Working with Literature Character Study Guide

Module 10: Working with Literature Character and Learning Objectives

  • Core Learning Objective: The primary goal is to recognize and analyze the various elements of characterization within fiction.

  • Integration with Point of View: Assessing characters is a necessary step in employing and understanding the use of point of view in literature.

  • Beyond Rote Memorization: Students often focus on memorizing character names and major roles; however, a thorough analysis requires considering deep, probing questions about the character's nature and function in the text.

Strategic Questions for Character Assessment

To develop a comprehensive understanding of a character, readers should consider several critical categories of inquiry:

  • Physical and Descriptive Details:

    • What specific descriptions does the author provide?

    • Note the length of descriptions: some are a single sentence, while others span a whole page. Every bit of information is considered significant.

    • Identify specific adjectives used by the author to define the character.

  • Narrative Roles:

    • Is the character the protagonist? (Defined as the leading character or the "good guy.")

    • Is the character an antagonist? (Defined as the opposing character or the "bad guy.")

  • Social Interactions and Personality:

    • How does the character interact with other figures in the story?

    • Are they depicted as introverted or extroverted?

    • Are there observable patterns in the character’s conversations?

  • Psychological and Emotional Driving Forces:

    • What are the character’s motives for their actions?

    • Are there key experiences provided by the author that explain or influence these actions?

    • What does the character value? Specifically, what do they love, hate, appreciate, respect, or reject?

  • Perception of Self:

    • What is the character’s internal perception of themselves?

    • Can the character be better understood by analyzing how they speak and think about their own identity?

The Significance of Character in Narrative

  • Propelling the Plot: Characters are the primary drivers of the story; their actions are what typically propel the plot forward.

  • Informed Conclusions: By deciphering characters' motives, experiences, and emotions, readers are equipped to draw more informed and accurate conclusions about the story as a whole.

Applied Characterization Example: "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"

Using the opening paragraph of Joyce Carol Oates’s short story, readers can observe characterization in action through the character of Connie.

  • Initial Textual Observations:

    • Connie's Identity: She is fifteen years old.

    • Habitual Behaviors: She possesses a "quick, nervous giggling habit" and frequently cranes her neck to glance into mirrors.

    • External Validation: Looking into mirrors or checking other people’s faces is a tool she uses to make sure her own appearance is "all right."

    • Connie’s Mother: Described as someone who "noticed everything and knew everything" but no longer has reason to look at her own face. She frequently scolds Connie with old complaints like, "Stop gawking at yourself. Who are you? You think you’re so pretty?"

  • Internal Monologue and Values:

    • Connie ignores her mother's complaints by "looking right through her."

    • She holds a "shadowy vision" of herself in the moment and believes that she is pretty, which she considers to be "everything."

    • She views her mother’s looks as being "gone," which serves as the perceived reason why her mother is always after her.

Detailed Synthesis and Interpretive Analysis

Following the initial reading, readers can move from basic data to deeper character synthesis:

  • Primary Facts:

    • Connie is a fifteen-year-old girl.

    • She is fixated on her reflection.

    • The relationship with her mother is strained and lacks harmony.

  • Deeper Psychological Analysis:

    • Insecurity: Her frequent fixation on her appearance and the reactions of others suggests she is deeply insecure.

    • Complicated Relationship with Appearance: While insecure, she also knows she is pretty, creating a complex internal dynamic regarding her self-image.

    • Intergenerational Conflict: Connie’s obsession with her looks is a source of annoyance for her mother. Connie concludes that her mother is jealous of her youthful attractiveness.

    • The Value of Beauty: To Connie, being pretty is not just a trait but is "everything."

Narrative and Practical Implications

Understanding these specific character traits provides insight into the subsequent events of the narrative:

  • Behavioral Justification: Connie's personality and values explain why she lies to her mother and her friend’s father about her whereabouts.

  • The Need for Validation: Her obsession with appearance explains why she seeks validation by socializing with older children and attracting the attention of boys.

  • Vulnerability to Predatory Behavior:

    • Characters like Arnold Friend, a dangerous man, are able to prey upon her because of these established vulnerabilities.

    • Arnold Friend is specifically able to charm Connie by utilizing flattery, which targets her core value: her need to be seen as pretty.