π Characters Bring Stories to Life
Character analysis means looking closely at who a character is β their personality, motivations, and how they change. Great readers understand characters deeply; great writers create characters that feel real.
π₯ Types of Characters
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Protagonist
The main character; the story is about them
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Antagonist
The character who opposes the protagonist
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Flat Character
Simple; one or two traits; doesn't change much
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Round Character
Complex; many traits; changes through the story
π How Authors Show Character: STEAL
The STEAL Method
Authors reveal characters in five ways:
- Speech β What does the character say? How do they speak?
- Thoughts β What are they thinking?
- Effect β How do other characters react to them?
- Actions β What do they do? How do they behave?
- Looks β How are they described physically?
β Questions to Ask
When Analysing a Character
- What are their main personality traits?
- What motivates them? What do they want?
- What are their strengths and weaknesses?
- How do they change from beginning to end?
- What events cause them to change?
- How do their relationships affect them?
- What conflicts (internal/external) do they face?
π Character Profile Template
Character Name: ________________
Role: Protagonist / Antagonist / Supporting
3 Key Traits: 1)_____ 2)_____ 3)_____
Motivation: What do they want? ________________
Key Relationship: ________________
Change: How are they different at the end? ________________
Key Quote: "________________"
βοΈ Activities
Activity: STEAL Analysis
Choose a character from a text you're reading. Find one example for each STEAL element:
- Speech: "____________"
- Thoughts: ____________
- Effect on others: ____________
- Actions: ____________
- Looks: ____________
What this tells me about the character:
π©βπ« Teacher Notes
Curriculum Links
- English: Reading β making meaning, literary analysis
- Writing: Character development