Activities

1. Who are the characters in a literary text?
   
   
2. What is the relationship between the characters in a literary text?

3. Using the evidence from the literary text and your understanding of the text so far, determine which character is the protagonist and which is the antagonist.
   
   
4. Predict why you think two characters in the literary text disagree on an issue occurring within the plot of the literary text.

5. Analyze what has happened to the character within the literary text to make him/her see the situation as he/she does.
   
   
6. Using a photograph that has a connection to the literary text, ask students to write about the photograph from the perspective of one of the characters in the literary text.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. Student correctly identifies the major characters within a literary text.  This is important because they cannot understand point of view or perspective without identifying key characters.
   
   
2. Student is able to list the relationships different characters have.  This can be written in words or can be drawn using a graphic organizer.  As relationships change or as characters change, have students refer to their chart/comparison and make necessary adjustments.
   
   
3. Student demonstrates an understanding of the concept of protagonist and antagonist.  Student infers characterization and motives in identifying the main character and the character who stands in opposition to the main character.  This also helps to begin to build the concept of conflict.
   
   
4. Student demonstrates an understanding of the concept of conflict (the problem within the story) and begins to analyze who is at the root of the conflict, what events in the plot continue to drive the conflict, and, eventually, what solves the conflict within the literary text.
   
   
5. Student recognizes how an author develops characterization and how this character’s actions, appearance, and words add to the conflict within a literary text.  Students must make connections between the characterization and outside causes that may have impacted that character’s choices in the literary text.
   
   
6. Student must extend their understanding of characterization and conflict by writing a short story (length is dependent upon teacher needs) from the perspective of the character.  Choose an image that has a clear tie to the literary text.  For example, when reading a novel with historical undertones, choose a primary source photograph from the same time period.  Students must use higher level thinking to impose the character’s thoughts on an image that he/she did not experience in the literary text.  Writing will demonstrate a deep understanding of characterization and conflict.