a change or growth of character, and an outcome that
once seemed inevitable will be altered. At other times, the change is simply an
enlightenment as to the nature of life (epiphany). In any case, any change must be a part of your analysis.
Conclusion: The conclusion should show how the character analysis relates to the work
as a whole, its themes. Remember your introduction; if it contained some
perceptive observation about human nature, return to this idea in the
conclusion.
