Write a character analysis

Video: How to Complete a Character Analysis

Content

To step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing the character analysis
Part 2 of 3: Writing the character analysis
Part 3 of 3: Support your text with evidence
Tips

To be able to write a character analysis, you will have to read a literary work carefully to see what the author reveals about a character in, for example, the narrative, dialogues and plot. A literary analyst writes about the role each character plays in the story. The protagonist is the main character and the villain who is in conflict with the main character is called the antagonist. Great writers give their characters all kinds of different facets and the character analysis must therefore highlight these many sides of a character. In this article you can read what to consider when writing your own character analysis.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Preparing the character analysis

Choose your character. If you have to write your character analysis for a school assignment, it may be that the assignment states which character you have to explain. If you can choose yourself, make sure you choose a character who plays a dynamic role in the story. Characters that appear flat (one-dimensional - someone who only good or bad, often has no profound motivations that you can name) are, for example, not a good subject for a character analysis.
- Are you Mark Twain's classic "Huckleberry finn " reading, you could use Huck or the runaway slave Jim as the subject of your character analysis. These characters take an active part in the story and also experience different emotions, so that they often do unexpected things and thus propel the plot.
- Characters you shouldn't choose include the Duke or King and the impostors Huck and Jim meet in Arkansas. After all, these characters only play a small role in the story and do not show any emotions. They are characters whose sole purpose is to fulfill some function in the story (for example, the story needs some humor, and Jim and Huck need to be somehow drifted apart so that Huck can have his famous moment of insight. duke and king fulfill this role).
Read the story with your character in mind. Even if you've already read the story, you'd do well to do it again. If you pay extra attention to your character, you will likely notice things that you normally would not see. Read each scene where your character appears and ask yourself the following questions:
- How does the author describe the character?
  - Huckleberry Finn is described, for example, as a boy who grew up in the woods but is clearly grappling with bigger problems, such as slavery and faith.
- What relationship does your character have with other characters?
  - For example, Huck can relate well to the runaway slave Jim, both at the beginning and the end of the story. Think of Huck's relationship with his drunk father who assaulted him and wonder how this affected his development.
- How does your character's behavior propel the story?
  - Huck is the main character and so his behavior is of course very important. But what exactly is special about the way Huck behaves? How does his behavior differ from someone else's in his situation? You could talk about how Huck decides to save Jim from the people who wanted to betray him for disapproving slavery, although this idea is quite different from what society has taught him.
- What difficulties has your character faced?
  - Think of Huck's childhood and what he learns during the story. At first he tends to make fun of people (like when he staged his own death), but later on he stops playing that kind of joke because he sees what it does to people (for example when he thinks of the duke and the king tries to come down).
Make notes. As you read, write down all the things you notice about your character. Pay particular attention to details regarding the development and personality of your character. If necessary, underline pieces of text or write things in the margins of your book.
- You can also keep a notepad handy while reading so that you can keep eye-catching elements neatly in order.
Choose a main idea. Review all your notes about your character and try to come up with the main idea behind it. Make this thought the thesis statement of your character analysis. Think about the things your character does, the motivations behind the character's behavior, and the development the character goes through. For example, your main idea may be that your main character perfectly illustrates the difficulties of growing up as a boy, or that every human being is fundamentally good. Maybe your character shows that even people who make huge mistakes are capable of change and deserve forgiveness.
- In case of Huckleberry Finn For example, you can write about the hypocrisy of society, since the book is about a boy who has learned to accept slavery, but after his experiences with Jim, he decides to see Jim as a friend and not a slave. In addition, Huck is "owned" by his father and is used by him as a slave, further understanding Jim's desire for freedom. Society sees Huck's escape as moral and proper, but Jim's as a crime against the villagers. This contrast is an important aspect of the story.
Write out the main points of your analysis. Once you have chosen a main idea, you can develop it by systematically organizing your material to create a point-by-point summary of your analysis. Write out in which places in the text your character shows certain character traits and thus support your main idea.

