Understanding Characters

After you find the dominant trait, consider one of these 2 angles:

Why is the character this way? What is the cause of this strong trait?

What are the consequences of this prevalent trait? What happens because of it?

Image of Tom (Zachary Quinto), Amanda (Cherry Jones), and Laura (Celia Keegan-Bolger) from a 2013 Broadway production

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Understanding Characters

Image of Jim O'Connor (Charlie Maher) and Laura Wingfield (Naima Swaleh) from a 2019 London performance

See the Drama Analysis module in Content for instructions and samples.

See Writing a Literary Analysis module in Content.

Complete all stages and edit with instructor's feedback.

One way to analyze a work of literature is to focus on one character.

Image of Tom (Zachary Quinto) and Amanda (Cherry Jones) from 2013 Broadway production

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Click above to view video from previous page with transcript.

After you read the work, look back over the passages and make a list of the character's traits. Traits can be external  and internal. The author, character, or other characters may reveal the traits. Examine the following:

What does the character frequently talk about?

What do other characters say about the character?

What does the author say about the character?

Here is a "Characterization in Modern Movies" video from a teacher that shows how to find character traits with well-known movie characters. The same tips apply to both drama and short stories. You do not have to write down the quiz answers; just think about them as you watch the clips. If you can find character traits in a film, you can find them in a play or short story. Let your instructor know if you have questions about this assignment. 

Characterization Quiz

See next page for link to video with transcript.

Now, decide the strongest trait. Which one seems to dominate the character? Which trait do you think you could find lots of evidence to show from the play, explain the passages, and show how they relate to the trait?

Image of Amanda (Cherry Jones) and Laura (Celia Keegan-Bolger) from the 2013 Broadway production

Image of Laura (Michelle Federer) and ( Kevin Isola) from a 2008 Old Globe Theater, San Diego production

Look over your list and choose what seem to be the 3 strongest traits of the character.

Image of Jim (Zach Lanerom) and Laura (Anneliese Moon) from a 2016 Orlando production

For audio reading of book, click on "Read to me" icon on upper far right corner.

Now, you are ready to draft a thesis. Include these parts in your statement.

Sample Thesis Statements (please do not copy):

In Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie, Jim O'Connor struggles to regain the prestige he once had in high school; as a result, he often focuses on himself more than others.

Because Jim O'Connor is narcissistic, he tends to think he knows better than other characters in Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie.

Multimedia are from the following online sources: Akbar, Arifa. “The Glass Menagerie Review: Bold and Bewitching Take on Tennessee Williams.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media Ltd., 4 June 2019, <a href="https://bit.ly/36NCpvU">https://bit.ly/36NCpvU</a>. Chiles, Shaun. Characterization in Modern Movies. YouTube, 15 Nov. 2019, <a href="https://youtu.be/6D5n0gEjeOs">https://youtu.be/6D5n0gEjeOs</a>. McNulty, Charles. “The Glass Menagerie at the Old Globe.” Los Angeles Times, California Times, 22 Apr. 2008, <a href="https://lat.ms/3ruIEws">https://lat.ms/3ruIEws</a>. Palm, Matthew J. “Review: Glass Menagerie Goes from Strength to Strength.” Orlando Sentinel, Orlando Sentinel Media Group, 16 Oct. 2015, <a href="https://bit.ly/3oWyliM">https://bit.ly/3oWyliM</a>. Rizzo, Frank. “Broadway Review: The Glass Menagerie.” Variety, Variety Media, 26&nbsp;Sept. 2013, <a href="https://bit.ly/39VIzMe">https://bit.ly/39VIzMe</a>.

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