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Character Analysis Teacher Resources
Find teacher approved Character Analysis educational resource ideas and activities
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Students work in groups of four to analyze characters from "Crime and Punishment". Groups brainstorm characters in the novel that exhibit conflicting tendencies and could qualify as "split" characters. Individually, they choose a character and find relevant textual examples from the book which demonstrate opposing character traits.
Tenth graders complete character analysis from the novel Rocket Boys. In this reading comprehension lesson, 10th graders compare and contrast the different careers of Homer Hickman. They will compare personal experiences, listen to the October Sky soundtrack, and view a PowerPoint presentation.
Analyze characters and stories to identify stereotyping. Learners will examine the concept of character gender to evaluate bias in classroom story books. They are asked to read a story or play and change the gender of the character to see if it still makes sense. They must brainstorm how the story could be different and retell the familiar story with the new elements. Finally, they create illustrations of the character.
Introduce literature circles with Roland Smith's novels. Your seventh graders will see the activity modeled as you read The Three Little Pigs together and apply the format to a Roland Smith novel of their choice. The lesson includes synopses of novels to pass out to your class, as well as a link to The Three Little Pigs. Not all materials mentioned are attached here.
Students choose two characters in Hamlet and symbolize the characters with an object, or find an object that the characters might carry. In this Hamlet instructional activity, students find an object to represent each character they choose. The object should be no larger than a shoebox and labeled with an explanation of why the object was chosen and a quotation from the text about the character.
Investigate the life of Mahatma Gandhi by researching non-violent lifestyles. Learners define the word ahimsa and discuss the personal characteristics that made Gandhi a peaceful warrior. They also create a poster about the story "The Little Red Hen" as an example of a story with a moral. This is a multi-grade lesson because it can be adapted to so many different stories and examples. Character analysis and comparisons between texts are made.
"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past..." Use this Great Gatsby novel study lesson to reinforce literary analysis in your class. Working in groups, young readers write a script for a chosen scene from the novel. Suggestions for choosing characters, narrators, sound effects, dialogue, and setting the stage are given. Use a different novel for younger readers.
Explore historical portraits through art, world history, and drama. Budding thespians view websites featuring historical portraits, then choose a person of interest to research. They role play the part of this historical figure and engage in conversation with classmates portraying other people of the past. This is a wonderful way to build strong character analysis skills and explore a historical perspective.
The Girls by Amy Goldman Koss is the focus of this character analysis instructional activity. The class makes a chart noting the names of specific characters in the book, noting attributes that define each character. They discuss bullying and peer pressure, then sketch the girls from the book, creating a metaphor that represents each.
Take a trip through history with a lesson on historical fiction. With instructions for games, reading activities, and literary analysis assignments, this resource would be a great addition to any reading unit with a historical fiction novel. The lesson is designed for The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963, but you could modify the instructions for any historical fiction novel.