Understanding and Writing a Character Analysis Essay
Introduction
- Evaluates a character’s traits, behaviors, and motivations.
- Requires critical thinking and analysis of personality.
Character Definition
- A character is a person, creature, or animal in a story.
- They influence the narrative through thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Characterization
- Reveals a character’s personality through actions, speech, or thoughts.
- Can be direct or indirect.
Direct vs Indirect Characterization
- Direct: Narrator explicitly describes the character.
- Indirect: Character’s traits are inferred through actions.
Examples of Characterization
- Direct: 'He suppressed his real feelings, mimicking his father.'
- Indirect: 'He looked at her again. Her dark eyes were filled with mystery.'