Teaching character analysis, Part IV

Here are some pictures showing work from the activities I describe in my last post in this series about teaching character analysis.

My students have now moved away from examining character traits to looking at characterizations.  For those who don't remember, characterization is the methods authors use to give us information about the characters in a story.  There are four methods: (1) through the character's actions, (2) through the character's speech, (3) through the character's appearance, and (4) through other characters' reactions to the character. 

Students usually have trouble distinguishing #4 from #1 not realizing that other people react to a character can tell us a lot about the character.  Their confusion is usually cleared up after having some examples. 

To introduce characterization, I have students write character traits on notecards with an example of something that happens in the book that made them realize the character had that particular trait.  I then go over the definition of characterization and the four methods.  Students then get into groups and poll their index cards and together put the notecards into four piles corresponding to the four methods.

Then (what students started today), students get into their lit circle groups and start thinking about how the main character is characterized.  After students examine all four methods, I ask them some "bigger" questions:
1. Which method of characterization does the author use the most?

2. Which method of characterization is used the least?

3. Which of the methods gives you the most reliable/believable information?

4.  What lesson can you learn about people in general from the way this character is portrayed? (This question starts to get at theme and asks the students to generalize from information they know.)

This is the first time I've asked these "bigger" questions.  I'm trying to get students to think more "meta" and push the envelop with their thinking.  We'll see how they do with them tomorrow.

Comments

[Jo McLeay]

Hi Tim,
I am an English teacher in Melbourne, Australia, teaching Year 9 girls and doing action research into the implementation of Literature Circles. I am glad I found your blog as it seems we have much in common. I have been enjoying catching up on whaqt you have written.
Jo McLeay

Very nice -- I'm impressed with the care your kids have taken with their work and the way they have applied what you have taught them. I like your "bigger questions" very much and will use them with my freshmen, if that's all right. I've just finished characterization, but will come back toyour questions when we begin to look at theme. It will make a nice transition.

[BETTY]

HI