Character Project
I am the Ice Worm
by MaryAnn Easley
Due Wednesday, April 4
Personality of the Character:
When you write a character analysis, you will be expected to describe a character's personality. We get to know characters in our stories through the things they say, feel, and do. It's not as difficult as it may seem to figure out a character's personality traits based on his/her thoughts and behaviors.
You will receive clues about a character's personality through his or her:
Character Role:
When you write a character analysis, you must also define each character's role. In addition to having personality traits, characters also fill certain roles in a story. They either play a major role, as a central element to the story, or they play a minor role to serve a supporting role in the story.
Protagonist: The protagonist of a story is often called the main character. The plot revolves around the protagonist. There may be more than one main character.
Antagonist: The antagonist is the character who represents a challenge or an obstacle to the protagonist in a story. In some stories, the antagonist is not a person!
Foil: A foil is a character who provides contrast to the main character (protagonist), in order to emphasize the main character's traits. In A Christmas Carol, the kind nephew Fred is the foil to nasty Ebenezer Scrooge.
Character Development (Growth and Change):
When you are asked to write a character analysis, you will be expected to explain how a character changes and grows. Most characters go through changes as a story unfolds-otherwise, stories would be pretty boring!
01.) Dissatisfaction and Conflict
At the beginning of most stories and plays for that matter, the protagonist feels a sense of dissatisfaction. This might be something minor or comical. There needs to be an emotional piece of the puzzle missing from the protagonist. This missing element will allow the main character to experience growth by the final act of the play.
After the protagonist's traits are established, then conflict storms into the storyline. Conflict forces characters to change, to react to new and challenging situations. Think of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. After the audience learns that Dorothy does not feel a strong sense of home and security, a tornado whisks her away to Oz -- a strange and frightening place that makes her appreciate Kansas!
02.) Escalation of Conflict
As the saying goes, "Out of the frying pan and into the fire!" To keep the attention of the audience, and to further the transformation of the protagonist, things must get worse before they get better. The conflict must intensify. The escalation of conflict is also known as "raising the stakes."
03.) Climax and Resolution
Eventually the protagonist reaches a "tipping point," a moment when a crucial decision must be made or a truth must be revealed. Most climactic moments in literature stem from choices of the protagonist:
- Romeo decides to drink the poison
- Scrooge chooses to embrace Christmas
- Danny Zuko gives up his Greaser ways to prove his love for Sandy - Grease
Sometimes the climax and/or resolution is out of the protagonist's hands. Sometimes fate, or God, or luck steps in. This is known as deus ex machina, and it is usually a disappointing way to wrap up a story.
After the climax, the conflict fades and the resolution unfolds. Most main characters experience a valuable lesson at the story's end. Some protagonists transform in positive ways and refect upon what they have learned. (Think of Dorothy's last line, "There's no place like home!") Some stories end with the protagonist feeling sadder but wiser and of course some protagonists die at the end of the play. Some main characters end their lives by defiantly standing up for their ideals other protagonists die without learning a thing, but the audience gains a valuable lesson from their demise.
When you write a character analysis, you will be expected to describe a character's personality. We get to know characters in our stories through the things they say, feel, and do. It's not as difficult as it may seem to figure out a character's personality traits based on his/her thoughts and behaviors.
You will receive clues about a character's personality through his or her:
- Actions
- Words
- Reactions
- Feelings
- Movements
- Thoughts
- Mannerisms
Character Role:
When you write a character analysis, you must also define each character's role. In addition to having personality traits, characters also fill certain roles in a story. They either play a major role, as a central element to the story, or they play a minor role to serve a supporting role in the story.
Protagonist: The protagonist of a story is often called the main character. The plot revolves around the protagonist. There may be more than one main character.
Antagonist: The antagonist is the character who represents a challenge or an obstacle to the protagonist in a story. In some stories, the antagonist is not a person!
Foil: A foil is a character who provides contrast to the main character (protagonist), in order to emphasize the main character's traits. In A Christmas Carol, the kind nephew Fred is the foil to nasty Ebenezer Scrooge.
Character Development (Growth and Change):
When you are asked to write a character analysis, you will be expected to explain how a character changes and grows. Most characters go through changes as a story unfolds-otherwise, stories would be pretty boring!
01.) Dissatisfaction and Conflict
At the beginning of most stories and plays for that matter, the protagonist feels a sense of dissatisfaction. This might be something minor or comical. There needs to be an emotional piece of the puzzle missing from the protagonist. This missing element will allow the main character to experience growth by the final act of the play.
After the protagonist's traits are established, then conflict storms into the storyline. Conflict forces characters to change, to react to new and challenging situations. Think of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. After the audience learns that Dorothy does not feel a strong sense of home and security, a tornado whisks her away to Oz -- a strange and frightening place that makes her appreciate Kansas!
02.) Escalation of Conflict
As the saying goes, "Out of the frying pan and into the fire!" To keep the attention of the audience, and to further the transformation of the protagonist, things must get worse before they get better. The conflict must intensify. The escalation of conflict is also known as "raising the stakes."
03.) Climax and Resolution
Eventually the protagonist reaches a "tipping point," a moment when a crucial decision must be made or a truth must be revealed. Most climactic moments in literature stem from choices of the protagonist:
- Romeo decides to drink the poison
- Scrooge chooses to embrace Christmas
- Danny Zuko gives up his Greaser ways to prove his love for Sandy - Grease
Sometimes the climax and/or resolution is out of the protagonist's hands. Sometimes fate, or God, or luck steps in. This is known as deus ex machina, and it is usually a disappointing way to wrap up a story.
After the climax, the conflict fades and the resolution unfolds. Most main characters experience a valuable lesson at the story's end. Some protagonists transform in positive ways and refect upon what they have learned. (Think of Dorothy's last line, "There's no place like home!") Some stories end with the protagonist feeling sadder but wiser and of course some protagonists die at the end of the play. Some main characters end their lives by defiantly standing up for their ideals other protagonists die without learning a thing, but the audience gains a valuable lesson from their demise.
Project Rubric available for download below:
i_am_the_ice_worm_character_project_rubric.doc | |
File Size: | 47 kb |
File Type: | doc |
Character Project - FINAL DRAFT due Wednesday, April 4
MUST HAVES
Title Page:
Title of the Project - I am the Ice Worm Character Analysis
Student Name
Due Date - April 4, 2012
Picture pertaining to I am the Ice Worm - MUST be in color
Final Draft:
Typed
Double Spaced
Size 12 font
Font- Arial or Times New Roman ONLY
NO CLEAR FOLDER COVER!!!!!!
Title Page:
Title of the Project - I am the Ice Worm Character Analysis
Student Name
Due Date - April 4, 2012
Picture pertaining to I am the Ice Worm - MUST be in color
Final Draft:
Typed
Double Spaced
Size 12 font
Font- Arial or Times New Roman ONLY
NO CLEAR FOLDER COVER!!!!!!