Character Analysis Definition
Character analysis examines the personality traits of a character. Still, it also takes into account other elements.
A thorough examination will look at how they behave when confronted with certain situations.
In order to fully comprehend the personality and characteristics of a character, it is necessary to check their environment.
How characters are raised & people they are surrounded by during childhood can affect their personalities.
The main purpose of character analysis is to understand the characters. When you analyze them, not only their actions are important but also how they interact with other people and things. Understanding these elements is important to gain a better understanding of the character.
Focus on the following points when doing a character analysis:
- Character Traits
When you're creating a character, it's important to think about their personality and what they are like. Sketch out some ideas of how your character might act in different situations. - Character History
Character study is crucial when it comes to character analysis. The character's past can tell you a lot about them. For instance, how they behave when dealing with other people in general. Plus, certain incidents from their life specifically- such as schooling or childhood traumas that have been difficult for them. - Character Behavior
The way a character acts when they are angry can give valuable insight into their personality. For example, do not be afraid to show your reader that the character has a limit. Tell your readers that the character is not always reasonable or calm. - Character Relationships
The important relationships in any story are what drives it forward. A single character cannot run on their own. So they need to form meaningful connections with other characters. This helps them carry out their journey and achieve success or failure.
Understanding Different Types of Characters
While there are many different types of characters in a story. Some undergo significant changes throughout the course, while others remain much more stagnant.
You can classify the type of character by looking at their personality. Characters are further classified as antagonists and protagonists. Check out this table to learn about different types of characters:
| Type of Character | Character Description |
| Protagonist | Mostly, it is the hero/heroine of the story. The actions of the protagonist affect the plot. |
| Antagonist | An antagonist is commonly known as the villain of the story. The antagonist is always in conflict with the protagonist in a story. |
| Major Character | The major characters are usually the close ones of the protagonist. Therefore, the major character plays a huge role in the story. |
| Minor Character | A minor character plays a very unimportant role in the story. |
| Dynamic character | It is a type of character that changes with the course of events in the story. |
| Static character | This type of character remains the same throughout the story. |
| Stereotypes | They show very conventional roles, for instance, a clown. |
How to Write a Character Analysis?
Here are the complete writing steps for a character analysis:
1. Read the Story
The first step when planning to do a character analysis is to read the story of the novel thoroughly. It is better to read the text several times so you can have a complete understanding of the plot. Pay attention to the details of the story.
2. Choose a Character to Analyze
Pick a character that you need to study. It is not necessary to analyze only the hero. Ensure the person you pick goes through a ton of changes.
3. Take Notes
Take notes of the important elements or incidents that take place in the story. This will help the reader to get attached to the character. So you will have to give vivid details about your character.
4. Select the Main Idea
Select the main idea about your character that you will focus on in the analysis. Support your ideas by providing situations and examples regarding the main character of the story.
5. Compose Character Analysis Questions
You will have a few critical thoughts on the selected character; considering your personality from different angles is significant. The more familiar you are with them, the better you will actually do the analysis.
Answer these questions to do the analysis more efficiently:
- Where do the events take place?
- The relations the selected character has with other characters.
- The abrupt change in their personality due to any incident.
- The lesson learned by the character in the story.
- If the characters get successful to achieve their goals.
6. Create an Outline
Making a character analysis outline that will help you write a quality character analysis essay. Include the following elements in the outline of your character analysis:
- Introduction
In a few sentences, tell your readers about the chosen character and text. - Body paragraphs
Divide your analysis essay into a few paragraphs. Also, do not deviate from the main topic in order to write a good essay.
Divide the body section into a few paragraphs and discuss different ideas related to the selected character. Always begin the paragraph with a topic sentence that’ll introduce readers with the idea of the paragraph.
- Conclusion
End your analysis essay with a conclusion paragraph. Restate all the main points of the analysis. Round off the features of your character. Plus, write the moral that the character narrates to the readers by relating it to real life.
Character Analysis Example
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