Part 2 of 3: Writing the character analysis

Write your introduction. Keep your main thoughts in mind and write an introductory paragraph about the character you have chosen and the role he or she plays in the literary work.
Describe your character's appearance. Describe what your character looks like and what this says about him or her as a person. Make sure to quote or paraphrase parts of the text.
- Think of the rags in which Huck is clothed and what this says about his character. Name the scene where Huck dresses up as a girl to find out the latest news and how his different appearance affects your analysis of Huck.
Discuss your character's background. If the past of your character is discussed in the book, explain this in your character analysis. People's past can significantly influence their personality and personal development, so it is important to explain this aspect of your character's life if possible. Where and when was your character born? Where did he or she grow up? Has your character been educated? How does your character's past affect him or her in the story?
- Discuss Huck's relationship with his father and with the widowed Douglas and Mrs. Watson, who take him in. How do these characters affect Huck's development? The contrast between Huck's drunken father and the conservative ladies who later take care of Huck is very interesting. You can also ask yourself what Hucks social behavior is based on; on the tape with his father or the one with the ladies.
Discuss the character's language. Analyze the language the character uses throughout the story. Does his or her use of language stay the same all the time or does the character's language change as the story progresses?
- Huck uses fairly coarse words for a boy his age and widow Douglas regularly disapproves of his use of language. He tries his best to improve and to behave in the church, but regularly falls back into his old ways; that of someone who is not nearly as civilized as he pretends to be, or if the widow wants him to be.
Write about your character's personality. How does the character deal with emotions and why? What do you think is important to the character, given his behavior and word usage? Does the character have specific goals? Be as specific as possible and make sure to give examples from the text.
- Huckleberry Finn tries to abide by the rules of society, but in the end his behavior stems mainly from emotions. Although breaking the law with this, he decides to save Jim because he thinks Jim should not be treated like a slave. He decides this himself, despite the things that society has taught him.
Analyze the relationships your character has with others. Think about how your character interacts with other people throughout the story. Is he or she more or less a follower or a leader? Does the character have friends and family with whom he hangs out a lot? Use examples from the text to illustrate your findings.
Describe how the character changes or grows throughout the story. Most main characters will have to deal with some conflict throughout the story. Sometimes this is an external conflict (for example with the people around him), but in other cases it is an internal conflict (personal problems related to feelings or behavior). Is the character a better or worse person at the end of the story? Memorable characters usually change or grow over time.
- Huck's external conflict has to do with the events that take place during his journey - the physical difficulties, things that go wrong along the way, various scandals and cheats, and so on. His internal conflict culminates when Huck decides to help Jim escape his position as a slave. This is a pivotal moment in the story when Huck follows his heart and lets go of his social consciousness.
Gather material that supports your analysis. Be sure to provide specific examples from the text to make your findings as compelling as possible. Also add quotes. If the author describes a character as sloppy, you will need to show where this trait comes out by quoting or paraphrasing the text.

Part 3 of 3: Support your text with evidence

Support your claims by using evidence from the text. Use direct quotes from the book in your work for this.
Use the so-called PIE method to give your analysis a clear structure. PIE stands for Point, Illustration and Explanation. That is, you first make a point, then illustrate it with an example from the text and finally explain how the quote supports your statement.
- For example, you can write: Huck Finn measures himself in his work as a float for a completely new identity. He says that "for a craft like this he has to be some sort of float." This shows that he associates his work with a certain freedom and pride.
Make the quote part of your text. Always introduce and explain quotes. In this way, a quote becomes part of your text and is not lost in your analysis.
- Mistake: "For a" craft "like this you have to be some sort of float."
- Good: He says that "for a craft like this, he has to be some sort of float."
- Good: "For a craft like this, you have to be kind of a float," said Huck.
Don't use too many quotes. Make sure your analysis makes up at least 90% of your text. The remaining 10% may consist of quotations.

Tips

Write a rough draft to collect your thoughts. Then correct this version before submitting it.
Use specific details from the text to support each point.
Make sure you build up the analysis properly. Write an introduction that appeals to the reader and makes them curious. Make sure each paragraph is about a specific topic. Then close your work with a clear conclusion.
Characters also have bad qualities. Also analyze these points to get a complete picture of your character.