Character Analysis

Motivation

Ask:

• What does the character want?

A character may want:

• acceptance
• freedom
• power
• safety
• revenge
• love
• independence
• success

Motivation helps explain why characters make particular choices.

Direct and indirect characterisation

Direct characterisation tells the reader what a character is like.

Maria was impatient and ambitious.

Indirect characterisation shows the character through behaviour.

Maria checked the clock for the third time and interrupted before Daniel had finished speaking.

The reader has to interpret what the behaviour reveals.

Actions

Actions often reveal more than descriptions.

Ask:

• What choices does the character make?
• What happens when they are under pressure?
• How do they treat other people?
• Do their actions match what they say?

Dialogue

Dialogue can reveal:

• personality
• relationships
• social position
• confidence
• hidden conflict
• attitudes

What a character avoids saying can sometimes be as important as what they say directly.

Relationships

Characters often become clearer through contrast with others.

Ask:

• Who has power in the relationship?
• Who changes because of the relationship?
• What causes tension?
• What does one character reveal about another?

Character development

A dynamic character changes significantly.

A static character remains largely the same.

Change can involve:

• beliefs
• confidence
• relationships
• values
• understanding

Not every important character needs to change.

Beginning

Amir avoids speaking during group discussions because he is afraid of making mistakes.

Later

During the final presentation, he continues speaking after forgetting a word and explains the idea in another way.

Possible analysis

Amir's response to the forgotten word shows how his attitude has changed. Earlier, fear of making mistakes prevented him from speaking, whereas he now accepts imperfection and focuses on communicating his idea. His development therefore involves increased confidence rather than simply improved language ability.

This explains how the character changes and what the change means.

1. Identify the character's main goals.
2. Look for important choices.
3. Examine dialogue and behaviour.
4. Consider relationships with other characters.
5. Identify internal and external conflicts.
6. Compare the character at different points in the story.
7. Explain what their development contributes to the text as a whole.

Weak: Listing personality traits.

She is kind, shy and intelligent.

Better: Explain which details reveal those traits and why they matter.

Weak: "The character changes a lot."

Better: Explain exactly what changes and identify evidence from different parts of the story.

Mistake: Assuming the narrator's description is completely objective.

Better: Consider whether the narrator may have a limited or biased perspective.

Mistake: Ignoring contradictions.

A character may say one thing and do another. That contradiction can be important.

At the beginning of a story, a character refuses to apologise because they believe admitting mistakes is a sign of weakness. At the end, they apologise publicly to a friend.

What does this most clearly suggest?

• A. The setting has changed.
• B. The character has probably developed in their understanding of strength and responsibility.
• C. The story contains no conflict.
• D. The character has become physically stronger.

Answer: B. The change in behaviour suggests a change in values or understanding.

• Ask what the character wants and why.
• Use actions, dialogue and relationships as evidence.
• Characters can be shown directly or indirectly.
• Compare behaviour at different points in the story.
• Explain the significance of character development.
• Support interpretations with details from the text.