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Questions and Answers
What does a round character typically exhibit?
Which type of character does not change and usually has few character traits?
Who is the main character in a story called?
What is the role of the protagonist’s opponent?
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Which character type is usually a minor character and lacks development?
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What is the term for a character who the main character confides in or opens up to?
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Which term refers to thoroughly examining the means used by the author to present a literary character?
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What does the author suggest highlighting when analyzing a literary character?
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What differentiates a round character from a flat character?
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Which type of literary character usually has a major character role and shows development?
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Study Notes
Analyzing a Literary Character
- To analyze a literary character, examine the means used by the author to present the character and find out what makes them special.
Preparation
- Read the task to identify the character to be examined.
- Study the text carefully and highlight or underline information about the character.
- Take notes on the character's:
- Name, gender, age, ethnicity, origin, and religion
- Family and social status
- Profession and general situation
- Outward appearance, behavior, and way of speaking/thinking
- Attitudes, values, and character traits
- Interests, ambitions, and aims
- Relationships and conflicts
Characterization Techniques
- Direct characterization: narrator directly tells the reader about the character
- Indirect characterization: author describes the character's appearance, background, experiences, attitudes, and behavior, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions
Narrative Techniques
- First-/third-person narrator: affects the reader's perception of the character
- (Un)reliable narrator: may lack objectivity in presenting the character
- Limited/unlimited point of view: affects the reader's understanding of the character
- Scenic/panoramic presentation: author's use of descriptive language to convey the character's traits
- Flashback and foreshadowing: techniques used to convey the character's experiences and motivations
Analysis
- Describe the character's traits, experiences, behavior, motivations, attitudes, and values in detail
- Examine the narrative technique, stylistic devices, and language used to portray the character
- Identify whether the narrator is reliable or unreliable
- Provide text evidence to support analysis
- Examine the character's role in the excerpt and their relationships with other characters
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Description
Test your understanding of literary character analysis by identifying and analyzing key aspects of characters, such as their background, behavior, traits, and relationships, supported by evidence from the text. Explore the techniques used by authors to characterize their creations.
