How to Analyze a Fictional Character
When faced with the difficult task of ‘analyzing a character for an essay!!!!’ I like to help my students by breaking down the character in an easy-to-understand and easy-to-set-out method.
By discussing and taking notes for each section written below, getting to the hard part of ‘knowing the answer’ isn’t so difficult after all. As always when taking notes and preparing answers you must use examples within the text or directions as part of your answer.
Character Description:
There are four main ways to describe a character.
• Physical description – height, weight, colour, smell, age
• Speech and actions – accent, language, evil, good, helpful, irritating
• Direct comment from the narrator – narration, commentary
• Speech and actions of other characters – behaviour, relationships, affect
The first two points are usually easy to write about and not difficult to find in the text. The last two points require analysing your character and the answer must show a good understanding of the chosen text.
Character Types
It’s helpful to break down characters into four types.
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Complex – A well described and fully developed character within the text. They might be the main character or one with some influence within the story.
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Flat - A character described by only one or two traits. Usually not a main character but they can be influential if they are described during a pivotal point in the story.
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Dynamic - A character that develops throughout the story. This is often the ‘hero’ or ‘villain’ of the story, but not always. Other characters can develop and change because of the influence of other characters. A side-kick or friend within the story can be dynamic.
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Static - A character that does not change from the beginning of the story to its end. These characters often show the ‘dynamic’ character, they act as a mirror to reflect change within the text.
Dynamic characters often control the pace and direction of the main story or theme. A complex character is described using all four indicators from the first section (or to the equivalent depth of detail). Knowing how a character changes, or not, throughout a story helps identify themes, symbols and morals.
Using the four categories, characters can be described as
CD,
CS,
FD (rare), and
FS
Character Analysis
If you know the answer to the questions below, you have analysed their place within the text. Characters help us understand the story, and its themes. For young students, working through characters in this manner is a fool proof method of helping them find the true meaning of the text and the author’s intentions.
• Motivation - What causes the character to act? What has happened to make them act the way they do?
• Behavior - What does the character do? Are they good, evil, helpful or kind? What part do they play in leading the story?
• Consequences - What results from the character’s behaviour? Does their behaviour influence other characters or events throughout the story?
• Responsibility- Is the character held accountable for his/her actions? Is this a moral tale? Do the characters change their opinion of the main character in the story because of their actions?
• Reader Expectations - Are the reader’s expectations fulfilled or challenged? Why is this so? Does the character ‘fit the mold’? Are we expected to be enlightened or educated by the story? Was the character believable?
If the characters are suitably ‘active’ and well described for the story, then the author has written a believable and satisfying tale. We empathize with the characters and find the story worthwhile. Themes and directions that the author wanted us to know are conveyed in an entertaining and provocative way.
