Characterization Activities to Spark Analysis

Characterization is a literary element that provides an accessible window into literary analysis. It is important in literary analysis because it helps us to understand the characters in a text and their motivations. By understanding the characters, we can better understand the plot, themes, and meaning of the text.

This is why I target characterization as the starting point of literary analysis.

Specifically, I like to have students trace a central character’s change or shift over the course of a text and analyze how that shift communicates an overall theme. Students can then take this analysis and use it as an outline for an essay.

For example, my students recently read The Great Gatsby, and I had them trace Nick Carraway’s shift in character by finding evidence for his pre-shift (before he changes), evidence of what causes him to change, and finally his post-shift (his character traits after his experiences). Students wrote their evidence and character adjectives on sticky notes and put them on the board and then used this evidence to write an essay with three body paragraphs: pre-shift, shift cause, post-shift.

Students used a character adjectives thesaurus handout to help them generate adjectives to describe Nick throughout the process. This list helps students use higher-level SAT words in their writing and analysis.

Characterization Adjectives List by Bespoke ELA

Essay Outline Using Characterization as Evidence

Thesis Statement:

In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, he shows that witnessing immoral behavior leads to disillusionment as shown through Nick Carraway’s shift from a naive and innocent character to a disgusted and disenchanted character.

Topic Sentence #1:

First of all, Nick Carraway arrives in New York City as an excited and naive character who wishes to learn an “honest” trade in the bond business.

Topic Sentence #2:

Secondly, Nick begins to shift when he witnesses Tom Buchanan deny knowing Myrtle Wilson when they discover that she has been killed in a hit-and-run accident.

Topic Sentence #3:

Finally, after witnessing the immoral behavior of Tom and Daisy, Nick becomes disgusted and refuses to enter Tom’s home or shake his hand. He returns home disenchanted by his experience in New York City.

When it comes to teaching literature, the main character must change. If there is no change, there is no story— with the exception of some plot-driven superhero stories.

Change is essential to story.

By targeting characterization with our students, they can gain a deeper understanding of the characters in a text and thereby use character as evidence of theme.

In order to help students explore the traits of a character, there are so many characterization activities that can help them “discover” a character’s physiological traits (what a character looks like), sociological traits (a character’s experiences), and psychological traits (a character’s behaviors).

Characterization activities are meaningful for students because they help them to develop their critical thinking and analytical skills. Let’s take a look at some activity options for analyzing character.